windy

I needed new tires on my '13 v6 convertible and the tire shop said Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires would work. Didn't want to replace the Pirellis due to price. Had them put four new ones on and the car rode beautifully. Had front end aligned two days later due to mismatched wear patterns and then the car started "shuddering." They rebalanced, etc. but there is still a slight "shudder" at 60 mph and higher. No steering wheel motion, but just feels like riding on a bit of a washboard. Is it the tires?

houtex

The front end alignment is basically toe. Caster/Camber is set, so there's only one adjustment on either side. The parts probably shouldn't fail for that adjustment, but it's possible.

If they got the toe wrong, this could cause it. If the toe is right, then the balance could cause it on one or both front tires. If the balance is right, then the only real possibility is the tire itself is defective, but which one?

Did they take the tire and spin it relative to the rim? Sometimes a tire has a mass balance issue in it that will go away if they spin it 90-180 degrees from its current position on the rim.

If that doesn't fix it, the tire must be suspect at that point, should you figure out which it is.

Also, it could be at the rear of the car, not the front, that causes the shudder in the entire car... are you saying the shudder is in the steering wheel only?

If all that checks out, then a highly coincidental, but still just as likely, suspension component such as a tie rod end, steering rack, lower control arm, etc, could be causing the problem, and chasing the tires may be not what's needed.

This is an EPAS car, right? Electronic steering? Have you seen this video?


Not sayin' that's it, but... it could be.

Hope any of that helps. Good luck!

windy

Thank you houtex. There is no shudder in the steering wheel. When driving, it is solid and straight. After reading your post I feel it could be the tires. Back to the shop on Tuesday! Have a great 4th of July!