Car Shaking After New Tires

You install a new set of tires in the car, and you set off for a drive. As you accelerate the car to a high speed, it starts shaking or vibrating. Sometimes, the shaking is evident at lower speeds too.

So, why is your car shaking after new tires? Imbalanced wheels or tires are the main reason behind shaking. Wheel alignment is also responsible for the problem. And if your tires are overinflated, you will feel a lot of vibration while driving.

We will go deeper into these reasons and show you how to solve these issues. Let’s get rolling.

Causes of Car Shaking After New Tires with Solutions

A set of new tires is expected to give a smooth ride. But that is not often the case. Check the following reasons for your car vibrating after installing new tires.

1. Imbalanced Tires 

When installing new tires on your car, technicians should balance them individually using wheel weights. These weights are distributed inside the wheel to correct the flaws. But if they aren’t properly distributed to alter the imperfections, you might experience shaking while driving the car. 

In some cases, the adhesive used in balancing the tires may be weak, and the weights can come out of their positions. This will also cause shaking. If the imbalance is slight, you might experience the problem once you reach highway speed.

But major imbalances will cause the car to vibrate even at lower speeds. And imbalance tires can cause other damages in the long term.

Solution: You should get the car to an experienced mechanic who can check the tire balance and correct imperfections. It might cost you about $50 for each tire.

2. Damaged Tires

If you regularly drive in poor road conditions, such as potholes or off-road with non-offroad tires, it can cause serious damage to the tires. In some cases, the tire can have structural damages that make the tires inappropriate for driving. 

Solution: When the structural integrity of the tires is compromised, you need to replace the tire, even if it’s new. Depending on the car type and tire brand, replacing each tire might cost $200-$350.

3. Damaged Rims

The above scenario is similarly harmful to the rims. Though these metal parts are quite sturdy, they can have dents if you continuously drive on bumpy roads. The dent may have developed when you didn’t change the tires. 

When you get a new set of tires installed, the problem becomes more visible. And you can feel vibrations on the steering wheel. Sometimes, mechanics can accidentally drop rims while replacing tires. Even a tiny dent on the rim will cause tremendous vibrations, especially at high speed. 

Solution: If minor dents cause the shaking, you should get it fixed. The cost can be about $50-$150. But if the damage is severe, you must replace the rims. Replacing each rim might cost from $200 to $500.

4. Flat Spots on Tires

When you regularly use the car, rotation of tires helps them maintain the round shape perfectly. But if you park the vehicle for a long time, the weight of the vehicle affects a specific area of the tire. This causes flat spots on tires. 

Next time you take the car out, the tire won’t be perfectly round and vibrate while driving. The problem intensifies if the tire pressure drops during the park. 

Solution: Once you start using the car after a long time, you should slightly overinflate the tires to get rid of the flat spot. You can also try high-speed cornering and braking to even the imperfections.

5. Misaligned Wheels

Sometimes, it isn’t the fault of the tires. The wheels can be misaligned, so the car will shake regardless of which tire you use. If the wheel hub is loosely connected, it might also cause vibration.

Solution: You should get the wheel alignment done when installing new tires to prevent such problems. It can cost about $50-$150 for all four wheels.

6. Improper Tire Inflation

If the tires are underinflated or overinflated, the shaking problem can increase over time. With overinflated tires, your car will produce more vibration and harsh noise. But if they are underinflated, tires will wear faster and have compromised performance.

Solution: Inflating the tires to the standard mentioned in the owner’s manual is the right thing to do here. 

7. Lack of Tire Rotation

After driving with a new set of tires for some time, you need to rotate the tires to ensure even wear. If you don’t turn them properly, uneven wear can cause vibrations. 

Solution: You can rotate the tires yourself with the necessary tools. Follow the instructions in the manual to get the job done.

8. Defective Tires

Though almost all new tires are perfectly round, a few can come with factory defects. In such cases, the shaking will sustain whatever solution you try. 

Solution: You must contact the manufacturer and claim a warranty, if possible, to get a new tire.

If your car is experiencing shaking issues, you might find our articles on car shaking after brake change and car shakes when releasing clutch in first gear helpful. Our article on car shaking after brake change discusses some of the most common causes of this issue, such as brake rotor problems, wheel balancing, and suspension issues. Meanwhile, our article on car shakes when releasing clutch in first gear explores how clutch problems, transmission issues, or engine mounts can cause shaking while shifting gears. Be sure to check out our resources on car shaking after brake change and car shakes when releasing clutch in first gear for more information.

FAQs

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Conclusion

The joy of getting new tires often fades away due to unwanted vibrations while driving the car. So, why is your car shaking after new tires? The possible causes can be imbalanced tires or wheels, damaged tires or rims, improper rotation of tires, flat spots, and overinflated tires. 

When you face these problems, you should follow the respective solution to stop your car from shaking.