Wheel Balancing problem - Even after silver / Gold on Car Balance on New Kakadu

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Yokohama was one of my preferred brand of tyres when i owned my tyre store , as i never had a problem with them, out of roundness was never as issue (same as Toyo)
and just re balancing the wheels over and over wont achieve anything , i would be seriously looking at the method they are actually using to do the balance , how is the wheel mounted onto the balancer , with fingers or cones?
Also you said the vibrations are on the freeway? , i am not sure what the roads are like over there but in Perth , every 4x4 i have owned vibrates on the Freeway as they are not graded smooth enough for modern vehicles

Hi Bear63,

The section of freeway I am testing the vehicle on is about 5km long, then returning on the other side. One side is known to be excellent for testing vehicles on as it is flat and smooth.

The wheels are fitted with fingers and they I believe they spin the rim to enable them to match mount the tyre. I noticed on my Hilux (same tyres) that all the yellow dots are very close to the valve stems. No viabrations with those tyres. On the Prado the yellow dots on 3 tyres are a long way from the valve stems. I note Yokohama have a recommendation for fitting:

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires_10...atch_mounting/

This basically states the uniformity method - the red dot should be aligned on the wheel indicator mark (if there is one) which indicates the point of minimum radial run out.

Where the wheel does not have an indicator they recommend the weight match mounting method - yellow mark on the tyre, indicating the point of lightest weight, should be aligned with the valve stem on the wheel assembly, which represents the heaviest weight point of the wheel assembly. It states after doing this then the tyre / wheel assembly can be balanced.

On my Prado my yellow dots are far from my valve stems on 3 tyres. Maybe this is the problem?

Any comments would be appreciated, as I feel your advice teaching me very much, it is a shame I need to learn this.

[Nightrod111 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nightrod111]

Take it to another tyre shop and get them to re balance the tyres. Yes you shouldnt have to do this, but for peace of mind i would.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Quite simply I would take the tyres off the rims , check the rims for balance or any significant defect if they pass then they can have their tyres back and move on to something else . If you are having these problems now with all this you beaut balancing gadgets and techniques what do you think will happen down the road while on holidays in god knows where . They will NOT get better with age . And later on when you finally get really jack of the problem , they will tell you , sorry you have used the tyres inappropriately and your warranty is void . Did your original tyres have a problem , if not then you know where the problem lies .

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yeah I'm with Kav, if the originals were no issues with vibrations then it has to be the tyres, either out of round or not balanced properly. I'd be asking for your $$$ back and go elsewhere and try again. You have proven its the tyres by moving front to back, back to front and you noticed the vibration go from the back to the steering wheel. One of those two tyres (possibly 2) is out of round or out of balance. Again we go to the professionals and they can't find the answer. Don't let them fob you off, ask for your old tyres back or replace the ones in the front now where the vibration is now coming from. Cheers Steve

[Bear63 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear63]

The biggest problem with tyre shops is they employ any goon off the street and show them how to do the job , there is no formal training , unless the owner took the time to train him ( if he knew what he was doing which alot don't as they are not from the trade)
Another thing i have issues with is the design of a lot of balancers with the cover that goes over the tyre when it is spinning , How can you see how the tyre spins if it is covered over??
Seriously though , if the car was in my shop i would be swapping the old tyres back one at a time and road testing as the fault is obviously at high way speeds and not at the slow speed the balancer spins at
Also to add , all balancers aren't equal , some are complete rubbish , doesn't matter how much they cost

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Update... 5 new tyres ordered by tyre dealer - only 2,280km on 1st set!

I called the dealer this morning and told them my preference for another tyre shop to inspect and attempt correction. BJ told me that they have never in their entire time dealing with Yokohama had this problem or need to replace any Yokohama tyres. They requested a double check of the match mount balancing completed yesterday and if I was not happy with the result they would replace the set of 5 tyres. I figured that if another tyre place fiddled with their match mounting it may affect their willingness to replace the whole set so I agreed to let them have the 4th attempt.

I stood with the tyre fitter, who has been to training and had 6 years training in match mount balancing. It was educational, but the outcome was the same. I did however learn that this tyre fitters first look at the issue being on the 3rd attempt that he felt that 2 tyres were very borderline to pass, and one tyre being average. All ratings given by their roadforce balancing machine, calibrated 4 weeks ago.

We went for a drive and felt the shake in the car at 110km/hr and saw the steering wheel move also. The tyre fitter had an excellent attitude and reported the test drive result as being unacceptable to him. The dealer has spoken with Yokohama and they agreed to supply 5 new tyres and BJ want the car again to start the process again tomorrow with their experienced technician. BJ have confirmed the rims as being good.

For the record the tyres were not match mounted on the first 2 attempts, and that is what I paid for. They only aligned the yellow dots on the tyres with the valve stems. Yesterday on the 3rd attempt they found the heavy spot of each rim and mounted the light point of the tyre in alignment.

Lets see how we go tomorrow, and thank you everyone for your input. I have told them every bit of your feedback and they have listened!

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

The biggest problem with tyre shops is they employ any goon off the street and show them how to do the job , there is no formal training , unless the owner took the time to train him ( if he knew what he was doing which alot don't as they are not from the trade)
Another thing i have issues with is the design of a lot of balancers with the cover that goes over the tyre when it is spinning , How can you see how the tyre spins if it is covered over??
Seriously though , if the car was in my shop i would be swapping the old tyres back one at a time and road testing as the fault is obviously at high way speeds and not at the slow speed the balancer spins at
Also to add , all balancers aren't equal , some are complete rubbish , doesn't matter how much they cost

Hi Bear, I have noticed that this is the case also. Fitters from all different trades, being the only training can be part time on the job training. The problem being when the business is busy then someone without the full training and experience can be left to work unsupervised, which leads to problems. Thank you for your help, I really do appreciate it

[Guest Close Guest]

For the record the tyres were not match mounted on the first 2 attempts, and that is what I paid for. They only aligned the yellow dots on the tyres with the valve stems. Yesterday on the 3rd attempt they found the heavy spot of each rim and mounted the light point of the tyre in alignment.

The photos that you presented earlier. Was that on the 1st 2 attempts?

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi there Bawky, I went tyre shopping today (didn't buy any just getting prices and looking at tread patterns etc) and they offered me yoko's, I laughed and told them the troubles you were having and they said that is very unusual with those tyres and yokohama will stand by their products, very good warranty and the only ones that follow it through with out the bullshit that normally goes with it, (good to know). I'm still deciding between the BF's and the D697's. The bf's have better biters on the side but the 697's look like they have better tread overall lol. In the end they all tried talking me into bf's and two of them told me to stay away from coopers ?? (this isn't a bagging session) he sells them but doesn't recommend them. Also found it funny he said in his opinion its due to the white writing on the side wall, I laughed and he said true, I said yeah some one only mentioned that lately on a forum I get onto (here but didn't mention it). He said when ever they split its always on the side with the white writing wether its facing inwards or not, something to do the way the writing is applied and the white part of the letters ?? anyway sounds like yours is been dealt with in the appropriate way which is the main thing.........Cheers Steve

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

The photos that you presented earlier. Was that on the 1st 2 attempts?

Hi amts, the photos were taken after the first attempt to rectify, which I call the 2nd attempt. This was prior to yesterdays third attempt and todays 4th attempt.

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Hi there Bawky, I went tyre shopping today (didn't buy any just getting prices and looking at tread patterns etc) and they offered me yoko's, I laughed and told them the troubles you were having and they said that is very unusual with those tyres and yokohama will stand by their products, very good warranty and the only ones that follow it through with out the bullshit that normally goes with it, (good to know). I'm still deciding between the BF's and the D697's. The bf's have better biters on the side but the 697's look like they have better tread overall lol. In the end they all tried talking me into bf's and two of them told me to stay away from coopers ?? (this isn't a bagging session) he sells them but doesn't recommend them. Also found it funny he said in his opinion its due to the white writing on the side wall, I laughed and he said true, I said yeah some one only mentioned that lately on a forum I get onto (here but didn't mention it). He said when ever they split its always on the side with the white writing wether its facing inwards or not, something to do the way the writing is applied and the white part of the letters ?? anyway sounds like yours is been dealt with in the appropriate way which is the main thing.........Cheers Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for your comments. Most tyre places told me that the BFG are a little hard to keep balanced, but are very good off road. My Dad has done an extensive amount of 4 weeks trips through Australia off road and he likes BFG's, but now uses Good Year Silent Armours. No punctures when others have many. I could not get the correct load and speed rating with the same tyre size in those, as I have 18 inch rims Kakadu rims. Most tyre places recommended me away from Coopers. Yokohama GO12 tyres come with puncture warrantee. As I understand it, I could stab my side walls and they will replace them for free. I know places which talk you out of BFG's, but many like them and apparently they are easy to get anywhere. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

By the way I went on an ARB drive day at Clarence, near Lithgow NSW about 2 weeks ago. It was an excellent day. I took the SR5, which I had the Yokohama's fitted to by the same tyre place. Perfect balance first go! Those tyres performed in some extremely wet, clay, rock and mud surfaces. ARB was very surprised I was able to climb what I did without diff locks. The tyres performed very well. See the attachments if you are interested. I love these tyres, seem great in the wet, dry, quiet as OEM tyres and great off road with a great warrantee.

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Next photos, you will see in (8) the cars down the bottom of the hill, it was very steep indeed.

[Guest Close Guest]

Hi amts, the photos were taken after the first attempt to rectify, which I call the 2nd attempt. This was prior to yesterdays third attempt and todays 4th attempt.

OK just curious.

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

Hi Guys,

I've had G012's on my VX 18" rims (same as Kakadu) for 50,000+km's and haven't had any troubles with balancing them as the ride is always smooth. I did have four tyres replaced with the pro-rata warranty from Yokohama after they all suffered damaged sidewalls from some serious rocky 4WDing at Murchison Off-Road Adventure park. I wouldn't get them again due to this, but if you're just sticking to sand and gravel they are a reasonably good tyre.

VXWesty

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Hi Guys,

I've had G012's on my VX 18" rims (same as Kakadu) for 50,000+km's and haven't had any troubles with balancing them as the ride is always smooth. I did have four tyres replaced with the pro-rata warranty from Yokohama after they all suffered damaged sidewalls from some serious rocky 4WDing at Murchison Off-Road Adventure park. I wouldn't get them again due to this, but if you're just sticking to sand and gravel they are a reasonably good tyre.

VXWesty

Hi, thank you for your post. How much damage constituted a replacement? What tyres do you think you would get next time?