Issues after bad balancing

[thebutlerdunnit]

I need some opinions before I go back to Costco and start complaining about my tires....

This is a 2011 Mazda3 s Sport, it has almost exactly 15000 miles. The story is as follows:

I bought 4 new tires two weeks ago Thursday (because I hated the oem tires). I drove it for 2 days and noticed a really bad vibration and noise. I went back and they checked the air pressure, told me to get an alignment and that one of my wheels was bent. He says there's no way it's the balancing, he did it himself. I scheduled an alignment with a different shop, but the guy wouldn't take my money, said it was already perfectly aligned. I had the wheels checked out by a friend of mine who is a wheel repair guy. He tells me that the wheels are true, no bends.

So after about a week (and 300 miles) back to Costco I go (a different location this time). This guy tells me "the other store has new people and they're not so good". He re-balances and tells me that the left front wheel had 2.5oz too much weight. I instantly notice a difference.

So now I've gone 4 full days after the re-balance and I'm starting to feel a vibration. It's not nearly as bad as before but my car used to be perfectly smooth. I'm wondering where I should go from here. Is my new tire messed up after going 300 miles with a bad balance or is there a bigger issue? I could always have them get me a new tire.

[Frnchplayr15]

It is possible you could have received a bad tire and if there is rim damaged that does effect it slightly depending on how much damage!

[thebutlerdunnit]

The rim isn't damaged.

[Frnchplayr15]

Originally Posted by thebutlerdunnit

The rim isn't damaged.

So did they do a road force balance because sometimes when you look at a rim it might not be damaged on the outside. The only way of knowing is through a road force balance test

[Toyotech]

What he is saying is there are two ways to balance, your normal balance throw it on the machine machine measure it out and go... gives weight to both sides and slap on the weights.

the other way is road force which is the true effective way. force force will give you the weight of any runout and will tell you if its a tire or wheel, perhaps being the tire needs to be broken down again and rebalanced with pressure on the wheel/tire as if your on the road.

[thebutlerdunnit]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. As far as I know, the independent tech I took it to did a road force balance and told me the rim was ok.

I spoke with the manager at the Costco where I made the purchase and they're taking these tires back and ordering me new ones to start over. They promise that they'll do a proper balance. I have to say this about Costco: they're willing to make you happy in the end.

I'll let you know how it goes. I suspect the left front tire is damaged or defective. That's what I get for buying new tires on the market where no reviews exist.

[Toyotech]

They aren't continentals are they?

glad it worked out for you, just wish the first time you returned they didn't turn there head. especially with him saying he did it himself...for all he knows you could have lost a weight driving off the lot.

[h.letchworth]

If they have been check and balanced I'd go for a defective tire.

I know when I got my new tires I threw a weight in the first week and it gave me a slight vibration thoughout the car.

[mazda3UR]

that would be my guess as well, slipped belt

[thebutlerdunnit]

They were Bridgestone Turanza Serenity +. They're on the car now, but history as soon as my new Michelins come in.