Costco balancing

[daught]

I got a set of tires from costco especially because of their road hazard warranty. Unfortunately I just can't get them to balance my tires and stop my car from shaking. Been there five times now. Getting in their shop feels like I have to camp in front of the store a day ahead, kinda like boxing day sales.

Visit 1:
I installed a set of Michellin pilot sport AS3. Nice tires but at 100km/h the car and steering wheel vibrated.

Visit 2:
I go for a re-balance. They re-balance my tires and rotate them. They inform me a rim is bent. I am pretty surprised they would have installed new tires on a bent rim. The steering wheel stopped shaking but the car still vibrates.

Visit 3:
I buy a replacement rim and they install it. Car STILL VIBRATES.

Visit 4:
They blame my car. Reasonable... I put my winters on, they are nice and smooth at high speeds.

Visit 5:
They inform me costco rims are junk and I should replace them.


WTF is happening here? Those rims were fine with the previous tires. They were some pirelli P4 I think. Could the AS3s make their flaws more noticeable?

[13allroad]

Sounds like you might have a bad tire or two. I had the same problem a few years ago with a set of Pirelli tires. Exact same problem went to the tire shop (not Costco) and they rebalance the set two or three different times. Not until I asked them to put each tire/wheel on the balance and watch the tire without closing the lid were they able to see a manu flaw in the tire. Discarded the tire for a new one, balanced, and problem solved.


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[daught]

I forgot to mention, I changed each wheel with the spare and the issue was still there. So there must be more than one culprit. What should I demand of costco to find what's wrong with the tire? Most places won't allow a customer in the shop.

[13allroad]

I would go to the service desk and as to speak with the manager, explain you situation very nicely and mention how long you have been a Costco customer and see if there is any way for them to put four different tires on the vehicle and have them balanced? And I would try to contact Michelin tires and explain the situation and let Costco know about that as well.


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[texasboy21]

Places like that tend to hire folks that don't know or care enough to do a quality job. It's a possibility that the tires are not true despite being new.

I second talking to the shop manager and/or the tire manufacturer. Something isn't right.

[daught]

How should they check if the tires are true?

[old guy]

How should they check if the tires are true?

Check the wheel for run out then check the tire for run out.

[daught]

Check the wheel for run out then check the tire for run out.

Are there more specialized balancers that can analyze the wheel better?

Here is my email to costco corporate. This is really annoying me. My car is 10 more enjoyable with my general winter tires.

I got a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires from Costco. They are installed on Costco rims. Unfortunately after five visits to Costco they won't stop vibrating. This is becoming very frustrating especially because it is very difficult to get the car in the shop. Within an hours of stores opening stores claim they are full for the day. I spent money replacing a rim, I took time off work and planned entire weekends around this issue. Here is is the timeline and issues that came up along the way.

Visit 1:
I installed a set of Michellin pilot sport AS3. Immediately I noticed the car and steering wheel vibrated.

Visit 2:
I went for a re-balance. Costco re-balanced my tires and rotated my tires. They informed me a rim is bent. I am pretty surprised they would have installed new tires on a bent rim on the first visit. The steering wheel stopped shaking but the car still vibrates.

Visit 3:
I bought a replacement rim. While installing the new rim costco scratched it. I install it anyways and the car STILL VIBRATES

Visit 4:
Costco blames my car. Reasonable... I put my winters wheels on, they are nice and smooth at high speeds. Absolutely no vibrations.

Visit 5:
Costco tire shop informs me all costco rims are junk and I should replace them.


At this point I am outraged. After five visits I am informed that the Costco rims are at fault? Why was I not informed of that issue at first? Then why was I not informed of that before I replaced a rim? And why was I not informed that the rim was bent from the beginning?

However I am not convinced that the issue is the rims. Before I had the tires replaced they were absolutely fine. It seems costco work is very careless. The new rim was scratched, all centering hub rings were cracked, and for some reason I ended up with a bend rim after my first visit. Those rims were absolutely fine before my first visit. Maybe they were dropped in the shop and bent, that's why no one mentioned anything about it being bent on the first visit.

After the 5th visit, when I was told I should replace all my rims with audi original rims I am reluctant to just spend thousands of dollars on an issue that keep changing every visit. What if the issue is with the tires?

I question my car's safety at this point. I don't know how my car ended up with this vibration issue after I had my tires replaced, but I been informed by professionals that I could have a tire explosion anytime. After FIVE visits for the same issue, I feel costco is being careless in properly addressing an issue that is compromising my family safety.

At this point I would like a scheduled appointment at competent shop to evaluate my issue and have it solved immediately.

[old guy]

Are there more specialized balancers that can analyze the wheel better?

Yes there are. The Hunter GSP9700 is a state of the art balancing system. First it checks the wheel run out. Then it checks the tire run out and tells the technician where to rotate the tire on the wheel for the best results. I have used the Hunter system numerous times to evaluate and correct tire balance problems. here's a locater to find the one nearest to you. Clicky Click® Here's a link that explains how it can correct problems other balancers can't. Clicky click® Click on a few of the links in the website for a demonstration.

[daught]

Yes there are. The Hunter GSP9700 is a state of the art balancing system. First it checks the wheel run out. Then it checks the tire run out and tells the technician where to rotate the tire on the wheel for the best results. I have used the Hunter system numerous times to evaluate and correct tire balance problems. here's a locater to find the one nearest to you. Clicky Click® Here's a link that explains how it can correct problems other balancers can't. Clicky click® Click on a few of the links in the website for a demonstration.

Damn looks like just about every shop other than costco uses it :)

[old guy]

Damn looks like just about every shop other than costco uses it :)

Updated my post with a better link as to how it works.

[Spike00513]

Damn looks like just about every shop other than costco uses it :)

I balanced myself, using an old shops Hunter, not sure what model, I can find out. I doubt it was new. For sure, not a roadforce. Shops with those wanted $100+, versus $60 if I paid non-roadforce places.

Everything worked great. I couldn't find balancing dots on the Conti DWS so it took many weights.
But marked ones such as Hankook H457, some didn't even need ANY weights.

I'm assuming this is a tire issue.
You can check wheel runout by looking at it while it spins.
Better yet, a harbor freight gauge.

With heavy strong OEM wheels and big cushion tires, I doubt yours are bent.

[daught]

A while back I had a wheel that was severely bent. I took it to a shop and the guy balanced it very well. No idea what machine they had but it worked on an visibly oval rim.

I was almost surprised how well dicount tires balanced my winters. Any idea if they use the hunter?