So I have had a set of SportMax 941 wheels on the factory tires.

http://www.wheelmax.com/product.asp?ProdId=14765

For quite some time now, I've noticed a vibration in the steering wheel that only occurs at 75MPH or more. Sometimes it's worse than other times, and sometimes it's just subtle. Speeds below that, it's smooth as can be, and I've had the balance and the alignment checked, both come out fine.

I'm guessing it could just be that these wheels are just cheap wheels that aren't meant for high speeds and since they aren't designed specifically for the xB, perhaps they just aren't working out. That make sense?

I also have some Tanabe DF210s, which have lowered the suspension like 2in or so, a pretty good drop, so i'm not sure if that is factoring in here as well.

My thoughts are to get some new tires (I'm at 35K on the originals anyways) and have them mounted on the lame factory wheels and see if the vibration is eliminated. If it is, the question then is how do I know what kind of aftermarket wheels I can get that won't cause any type of issues?

I know that the SportMax did require a hub kit and so on, so maybe that's just not doing the job properly, but are there any aftermarket wheels (such as the TRDs) that don't require a hub kit and are designed to fit the xB?

Hope all this makes sense...I'm just trying to solve the problem that is causing the steering to vibrate so much at 75+

 

its your tires!

 

Hrmmm...i thought about that too...but I've really noticed this for a while now...

you think it could just be the tires and not the wheels?

 

I might try rotating the front tires to the rear and see if that does anything. If it doesn't shake, I might be able to isolate it to the wheels.

 

This usually only occurs when your
tires aren't balanced properly.

 

its either alignment or balancing the tires

 

I dont think it sthe wheels... If they are properly balanced then you shouldnt have a problem. I will almost guarantee its your tire(s)... I had the same problem but with the original wheels. It was one of my tires which had a flat spot on it and so made my steering wheel shake at about 60-75. Changed the tire and problem solved.

 

it's high speed balancing. you tires are out of balance.

 

a good tire shop can spot a bad tire.
have them look and look again.
its not your wheels.
sportmax are a bit cheep on price, but thats not your problem.
ive had my sportmax for at lease 6 months with no problems

 

Ive had my sportmax for about 2 yrs with no problems.

I know you said it checked out already, but it sounds like a balancing issue. Not sure if you know it or not, but wheels and tires naturally have a high point. If you mate the two different high points together, you will have vibration issues regardless of balance.

You might have to remove the tires from the wheels, remount and try to balance again.

 

I had to use hubcentric rings for my 501's. I have the 210s as well and still got a bit of vibration at high speeds (setup was ith new wheels and tires)but not too bad.

 

So today I had the wheels/tires from the front rotated to the back and the vibration is gone.

Must be a balancing issue with one of the wheels/tires that's now in the rear.

The shop said that when they balance it's good up to about 65MPH. Aren't there places that can do a higher speed balance? I guess that's what I'd need.

At least now I know it's an issues with one of the two wheels that's now in the rear. They said the tires looked fine. Said there weren't any flat spots and that the tread was about 50% worn. So it seems isolated to the wheels...one of the ones now in the rear.

 

its not your wheels.
you need to have someone do a better balence or check for a tread seperation. a tread seperation is not easly seen but someone that knows what to look for can spot it right away, you have to look down the tread wille the tire is spinning.

 

Ya, I know I need to find a place that does balancing better, that can actually do them at higher speeds as well.

 

If you want to take them to a good balancing machine, go to www.gsp9700.com and find a local machine in your area and take it there. They will determine if you have a faulty tire or if you wheels are out of round. I hope this helps a bit. If everything works out with that balancing machine then you definately have a problem with a hub centric ring.

 

The place I took it, Just Tires, has one of those...I didn't have them check it tho.

they just moved the fronts to the rear and it seems a good deal more smooth now.

down the road if i end up rotating them back, i'll have them check them out.

 

i had the same ish on the 15x8 002's got rid of them. wack wheels and fake JDM

 

i bet you changed your tires at the same time.

the only way one of your "rims" is would be that out of balence is if hit a curb or it was drop from much higher then waist high.

90% of the time its your tires/balence issue.
i have sportmax nad know plenty of other people that have sportmax with 0 problems.