Tire and wheel assembly vibrations are the next level of testing for low-frequency vibrations that are sensitive to vehicle speed. The tires, the wheels, the brake rotors, and the wheel hubs should be systematically tested, according to the symptoms.

The following are symptoms of first-order vibrations caused by tire and wheel assemblies:

Correct the runout problem first, because the runout of a tire/wheel assembly will directly affect the amount of imbalance and radial force variation. As the amount of runout decreases, imbalance and force variation also decrease.

Important: Before measuring or attempting to correct excessive runout, carefully inspect the tire for an uneven bead seat. The distance from the edge of the ring to the concentric rim locating ring should be equal around the entire circumference. If the beads are not seated properly, remount the tire. Otherwise excessive runout and imbalance may result.

You can correct radial and lateral runout at the same time. Two methods are available for measuring runout of the tire/wheel assemblies:

Make an initial on-car visual inspection prior to performing the off-car runout tests.

Measuring the tire/wheel runout off the vehicle is the easier method for the following reasons:

Once you have measured and corrected the runout off the vehicle, a quick examination of runout on the vehicle will indicate if any further problems exist.

If the off-vehicle measurement differs significantly from the on-vehicle measurement, the runout problem is due to one of the following:

If a vehicle sits in one place for an extended period of time, flat spots may develop at the point where the tires rest upon the ground. These flat spots will affect the runout readings. Before you take any runout measurements, eliminate these flat spots by driving the vehicle long enough to warm up the tires.

1. Lift the vehicle on a hoist or support the vehicle with jackstands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
2. In order to get an initial indication of how much runout exists, spin each tire and wheel on the vehicle by hand. You may also use the engine at a slow speed in order to drive the wheels. Visually inspect the amount of runout from the front or the rear.
3. Mark the location of each tire/wheel assembly in relation to the wheel studs and to their position on the vehicle for future reference.
4. Remove the tire/wheel assemblies one at a time. Mount each assembly on a spin-type wheel balancer. Locate the tire/wheel assembly on the balancer with a cone through the back side of the center pilot hole.
5. For lateral runout place the dial indicator in a smooth area on the tire sidewall as close to the tread as possible.

Measure the tire/wheel assembly runout as shown in the figure.

For radial runout, wrap the outer circumference with tape. This allows for a smooth reading from the dial indicator.

Ignore any jumps or dips in the dial indicator needle movement due to sidewall splices.

Use either of the following dial indicator sets with roller contact point J 23672 when applying this procedure:

1. Load the indicator and slowly rotate the assembly one complete revolution.
2. Set the indicator to zero on the low spot.
3. Rotate the assembly one more complete revolution and note the total amount of runout indicated. The maximum allowable assembly radial and lateral runout is 1.27 mm (0.050 inch) when measured off the vehicle and 1.52 mm (0.060 inch) when measured on the vehicle.

If the runout is excessive, mark the location of the high spot (3) and the low spot on the tire. Next, determine if the runout problem exists in the tire, the wheel, or a combination of both. Then, correct the problem. This procedure, called match-mounting or vectoring, uses the following steps:

Important: After replacing a tire or a wheel, remeasure the tire/wheel assembly runout in order to verify that the runout is within tolerance.

1. Place a mark (2) on the tire sidewall at the location of the valve stem (5). This mark is the 12 o'clock position. Always refer to the location of the high spot (3) in relation to its clock position on the wheel.
2. Mount the tire/wheel assembly on a tire machine and break down the bead. Do not dismount the tire from the wheel at this time.
3. Rotate the tire 180 degrees on the rim so that the valve stem reference mark (8) is now at the 6 o'clock position in relation to the valve stem (6) itself. You may need to lubricate the bead in order to easily rotate the tire on the wheel.
4. Reinflate the tire and seat the bead properly.
5. Mount the assembly on the tire balancer and remeasure the runout. Mark the new location of the runout high point on the tire.
6. If runout is now within tolerance, no further steps are necessary. Balance and mount the tire on the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Balancing .

Complete the following steps if you cannot bring runout within tolerance by match-mounting:

1. Dismount the tire from the wheel.
2. Measure the radial wheel runout and the lateral wheel runout.

You can measure rim runout more accurately on the inside bead area of the wheel. Measure wheel runout using the same procedure as tire runout. Ignore any jumps or dips in the dial indicator needle movement due to paint drips, chips, or welds.

Measure both the inboard flange and outboard flange as shown. The tolerances for wheel runout are as follows:

Steel Wheels

Aluminum Wheels

Important: Always measure the runout of new wheels. DO NOT assume that a new wheel is automatically good.

If the runout of the wheel is beyond the tolerance, replace the wheel.

When replacing a wheel, refer to the wheel code that is stamped next to the valve stem. Cross-reference the letter code with the parts catalog.

If the runout of the wheel is within tolerance, and the tire/wheel assembly runout cannot be reduced to an acceptable level by using the match-mounting technique, replace the tire.

Important: Always remeasure the tire/wheel assembly runout after you replace the tire.

If you notice a large difference in runout measurements between on-vehicle testing and off-vehicle testing, the runout problem is due to one of the following:

The listed tolerances should serve only as a guideline. If runout measurements are within tolerance but are marginal, some sensitive vehicles may still be affected. Always reduce runout to as little as possible in order to attain optimum results under all conditions.

Radial force variation is the difference in the stiffness of a tire (1) as the tire rotates and contacts the road. The tire and wheel assemblies have some variation due to splices in the tire plies. These splices do not cause a problem unless the force variation is excessive. These stiff spots in the tire can deflect the tire and wheel assembly upward as the assembly contacts the road.

If the tire has only one stiff spot, the spot will deflect the spindle once per each revolution of the tire and wheel assembly, thus causing a first-order tire/wheel vibration. If the tire has two stiff spots, the spots cause a second-order vibration. First-order and second-order tire/wheel vibrations are the most common as a result of radial force variation. Third-order, fourth-order, or higher are possible but rarely occur.

Ensure that the tire and wheel assembly runout is at an absolute minimum. This is the most effective way to minimize the possibility of force variation as a factor in tire and wheel assembly vibrations. However, some tire and wheel assemblies exhibit vibration-causing force variation even though they are within runout and balance tolerances. These instances are becoming increasingly rare due to tighter tolerances and higher standards in manufacturing.

If you suspect force variation as a factor in tire and wheel assembly vibration complaints, substitute one or more known good tire and wheel assemblies.

Lateral force variation tends to deflect the vehicle to the side, or laterally. Lateral force variation is based on the same concept as radial force variation. A snaky belt inside the tire may be the cause of lateral force. Test the vehicle with substitute tires before installing replacement tires.

A lateral force variation condition is rare. The best way to eliminate lateral force variation is to ensure that the lateral runout of the tire and wheel assemblies is at an absolute minimum.

The vehicle will wobble or waddle at slow speeds of 8-40 km/h (5-25 mph) when lateral force variation is excessive. This condition is usually related to the first-order of tire and wheel rotation.

When lateral runout occurs, inspect the wheel hub/axle flange runout if you are performing an on-vehicle test procedure, but not during off-vehicle testing. The tolerances provided are only guidelines. Perform corrections only if the on-vehicle runout cannot be brought to within tolerance.

1. Position the dial indicator on the machined surface of the hub, the axle flange, or the rotor outside of the wheel studs.
2. Rotate the hub in order to find the low spot.
3. Set the dial indicator to zero at the low spot.
4. Rotate the hub again and check the total amount of runout.

Specification (Guideline)
Runout tolerance: 0.127 mm (0.005 in)

Use the wheel stud runout procedure whenever the following conditions occur:

1. Position the dial indicator in order to contact the wheel mounting studs.

Measure the stud runout as close to the flange as possible.

2. Turn the hub to register on each of the studs.
3. Zero the dial indicator on the lowest stud.
4. Rotate the hub again and check the total amount of runout.

Specification (Guideline)
Runout tolerance: 0.254 mm (0.010 in)