Can over inflated tyres cause vibration?

Vehicle vibrations can be annoying, but left unchecked they can be fatal. Over inflated tyres are just one of the causes which are easy to put right.

If you’re experiencing vehicle vibrations the most likely cause is your wheels becoming unbalanced or going out of alignment. When your tyres are fitted, our qualified fitters use weights to ensure your tyres are in perfect balance with each other. Over time these wheel weights can become dislodged causing the wheels to go out of balance and cause vibrations.
 
Vehicle alignment or tracking is another factor when it comes to a smooth ride. Vibration in the steering wheel is a telltale sign that the wheels are no longer aligned.

Tyre and rim damage is another culprit when it comes to pinpointing the source of vehicle vibration. There are a number of ways in which your tyres can become damaged, including:
 

• Impact damage if you hit a kerb or pothole

• Internal delamination

• Sidewall bulges

• Uneven wear caused by misalignment

 
A regular tyre check should spot any wear and tear issues and replacing your tyres should sort out the vibration issue.

If you haven’t used your car for a while, your tyres can develop flat spots. This should put itself right after a few miles but until it does, you can experience vehicle vibration.

It’s important for the lifespan of your tyres that you keep them at the right pressure. Both under and over inflation can cause tyre damage that leads to vehicle vibration.
 

• Under inflated tyres have too much traction and wear unevenly on the edges of the tyre

• Over inflated tyres give an uncomfortable ride, compromise handling, and wear unevenly across the centre of the tread

 
Always check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold and do the 20p tread test to make sure they’re street legal.

Another cause of tyre wear and vehicle vibration is a failure to properly rotate your tyres. Front tyres can last for around 20,000 miles and rear tyres up to double that so regular rotation can help to even out the wear and prevent vibration.

It’s not only tyres that can cause vibrations when driving. There are a number of other potential causes including:
 

• Wear and tear to suspension components such as shocks and struts

• Engine mount issues

• Loose or damaged lug nuts

• Warped or damaged brake rotors

• Damaged tie rod bushings or wheel bearings

 
It’s important that you have any vibration diagnosed by the professionals in the interests of general maintenance and safety.
 
This is a problem that will only worsen over time so whatever the cause, our tyre professionals can help you find and fix the problem.

At Protyre we do more than supply tyres from big brands such as Bridgestone and Pirelli. Book in for your free tyre check today and we’ll help you keep your car on the road and in great shape.