Tire issues/ size chart

[JSSuper455]

Ok long story short I have a set of Falken ZIEX ze502's on my car now in the standard 225/55/16 size. I've had them 10K miles and for the last 8500mi they have had vibration that is getting worse with age. I've had them balanced about 8 times and rotated about 5 times. This vibration is only above 60 or so and its bad enough that extended freeway trips would... well they are out of the question.

I've spoken to my Big-O dealer where I purchase all my tires and they said they would be willing to pro-rate them out for another set of tires, they don't see this much with those, but they would like to help me out.

Now, I am kinda tired of that size and honestly would like to get a tire that rides a little better and drives down the road like a normal car. Having a son now and what not I'd really like my car to be a nice driver as I'm not really as worried about the hole shot traction and getting tires that "hook-up"..... Be that as it may, I think I'd like just a tad taller tire for a softer sidewall and with 3.73cogs and the largest corrective gear my speedo is still off slightly. Also a little skinnier tire I think would help the ride too. Honestly I like the BF Goodrich that comes on the new '05 16" V6 Mustang, something like that I think would suit my needs but it might be a little tall.

Here is sort of what I'm looking at:
Sizing: Hieght Section Width
225/55/R16 25.7" 9.4" (Current, factory size)
215/65/R16 27.0" 8.7" ('05 V6 tire)
215/60/R16 26.1" 8.7"
225/60/R16 26.6" 9.0"

What are your opinions and please let me know what you think on the size and if you have a tire you'd like to recommend or something I overlooked... I'm all ears cause I really only have one shot at this to get it right....

 

[86bluecobra]

most mustang owners i know are going for wider tires not skinner ones. btw the vibration you feel is it in the seat of your pants or the steering wheel? the reason i ask is if it is in your pants it usally means something is wrong with your rear wheels steering is obiviously the front

 

[JSSuper455]

LOL I know, I'm sorta anti trendy I just don't really race it anymore and just like the power for blasting onto the freeway etc.... anyhow.. its mostly from the rear now, but was on the front more before I rotated again recently... However its in the steering too so atleast one of them on the front has issues. ooo also I should mention that whenever they balance the tires they have to make drastic weight changes to atleast 2 of them each time (Not always the same two either) They have also checked my rims over, just in-case they were bent or something funky..

 

[Michael Yount]

What makes you think the vibration is in the tires and not the drivetrain?

 

[JSSuper455]

What makes you think the vibration is in the tires and not the drivetrain?

When I rotate the tires the majority of the vibes come from that end of the car, plus I've installed new U Joints and had my driveline guys check the driveshaft some time back.

 

[ROLLIN5.0]

Continental ContiExtremeContact
I'm running them on another vehicle, however they are 215/50/17. They have a fairly soft sidewall while keeping the aggressive tread pattern, and good overall performance. I have heard that the taller versions will develop flat spots on cold nights, but return to normal as soon as they warm up. I haven't experienced any negatives with mine. They will flex in the turns, like all soft tires, but they don't completely lose traction easily. You can pick them up for a fairly inexpensive price too. Your 225/55/16 are $73 on WWW.TIRERACK.COM so with your trades, you shouldn't have to come up with much hopefully.
I had Goodyear Eagle RSA's on the car before, and it was a huge difference in ride comfort when I switched. Good luck in your search.
Brandon

 

[Michael Yount]

You say you've had them balanced 8 times - I don't think it's a tire balance problem. Or - the tire shop has a bad machine/doesn't know what they're doing -- both unlikely if truly the result of 8 balances is still unbalanced tires. Perhaps a belt has separated - but your tire guy should be able to see that in the tire.

I'd try another tire dealer in any event.

 

[JSSuper455]

You say you've had them balanced 8 times - I don't think it's a tire balance problem. Or - the tire shop has a bad machine/doesn't know what they're doing -- both unlikely if truly the result of 8 balances is still unbalanced tires. Perhaps a belt has separated - but your tire guy should be able to see that in the tire.

I'd try another tire dealer in any event.

That is what I was thinking and trying to tell them, however you are correct, one would think it would be obvious with a customer continually coming complaining about vibrations and they would have checked that. Anyhow they suggested moving up to a 70K tire from my 40K for about $100. Not too shabby, I'll probably do that.


Thanks for the input, I guess this topic was too against the grain.

 

[Michael Yount]

There are SO MANY rotational sources for vibration -- if you don't need new tires, I'd go to another dealer and have them check balance. Also, watch 'em spin the tires up on the balance machine to see if any of the rims are bent. Rear axles can be bent, the axle flange can be bent, the driveshaft can be bent/dented, the ujoints can be bad; there can be internal tranny issues; clutch/flywheel issues; engine harmonic balancer issues - all can contribute to vibration in the car.

Just don't want to see you needlessly spend money unless you want new tires anyway. I don't have a lot of confidence based on what you've posted thus far that new tires are gonna solve the problem. In any event - I'm not sure I'd buy from the same place.

 

[CRASH7772]

If it has the stock driveshaft I would be willing to bet that's your vibration problem.