What Causes Steering Wheel Shaking Above 100 MPH?
2 Answers
The reasons for steering wheel shaking when the vehicle speed exceeds 100 MPH are: 1. Poor tire dynamic balance: During driving, if a tire is subjected to strong local impact causing the balance weights to fall off or become damaged, it will affect the tire's dynamic balance; 2. Significant difference in tire pressure among the four tires: When there is a large difference in tire pressure between the four tires, especially between the left and right tires, the vehicle body will experience noticeable bumps and steering wheel shaking during high-speed driving; 3. Poor four-wheel alignment: When the four-wheel alignment has large deviation angles, the vehicle may experience body drift and shaking during high-speed driving.
The other day, I was driving on the highway at around 100 mph when the steering wheel suddenly started shaking violently—it nearly gave me a heart attack. I quickly pulled into a service area to check it out. The tire shop said it was due to improper wheel balancing—meaning the weight distribution wasn’t even when the tires rotated. The mechanic explained that small issues get magnified at high speeds, and if not fixed promptly, it could wear down the tire surface or even cause a blowout, which is terrifying. In my case, it was the front wheels that had the issue, and after rebalancing, everything was fine. Additionally, slight dents or deformations in the rims, or uneven brake discs due to heating and cooling, can also cause shaking. I recommend getting your tire balance checked every few thousand kilometers—safety comes first, and problems on the highway can be disastrous.
