Why does a car shakes at high speed ?
In everyday driving, many car owners encounter this problem: the steering wheel shakes and the car body vibrates at high speeds. This phenomenon not only affects driving comfort but can also pose a safety hazard. Industry experts point out that among the various contributing factors, tire imbalance and missing or malfunctioning wheel balance weights are the most common and easily overlooked key factors.
I Common Causes of Shaking at High Speeds
1.Tire imbalance
When the weight distribution of the tire and wheel assembly is uneven, high-speed rotation generates centrifugal force, directly causing steering wheel vibration. This situation usually occurs in the following cases:
- The new tires were not balanced after installation.
- The original wheel balance weights have fallen off or become worn out.
- The tires have uneven wear in certain areas.
2.Detached or improperly selected wheel balance weights
Wheel balance weights are important components used to correct the weight distribution of tires. If a balance weight falls off, is the wrong weight, or is not securely installed, the vehicle is most likely to experience noticeable shaking in the 80–120 km/h speed range.
3.Tire or Wheel Deformations
Prolonged overloading, road impacts, or poor-quality tires can cause slight deformation of the tires or wheels. This may not be noticeable at low speeds, but the vibrations will be amplified at high speeds.
4.Suspension and Steering System Problems
Although relatively uncommon, aging shock absorbers and worn ball joints can also exacerbate instability at high speeds.
II Why are balance weights so important for high-speed driving?
The core function of tire wheel balance weights is to counteract the uneven centrifugal forces generated during tire rotation. Especially at high speeds, even a weight difference of a few grams can be amplified into noticeable vibrations.
Professional automotive technicians generally agree that:
"When troubleshooting vehicle vibration problems at high speeds, tire dynamic balancing and the condition of the wheel balance weights should always be the primary items to check."
III. Choose high-quality wheel balance weights to reduce the risk of vibration at high speeds.
High-quality wheel balance weights are not only precisely weighted but also possess the following characteristics:
- Stable material density
- Excellent corrosion resistance and weather resistance
- Secure adhesive or clamping structure
As a professional automotive parts manufacturer, Shengshi Weiye has long focused on tire balancing solutions, offering a variety of adhesive wheel weights, clip-on wheel weights, and non-lead wheel weights. These products are widely used in passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and other vehicle types, effectively reducing vibration problems at high speeds.
IV How to determine if wheel balancing is needed?
Car owners can make a preliminary assessment based on the following symptoms:
- The steering wheel vibrates continuously at high speeds.
- Vibration is most noticeable within a specific speed range.
- The tires were replaced or repaired without subsequent rebalancing.
If any of the above situations occur, it is recommended to have the wheel balance checked as soon as possible and to inspect whether the balance weights are missing or worn out.
When a car shakes at high speeds, it's often not a random occurrence, but rather a "warning signal" from the tire balancing system. Promptly checking the tire condition and using reliable wheel balancing weights are crucial steps in ensuring driving safety and comfort.