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Ride and Handling
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What causes vibration in my vehicle?
There are many reasons for vehicle vibration, most related to the tires but some caused by mechanical issues elsewhere in the vehicle. Tire-generated vibration can be out-of-balance tire assembly, non-uniformity of the tire, non-uniformity of the wheel assembly; non-centric mounting of the wheel, uneven tire wear, defective tires, damaged tires, improper inflation pressures, and even non-compatibility between certain tires and certain vehicles. Vehicle-related vibration is driveline or suspension related and is most commonly related to worn parts. A low speed wobble at 10-25 miles per hour can be indicative of an unsafe tire condition. This is a serious issue that should be examined immediately. The issue of vibration is rather complex and does not lend itself to a complete explanation in the limited space available here. Central Tire suggests that you bring your car in for diagnosis if vibration is evident.
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Why would my tires need re-balancing and when should this be done?
Tire imbalance develops as the tires wear. This gradually changes the surface contours resulting in heavy and light spots. This is normal for most tires on most vehicles. Tire balancing is done on sophisticated computerized equipment where the light spots are identified and weights added to eliminate the out-of-balance condition. Simple rebalancing usually cures vibration if the uneven wear is minimal. Tires rotated on a 5000 mile interval usually do not need rebalancing during the first rotation. About 50 percent will need rebalancing at the 10,000 mile level and second 5000 mile rotation interval. If not rebalanced at the 10,000 mile level, then most tires will need to be balanced at the 15,000 mile point. This same pattern should repeat during the life cycle of the tires. Remember that uneven wear is the determining factor. The better you maintain your tires, the less they will cost you over their service life.
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What is tire truing and when is it beneficial?
Tire truing uses a lathe-like machine to remove small amounts of tread rubber. This can be helpful in removing uneven tire wear and eliminating small amounts of tire and wheel uniformity problems. Proper tire truing should not adversely affect tire mileage.
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