This is about my '86 pickup. I'd post it at a site more suitable for these pickups, but frankly, I believe all the best knowledge is at the Team Camaro and Chevelle sites.

So here's the problem. It's a 1986 half ton. With the stock wheels and tires, there is no vibration at any speed. Everything is good.

Now, I picked up a set of aluminum slot mags at the swapmeet. 15x10 with 275/60-15 for the rear, and 15x8.5 with 245/60-15 for the front. The front tires had about 10,000 miles left, so I went ahead and drove on them until they needed replacing. However, at freeway speeds (60-70 MPH) there was a vibration felt through the whole truck, including the steering wheel. Kind of a side-to-side shimmy.

I got new tires for the front now, figuring it would solve the problem. I asked the tire guy how they balanced, and he said "Just fine. No problems there." I took it out on the freeway, and the vibration is still there, but a little less.

Did I buy a bad set of wheels? Can a out-of-round wheel balance OK with a new set of tires? Any ideas on this?

Matt, check something for me. I worked in a tire shop years ago and when I got there my bosses Chevy truck did the same thing after adding wheels-nobody could figure it out. I finally got my turn at it and found the drum clips(look like star washers) were still on the drums and they didn't allow the wheel to sit flat on the drum. Factory wheels have recesses around every lug hole to leave room for those clips. Cut them off and recheck. I'm sure on a 86' they are gone by now but maybe somebody put them back, also check to make sure the drums and rotors don't have any debris on them. I also think who ever balanced the wheels did a bad job or tried to static balance(weights on the inside only) this is not a good balance. I balance mine with no weights showing but it takes me about 2 hours--no tire shop is going to spend the time to do it right for a customer-not at 8/per wheel to balance.

Dennis,
I know what you mean by the clips, but mine doesn't have them. I'll clean the mating surfaces real good to make sure everything is flat.

As far as the weights go, I believe they only put them on the inside (the ones that stick on the inner rim). There are none on the outside. Maybe there should be? As far as I can tell, none of the weights have fallen off either.

If the rears are out of balance, could it be felt through the steering wheel?

And Dennis, do you think I should take them back and get them rebalanced? What do I tell them to do?

I'd have them rebalanced-tell them to balance dynamically and put weights on both sides of the rims if they dont know how to do it properly with no weights showing-NO static balnce is not the right way contrary to what they may tell. You can always shoot down the coast to CA and I'll get them right.

There is a process called match-mounting in which the eaviest part of the tire is matched with the lightest part of the rim, there are some high tech balancers(Hunter) that can do it-I do my own with a regular machine it just takes longer. Sometimes they have to be match-mounted to get a good balance

I'll take them back and see what they say, I'll let you know.

I think they did do a dynamic balance, by the way.