Victor Equipment Innsbrucks, Other Wheels, Tiress and Balancing

Folks, I am now getting a vibration starting at about 60 to 70 MPH. With Atlanta highways, it is hard to tell but it feels like a wheel out of balance. (Right front). No alignment issues, at least perceptible to me. (It may also be the crappy surface on Atlanta highways that always exists. I get no vibration at road speeds on surface streets and hit a smooth surface street this AM at about 45. You'd think I'd feel the beginnings of vibration and I was looking for it). Questions... 1. Has anyone ever bent a Victor Innsbruck? Mine are 18s and I drive them sensibly. There are potholes that I have hit but I see no "... pinch" mark or scuff on the tire sidewall... I bent my stock rims more than a few times and hope that hasn't happened here on the Innsbruck. (At least they are cheap... Ahem... Affordable). I thought they were pretty strong, albeit not the lightest. 2. I've looked and it really doesn't seem like I've lost a balance weight. (I may have missed it). So, Can you go out of balance with simply wear and not throwing a weight or wiping out? +++ I know this is a "... Pig in a Poke" question and most of you will tell me to get it to shop, which I will in the next week... I'm just scratching my head on whether it is possible to bend an Innsbruck with no showing of sidewall trauma and no alignment issues and no missing balance weight that I can see... And, I'm hoping tires can go out of balance with simple use and streat car wear and tear. (Continental DWS). For you suspension and tire gurus... Any help? Thanks, JKC

I'm guessing you got a "single plane" static balance where the weights are placed in 1 spot on the backside of the wheel. A precision balance requires weight to be placed in 2 areas to "dynamicly" counteract imbalance in 2 planes. Up & down motion & side to side motion. It takes a properly trained "tech" to know how to do this & place the weights on the backside of the wheel despite where the balance machine indicates. Obviously the wheel being true & balanced helps, along with quality tires. (Michelin being best) Alignment is not a factor, neither is tire wear until it is obviously irregular wear. Higher air psi is more prone to cause vibrations. Disregard vibrations from cold weather flat spotting that disapear when warmed to operating temp.

My guess is you lost a weight. You should tape them to the wheel. Aluminum foil tape for ducts works well. If you tracked the car Id say the tire spun on the wheel but you say sensible street miles only. Correct?