I bought my 10' reg Fabia htp a year ago with Avon Z5's on. The front tracking was out by miles and the o/s inner edge was scrubbed beyond the tread pattern. I had the offending steering rod replaced and the car re-tracked and kept the tyre as it was still legal. The car tramlined badly from the day I bought it (from my father hence no warranty on the tracking etc) and would wander under hard braking at speed. A couple of months ago I fitted a Pair of Kumho Ectas to the front which have been excellent until recently when I began to detect wheel wobble at 60 - 70 mph, or when accelerating hard (or as hard as you can in an htp....). I took the car back to the tyre dealer, who I have used for at least 20 years and trust, who rebalanced them but noticed that the front o's wheel is slightly bent. It is round but you can see it is slightly off centre. He can straighten it for me for £46, which includes rebalancing, if the problem persists. I have just come back from a holiday in Wales and the motorway vibration is still there, less than it was but still noticeable. The big thing though is that when braking hard at high speed, say 60 mph, the vibration is very noticeable through the steering, but not through the brake pedal. My question is would a slightly our of true wheel (205 x 45 x 16 tyre size) cause these symptoms? Could it be a tyre fault?? At the last service I had fitted Brembo discs and pads fitted so I doubt it could be them.  I know one way to find out would be to swop front and rear wheels but I really want to keep the Kumho's on the front.   Any thoughts anyone?

 

Thanks

Phil    

I'm a car tec by trade.

If the car has a vibration while braking it is more than likely your discs. 

We would usually just replace them but you could check the run out of the disc and hub.

Regards vibration while driving it could be your wheel balance if not sure swap wheels front to back or it could be something else.

Start easy.

Forgot say stuff like this is hard to be sure what it is withouthe seeing in person.

As a rule of thumb a slightly bent wheel can be counterbalanced and won't feel it. 

Edited 11 June, 20179 yr by Damo152003

By rule of thumb a bent wheel can mean bent other stuff, so full alignment check is worth getting done, nit just Track checking and setting.

 

What kind of wheel is it they straightened?

23 minutes ago, Awayoffski said:

By rule of thumb a bent wheel can mean bent other stuff, so full alignment check is worth getting done, nit just Track checking and setting.

 

What kind of wheel is it they straightened?

Away do youthink your local non laser tyre garage sets up tracking to a reasonable standard.

Some Garages and Mechanics can, and Tyre & Exhaust Fitting centre fitters, but who knows, they can also be next to useless.

We have what you call a laser tracker in my opinion it's crap.

Not all that accurate.

I would look at a proper tracking system which is electronic and test camber and caster. Basic system just check toe and thrust angle.

I had c.v. boots fitted a while back and they must have just guessed the tracking... three months later, the nearly new tyres were completely French-connected on the inner edge-and I mean COMPLETELY... You could see the metal inner strands! From the outside, they looked quite new still. Gave me a fright when I noticed, not least of all as they can be point-inducing, licence losers if you get spotted by the blue light brigade! A couple of hundred quid on two new tyres and down to the tracking station for another "£50 quid please sir-Thank-you"! later, I felt safe to drive again.

 

Been great again since then so the tracking folk done well.