I just bought a 2001 XK8 with 29,000 miles about 3 weeks ago.

It had a bad vibration in the steering wheel when I first bought it. The front tires were only 2 months old with only about 200 miles, the rear tires were very worn. The tire guy told me that the rear tires were causing the problem so I bought new ones. The problem did not go away. I got them to re-balance the front tires and they were out of balance and one of them had some pothole dings in it which showed up when they spun it. I got that wheel fixed when I was unable to find a new one anywhere. I just got it back yesterday. There is significant improvement, but still I feel some vibration at highway speeds.

Assuming that everything is perfect, how much vibration should I expect from this car at highway speeds? Should it be very smooth, or with the large wheels and low profile tires, should I expect a fair degree of vibration no matter what?

I'll do whatever it takes to make it right, but I don't want to be like a dog chasing his own tail. Thanks for any input.

 

wrong vehicle category.

 

I realize wrong category, but this issue would apply to all the Jaguars.

I too had a vibration. Come to find out, someone ran the tire when flat and wore the inside side walls off, causing a pile of rubber to roll around on the inside of the wheel. It would vibrate at times, and at other times not.

Long story short, when tire was replaced and all of them balanced CORRECTLY, absolutely ZERO vibration was left. Often times, the balancer guys are a little lazy and don't do the Single Ounce balancing they deserve. It does make a difference. I went from BIG vibration, to light vibration, to NONE now.

Also, be sure to verify correct tire pressure. It does make some difference.

As you can tell, I'm VERY picky about vibrations. Hate them!

 

1)Bent rim
2)Tire out of round
3)Rims are not properally balanced
Try moving front tires to rear and rear to front(if they are same size) also put right side on right side And left on left(you may have directional tires) I just noticed the low milage.....If a car sits in the same spot 4 extended periods of time, the tires will devolope Flat Spots that will cause wheel hop. Good Luck

 

Yes...applies to XJRs even MORE than regular XJ8s. I have never had a car so sensitive to wheel vibes....pressures must be correct and even around the car, balance must be beyond perfect...I have a home bubble balancer...VERY accurate and I can take my time. After the shop mounted and balanced my Avons, I found they were a few ounces out...and that's enough. Finally ANY pothole dink or even slight rim bend will give a vibe...I had all 4 wheels strighted on my 02...they were all bent, but only 1 rim was obviously so. Now I have the tiniest vibe left at 50mph...so I'm close. 1 more go around with one rim and I'll be done.

 

Good point, since the XJR is set up a little stiffer and low profile tires.

Ever since my first car (68 VW Bug) way back when, I've been picky about my wheels being balanced. Some technicians don't take the time to balance down to the ounce. I almost always feel it when on the road, and it drives me crazy. I always see it as unnecessary wear and tear on my vehicle that will cost me later.

For years, I've stood and watched them balance my wheels and when they start to take the wheel off the balancer while it still shows a bit out, I ask them to finish the job. And even then, I've run into some shops that cannot balance wheels, no matter what. I chalk it up to a balancer that is not calibrated properly and move on to another shop.

There is also the slight chance it is something else like the rotor. If you can find a shop that balances the wheels while on the car, that makes it a perfect balance, but they are VERY hard to find anymore.

Flash Gprdon's and pjkbrit's suggestions are both very good. Sometimes I move my tires around to find the exact one causing the problem when it is really slight.

Good luck!