hundo

I have a 2005 honda civic dx. I recently got new rims and new tires.
Sigma hr 558 88t Hero: I know they are really cheap.
14" Kosei alloys

I first bought the tires and had them put on the stock steel rims. Right after, I drove on the highway and got a shimmy in the front end. Steering wheel shakes between 60 and 70mph.
Goes away till 80mph. When I let the load off, no braking, it shimmies a little.
So I went back to the tire shop and they said that my steel rims were bent.
So I bought the Kosei rims and had them put on. But there is still a shimmy.
Went back to the tire shop and they rebalanced them. Put weights on the outside instead of the sticky inside ones. Still shimmies.

I drove the new tires on the bent steel rims for about two hundred miles, before I got the new rims.
1) Would this have warped the tire or tires?
2) Are the crappy cheap Sigma's the culprit cuz they aren't the best tire?
3) What's up with hubcentric rings?
4) If I drive enough with the new tires and rims, will they eventually break in and the shimmies will go away?

I've had the ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, and the struts checked out and they are all tight.
I am certainly not an expert of any kind so any advice and solutions would help.
Thanks.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

1. Did you ever get the wheels balanced? Because, wheel weights can fall off.

2. Hubcentric rings are designed to keep the wheels' hubs centered around the car's hubs. You could need this, if the Kosei's have a massive center bore, but it's doubtful that this is the cause.

hundo

yeah i went back and they rebalanced them. but who knows even if the second time was done right also.
should i go to another shop and just spend the money and have another balance done?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hundo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah i went back and they rebalanced them. but who knows even if the second time was done right also.
should i go to another shop and just spend the money and have another balance done?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would say that it stands a high chance that your wheels are out of balance. But, I do not know for sure as I've never seen your car or ridden in it.

hundo

Thanks, i'll go to another shop and have them balance them again.
Does anybody know if there is any resources online that would have a review of this tire?

hundo

o and i got the name the tires wrong. they are Hero HR 558

It Wasn't Me

I have the exact same problem! I put 16" rims with Toyo Prox 4's on my 02 EX coupe and ended up with 'freeway shimmies'. I went back to Schwab's to have them rebalance the wheels..but they were fine. Problem continued.
So.. I go back again and have them rotated.. didn't help.

Had front end, brakes, alignment inspected and corrected.. and STILL.. 'freeway shimmies' between 65 and 75 MPH. Some days it seems worse than others.. and sometimes it doesn't seem to do it at all.. so I said F@*# it and gave up worrying about it. It would still be nice to know what causes it, though.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Looking at your tie rod ends, compliance bushings, ball joints, and other wear components in the suspension could show you a problem.

hundo

well no offense but i am glad i am not alone in this mysteries shimmy.
i read some where that the tires themselves could be defective or one of them could be, but you cant tell by just looking at them.

hundo

The last time I went back to the shop I had them inspect any parts for wear including the ones you mentioned in your post. They said everything was tight.
Maybe I'll go somewhere else and have them inspect them....

It Wasn't Me

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by toyomatt84 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looking at your tie rod ends, compliance bushings, ball joints, and other wear components in the suspension could show you a problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

- They all checked out a few months ago. *shrug* Maybe some new rims will do the trick. I can't stand the rims I have now, anyway.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hundo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well no offense but i am glad i am not alone in this mysteries shimmy.
i read some where that the tires themselves could be defective or one of them could be, but you cant tell by just looking at them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

- Had mine rotated at time of inspection hoping it'd help .. it didn't. (tossed my own 'unbalance' or 'defective tire' theories out the window) Chances of more than 1/4 new tires being defective is pretty slim. Eventually someone will figure it out. Let's just hope they share the knowledge.