[lollonais]

So, I was hoping that I will not buy tires until the summer, but blew one OE tire that had almost no thread. Since all four were almost bare, I decided to buy all four for $293 mounted and balanced. I decided to get 225/55R16 to replace the michelin 215/60R16. I bought the Nexen N5000. Nice looking tires, nice and quiet. I actually hear the outside air pressure noise more than the road. But my beef is with the mounting. The tires came with those red and yellow dots. Supposedly the yellow is to mount over the valve or use the red to the mark on the rim. I looked and I think they just mounted as they felt like mounting. So I took it back and told them that its vibrating, the guy first tells me that they dont have a high speed balancer, that their equipment is old. Then that its not about the dots, that gets corrected with the weights. Then they try to rebalance. I drive again and not as bad, but still shimmy and vibrations between 60 to 75mph. Are they talking shite?

 

[Tobeit]

So, I was hoping that I will not buy tires until the summer, but blew one OE tire that had almost no thread. Since all four were almost bare, I decided to buy all four for $293 mounted and balanced. I decided to get 225/55R16 to replace the michelin 215/60R16. I bought the Nexen N5000. Nice looking tires, nice and quiet. I actually hear the outside air pressure noise more than the road. But my beef is with the mounting. The tires came with those red and yellow dots. Supposedly the yellow is to mount over the valve or use the red to the mark on the rim. I looked and I think they just mounted as they felt like mounting. So I took it back and told them that its vibrating, the guy first tells me that they dont have a high speed balancer, that their equipment is old. Then that its not about the dots, that gets corrected with the weights. Then they try to rebalance. I drive again and not as bad, but still shimmy and vibrations between 60 to 75mph. Are they talking shite?

If re-balancing does not help (look for a shop with road balancing) you might want to check if the new tires are okay. Sometimes tires are "out of round" and can not be balanced perfectly (they change shape when spun and therefore can not be balanced correctly). In that case, return the tires. I had such a problem just recently and also had vibrations at higher speed only. It just happens, no brand is perfect.

 

[Netforcer]

are the tires directional? if not, then the dots shouldn't matter

 

[lollonais]

The only place that does road balancing round heres is the dealer. How much they charge? probably my kidney.

 

[lollonais]

are the tires directional? if not, then the dots shouldn't matter

Yes they are.

 

[TRD VVTi]

The dots matter, but not very much. I wouldn't worry about it.

Most tire shops and dealers have a balancer that can measure wheel and tire runout, as well as road force variation.

It sounds like a simple rebalance will take care of your vibration from 60-75 MPH.

 

[lollonais]

Thanks all.

 

[lollonais]

32,000 miles bought new Nexen tires - Update

Its been almost 2 weeks and the vibration is there. I went to Tire Kingdom, where a friend works, last week. He rebalanced them and he told me that they were not properly balanced. So he did and I drove. The vibration was there but not as much. I called him back and told him. He said that he will try to remount them following the dots. I was upset, so I called the shop where I bought them. They checked the rear tires and said that one was "bad", so they gave me a brand new, balanced both rear tires after spining them around the rim with no air to try to match the dots. The guy told me that if that does not fix it, that it could be the drivetrain.

Before you guys lash out on me for buying these tires, I researched and found no bad reviews for them. They actually have 2 corporate buildings here in the states. So what are the chances that all four are bad? My friend at TK will recheck them today, but then I will take it to the dealer to check the drivetrain. Do you guys think that the additional 3lbs per tire will cause this?
I read that other people are having vibration issues, so mine could be related to that. I will see tomorrow after the rebalance and remount today. Thanks again.

 

[Tobeit]

Its been almost 2 weeks and the vibration is there. I went to Tire Kingdom, where a friend works, last week. He rebalanced them and he told me that they were not properly balanced. So he did and I drove. The vibration was there but not as much. I called him back and told him. He said that he will try to remount them following the dots. I was upset, so I called the shop where I bought them. They checked the rear tires and said that one was "bad", so they gave me a brand new, balanced both rear tires after spining them around the rim with no air to try to match the dots. The guy told me that if that does not fix it, that it could be the drivetrain.

Before you guys lash out on me for buying these tires, I researched and found no bad reviews for them. They actually have 2 corporate buildings here in the states. So what are the chances that all four are bad? My friend at TK will recheck them today, but then I will take it to the dealer to check the drivetrain. Do you guys think that the additional 3lbs per tire will cause this?
I read that other people are having vibration issues, so mine could be related to that. I will see tomorrow after the rebalance and remount today. Thanks again.

3 lbs should not do anything. I have my brand name tires rebalanced a few times, changed two tires which where supposed to be out of round and road balanced again etc. Most of my (real) vibration is gone. I have an interesting observation now - my car still vibrates a little at higher speed (not enough to really bother me) but only when cold. Once the car warmed up it is completely gone and rides smooths. I did no bother to ask the toyota shop as that is probably one of the things you can look forever and never really find out what the cause is...how about yours?

 

[lollonais]

It could be, but as far I can remember with the stock tires I would be driving and not realize I was hitting 80mph. With these I can tell when I am hitting 65 without looking a the speedo. At about 80, the vibration is almost not noticible. But at 75, you can really tell. I will swap the front with the new rear one and see what happens today during lunch on the hwy. Thanks.

 

[thoots]

3 lbs should not do anything. I have my brand name tires rebalanced a few times, changed two tires which where supposed to be out of round and road balanced again etc. Most of my (real) vibration is gone. I have an interesting observation now - my car still vibrates a little at higher speed (not enough to really bother me) but only when cold. Once the car warmed up it is completely gone and rides smooths. I did no bother to ask the toyota shop as that is probably one of the things you can look forever and never really find out what the cause is...how about yours?

Well, tires (some far more so than others) are known to develop "flat spots" after sitting around, like overnight. That could be your problem. Whatever tires you've got, do some 'net searching to see if yours are more prone to that than others....

 

[Tobeit]

Well, tires (some far more so than others) are known to develop "flat spots" after sitting around, like overnight. That could be your problem. Whatever tires you've got, do some 'net searching to see if yours are more prone to that than others....

Yeah, good point, that could be. My car is more sitting in the garage than most others. These are my winter tires....soft compound material. But not really an issue for me right now. Thx

 

[lollonais]

Thanks for the info. I drive this car everyday now and my truck is parked. So I doubt that it could be that. The camry is parked for no more than 8 hours a day. I did the net research and could not find anything bad.

 

[lollonais]

Oops, found this http://www.1010tires.com/newforum/default.aspx?f=44&m=3557

 

[Yazovets]

I do not intend to sound rude at all, but what you're experiencing has a higher probability of happening when you buy cheap 2nd-rate or 3rd-rate tires.

Granted...Nexen is a name I've heard, but it's certainly a questionable brand.

 

[Tobeit]

I do not intend to sound rude at all, but what you're experiencing has a higher probability of happening when you buy cheap 2nd-rate or 3rd-rate tires.

Granted...Nexen is a name I've heard, but it's certainly a questionable brand.

That might be the case for his Nexen...but it looks as these problems now happen more often also on name brand tires. I just returned two Dunlops.

 

[vinniemak]

Oops, found this http://www.1010tires.com/newforum/default.aspx?f=44&m=3557

I noticed that Townfair tire sold the guy who posted on 1010tires, similar Nexen tires...now he can't have them take the tires back. Townfair is giving out low cost deals on Nexen ($ 60 per tire including mounting, bal, lifetime free tire rotation, lifetime free leak fixing, free mounting of tires & rims with TPMS etc)...but if the tire is this lousy, why bother...

By the way, Townfair also sells Hancook, Wanli, FST Affinity, Kelly & other not so hot brand names...any comments on these??..they sell them cheap from $ 65 ~ $ 69 bucks each...mounted & balanced with the lifetime perks as mentioned above.

 

[Tobeit]

I noticed that Townfair tire sold the guy who posted on 1010tires, similar Nexen tires...now he can't have them take the tires back. Townfair is giving out low cost deals on Nexen ($ 60 per tire including mounting, bal, lifetime free tire rotation, lifetime free leak fixing, free mounting of tires & rims with TPMS etc)...but if the tire is this lousy, why bother...

By the way, Townfair also sells Hancook, Wanli, FST Affinity, Kelly & other not so hot brand names...any comments on these??..they sell them cheap from $ 65 ~ $ 69 bucks each...mounted & balanced with the lifetime perks as mentioned above.

I would stay away from them if the budget allows it. If you need to pick one of them, I would use Hancook..or Kelly. For a little more you can get something like Khumo SPT - also low cost but much better.

 

[Yazovets]

That might be the case for his Nexen...but it looks as these problems now happen more often also on name brand tires. I just returned two Dunlops.

Oh yeah, that is certainly so. On my previous car (2005 Toyota Echo Hatchback 5-door) one of my winter Pirelli tires was defective. I would get a thumping noise cuz apparently the tire had a spot which had a lil more tread. So it wasn't a perfect circle. The weird thing is that this only started happening when I mounted the tires for the second winter. Well, I had bought these tires online, so returning was not an option. I just had the bad tire mounted to the rear - at least it didn't produce vibration...

 

[lollonais]

I have mounted the driver front to the rear and still have vibration. I will try the passenger tomorrow when my friend remounts them and rebalances them. I spoke with NEXEN in CA. I was told that if they cant be fix that the shop where I bought them should start paperwork to have them returned. We'll see what happens. I will let you guys know ASA I resolve this. I know I get what I paid for, but at least they were local or else I would be more screwed. What sucks is that I am on a budget, and this happened when I did not want to buy new tires. I still cant believe that not one tire was fine. I can understand 1 or maybe 2, but all four. Seriously, if you search online for these, people say good things (most) until I found that walmart one. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks all.