Tire (wheel?) problem -- advice needed
 

Over the weekend I reinstalled the winter tires/wheels on my 2004 VW R32. When I drove the car after installing the snow tires I noticed a rather severe vibration coming from the front (I think) when turning right (above 20 mph or so).

The facts:

- The tires are 17" Michelin Pilot Alpins (215-50-17s, I think) mounted on dedicated wheels (i.e., not the wheels used for my summer tires) -- the tires have been on the wheels since new.

- The tires have been used for 2 winters (approx. 20,000 miles) with no problems before.

- Tires/wheels were stored stacked (with cardboard between each tire) in my garage since I took them off the car in April 2007

- I rotated the tires (from their previous location last winter) with this installation (LF to LR; LR to LF; RF to RR; RR to RF), as I have each year.

After I felt the vibration, I removed both front tires/wheels & reinstalled them to make sure that I hadn't installed them poorly. The vibration continued. And today, I noticed a minor vibration above 60 mph or so even when not turning.

The problem seems to be coming from the left front. I thought I might try to rotate the left side tires (F to R & R to F) tonight to see if the problem goes away.

Could something have happened to the tire while it was off the car? Or maybe there is a problem with 1 tire that only occurs when it is on the front?

Can anyone think of anything else I can try? If I can't figure the problem out by myself I will take it to a tire store, but I would like to avoid that hassle if I can.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Is it possible you lost a wheel weight when you were storying them? Are they clip on wheel weights or the stick on ones?

Take it to the tire store. They'll check the balance and you'll have your answer.

I'd second that- get the balance checked first before you expend anymore brainpower on it.

Check the balance. My Starion had these uber light aluminum wheels. In the winter I used to have to remove all snow build up as even a small amount of ice would cause massive vibration.

water inside tire? It's happened to me...

Wow, you guys are quick!

I did not see any wheel weights in the garage, but I suppose it is possible one could have fallen off. I guess I thought, based on my previous experience, that an unbalanced wheel would vibrate when going straight. I thought this might be different because it is so pronounced when turning right only that there may be some other problem, like a defective tire. I don't notice a vibration when going straight until around 60 mph, & it is much less severe than when turning when going as slowly as 20 mph.

Or maybe a wheel weight fell off last winter & I didn't notice because the wheel was in the rear.

Thanks guys. I will get it to a tire store, but I can't do it until tomorrow night because I have a meeting tonight. I am hoping they don't find a bent wheel that can't be fixed because the wheels (Mille Miglia Spider IIs) have been discontinued.

Thanks again.