is it true that once you get wider tires and like bigger wheels (i have 17's) that your steering wheel will always shake a bit at higher speeds even if the road is perfect? i was told my someone that you just have to learn to live with it and that aftermarket wheels just can't be balanced perfectly? if so im ok with it just so i know its safe. thanks for any help.

 

This is not true at all. Whoever told you that has mislead you. As long as your wheels have been balanced, your car should operate normally. This means no shaking of the steering wheel. If anything, your car will be more stable.

 

Your friend may have told you this because with bigger rims, usually one gets lower profile tires, making it easier to bend the rim. A slight but not physically noticable bend in the rim will cause significant shaking of the wheel at higher speeds.

 

Any properly balanced tire (no matter what size) shouldn't shake, mine don't. What he may have meant is that the tire is more likely to follow any ruts that may be in the road, that is true.

 

I've gone 110 MpH on a state highway (not proud of it), which as you know are NEVER even CLOSE to perfect, with my Racing Hart 17"s and I have never had my steering shake at all. Always had the car under perfect control. Just trying to help.

 

ummmmmm..........damnn...then i really dont know what to do. i have gotten the wheels balanced and all. i really try driving carefully and shouldnt have any bent rims. an alighment problem wouldnt cause steering wheel to shake would it, cuz thats the only thing i can think of right now?

 

does it shake a lot?

i have 18s and it is a bumpper ride if thats what u mean

and what kind of tires do u have low profile or what?

 

You may have a steering problem, kie a bent tie rod end, a bad wheel bearing or a 'shot' axle. The wheels aren't the only things that cause vibration.

 

i have kumho escata 712, with 17 inch adr gt sport rims. they were supp to come balanced but like i said i got them balanced again anyway. maybe i'll go to some cheap place just to get it checked out. then i'll decide if i want to go to nissan and get ripped off or not. as always thanks for the help.

 

the problem that you hear about is that aftermarket rims are made for appearance, thus the weights for balancing are put on the inside. for a more true balance, you might have to go get a computer balance done where they stick weights on the inside of the rim. this should take care of the shaking problems...