[Shaftcam]

I just traded in my 2012 Limited in for a 2014 Overland two weeks ago. Probably not a smart move, but it is what it is. Anyway, I have the same dreaded vibration at highway speeds I had with the old one that I chased for the whole year I owned it.

When I took the 2014 out for a test drive, it was smooth. I just came from a 2 hour drive and it is now exhibiting the same vibration characteristics as my previous one - smooth for the first 1/2 hour of driving at all speeds, then progressively worse at around 120 km/h and over. Strangely though, none through the steering wheel this time. I'm so sick of this. The dealership said they rears balanced out properly. I want to have it looked at by an independent shop but, like anyone, I want to be able to trust the job. I keep reading how the roadforce is only as good as the guy doing it.

Anyone have a shop in the Toronto/Mississauga/Scarborough area they can recommend?

 

[Setoutguy]

I dont but have a suggestion go to the local club website for Porsche Club or BMW Club and see if you can find someone there. Drivers who do drivers schools and track days will know where the best tire shop is in your area.

 

[oxman]

The following link should help you. Hunter GSP9700 Wheel vibration Control System solves wheel vibration and tire pull problems that balancers and aligners can't fix Please let us know whom you used and the progress of your issue. I live in the Toronto area too.

 

[Shaftcam]

I'll have to take some time and go through the list of shops around here. I want to try and find a proper "tire" specialist shop and avoid a dealership or chain at this point in my life.

Will report back. Probably not for a few weeks or as my schedule allows.

 

[Scottina06]

go to tirerack.com and see if they have any recommended installers in your area. they will list oif they have the raodforce machine

 

[Setoutguy]

No guarantee that the"Tire rack" shop is in any better than a chain the OP wants to avoid.

Did a quick Google for Toronto Porsche Club and found this:
Mantis Sport > Home or Auto Tuning, Vehicle Performance, Tuning Solutions, Mississauga, Performance Parts, Car Tuning Parts, Woodbridge, Toronto call them for their recommended tire store and
according to local forum Mantis sells tires and wheels
Braidan Wheel & Tire in Markham Richmond Hill Pickering ON sponsor on Toronto Porsche Club website

Local BMW car club website BMW Club of Canada, Trillium Chapter |
From the local BMW Car Club try Premier Wheels Direct

 

[Scottina06]

I wasnt saying they were better...just that they list roadforce balancers usually.

Reading comprehension is a virtue

 

[Setoutguy]

go to tirerack.com and see if they have any recommended installers in your area. they will list oif they have the raodforce machine

Scott,

Spelling is important too. Did you read the OPs post carefully? He wasnt searching for a shop with with a Roadforce balance machine specifically.
He was looking for a competent tire store. Big difference.

Manufacturer of the tire balancer isnt as important as the how skilled the tire techs are in using it and in resolving tire and wheel balance issues. Some makes of tires and certain models are notorious for being hard to balance.
Shop also needs to spend the time and make sure customer isnt getting an out of spec tire or one that is difficult to balance just for the sake the bottom line.

Tire shops that handle guys and girls who do drivers schools and track days should have someone who can solve the OP's problems. Shop I use can balance the tire and wheel while they are on the vehicle.

We used to balance tires at the track for SCCA Regional racing w/o any high tech equipment when there wasnt any trackside tire support from Goodyear if we had to.
Back in the day the Goodyear tires for 934 I crewed on at the 24 hrs of Dyatona were balanced w/o a Roadforce. Its the skill of the tire tech and not the machine.

 

[Setoutguy]

BTW I checked recommended installers in my area at the Tirerack website and most of them are chains. If I had a balance issue none of these shops would be my first choice and I wouldnt take any high performance vehicle to any of Tire Racks recommended installers.

 

[Scottina06]

"reputable tire store/roadforce balancer" To me that means he's looking for a reputable shop that uses a roadforce balance machine.

I offered the Op ONE solution. On tireracks site you can search by area and then each shop is rated by the consumers. Tireracks database just suggests. In my area...there was only one "chain" store and it turned out to have the BEST equipment and BEST tire techs according to the reviews. It also had the best pricing FWIW. I was NOT saying it should be the end all to his search....but it does help when he doesn't have a former 24 hr pro team member that can balance the tires on spot using spit and a rock. Im sorry...but it does make a difference to have the best equipment....and that's my opinion. Im not saying that the best equipment means the best service. Its best to go with word of mouth or unbiased reviews if you can filter them from the BS reviews. Obviously OP there are other ways to find a reputable shop.....setoutguy makes some good points other than being a condensending ass.

 

[Dimes]

A shout out to this thread....I decided to take my 2000 Wrangler to a shop with one of those Hunter Road Force Balancing machines. I've had vibration at 65mph for years, and the tire shop I use could do nothing. So I found a shop that could road force balance, and so far it looks like it has worked a charm.
Side note - I found a list of local shops on the Hunter website. First place I called quoted my $232.00. Next one I called was $80.00. The inefficiencies in the auto maintenance business are scary.

 

[BradWK2]

"reputable tire store/roadforce balancer" To me that means he's looking for a reputable shop that uses a roadforce balance machine.

I offered the Op ONE solution. On tireracks site you can search by area and then each shop is rated by the consumers. Tireracks database just suggests. In my area...there was only one "chain" store and it turned out to have the BEST equipment and BEST tire techs according to the reviews. It also had the best pricing FWIW. I was NOT saying it should be the end all to his search....but it does help when he doesn't have a former 24 hr pro team member that can balance the tires on spot using spit and a rock. Im sorry...but it does make a difference to have the best equipment....and that's my opinion. Im not saying that the best equipment means the best service. Its best to go with word of mouth or unbiased reviews if you can filter them from the BS reviews. Obviously OP there are other ways to find a reputable shop.....setoutguy makes some good points other than being a condensending ass.

He is a condescending ass on many threads Scott and I am frankly getting tired of reading it as I think many are.

 

[loveracing1988]

He is a condescending ass on many threads Scott and I am frankly getting tired of reading it as I think many are.

Not many threads, forums. He was pretty much kicked off the other forum.

 

[Shaftcam]

Folks, I want to thank everyone for their interest and reply to my thread. For me, it's become a question of efficiencies, meaning I'll forgo the free and repeated balance checks at the dealer and pay for a proper analysis of my tires as long as I come out of it with a properly balanced set of tires or a document that says tires(s) x,y or z are defective. That's where "reputable" comes in. But the consensus seems to be that a road force balance is what's needed.

Like everyone else, I don't have the luxury of repeated visits anywhere to get this sorted out, and like another member said on another post about the vibration issue, it's the tires. I have to believe he's right even with my limited mechanical knowledge.

Anyway, lots of ideas for me to sift through. Thanks again.

 

[Shaftcam]

Sorry for bringing up an old thread, but since I started it I thought it might be useful to update the GTA / Toronto area owners. I took a chance at getting my road force balance done at a local Canadian Tire (Lakeshore and Leslie) because it's close by. Well, the vibration is GONE...

Acceleration is smooth up to and past the 120 km/h shake. I know they get a bad rep up here but the shop looks pretty modern and it's busy. The service guy was great and I even got to speak to the tech afterwards who pointed out that my front passenger tire didn't even need a strip of weight by the valve side. Best tires (with the least weight) are up front. I did have to take it back once because a weight fell off but they took me in right away and re-did them all.

Anyway, an FYI for those in the area.

 

[onyxelite]

Jump Start Auto Inc

1165 O'Connor Dr, East York, ON M4B 2T5
(416) 285-0733