What Causes Steering Wheel Vibration When the Vehicle Exceeds 120 km/h?
2 Answers
This is caused by an issue with the wheel balance of the car. A car's wheel is an assembly consisting of the tire and the rim. However, due to manufacturing tolerances, the mass distribution of this assembly may not be perfectly uniform. When the car's wheels rotate at high speeds, this can lead to dynamic imbalance, resulting in wheel vibration and steering wheel shaking during driving. The primary cause of steering wheel vibration at high speeds lies in the wheels, and there are five possible wheel-related factors: 1. Uneven tire pressure among the four wheels (especially the front two). 2. Uneven tread wear on the four wheels (one-sided tire wear). 3. The rims of the four wheels are not perfectly round (steel or aluminum rims deformed into an oval shape). 4. No alignment correction was performed after replacing the four wheels' tires. 5. One of the tires has been punctured by a foreign object, creating a bulge on the tread. This may not be noticeable at low speeds (absorbed by the suspension system), but once the car reaches high speeds, the resulting frequency vibration becomes very apparent. Inspecting the tires can help identify the issue.
Oh, I often encounter this issue while driving. The steering wheel starts shaking when the speed exceeds around 120 km/h, and it feels like the whole car is vibrating. The most common causes are unbalanced tires or slightly deformed rims, uneven tire wear after long-term use, or rim impact from roadside collisions causing eccentricity. Another possibility is loose suspension components, or aging springs and shock absorbers affecting grip. Warped brake discs can also cause shaking, which may be more noticeable when braking. Personally, I would first check tire pressure to ensure even inflation. If that doesn't help, I'd go to a shop for wheel balancing or rim alignment. Pay attention to road potholes while driving, and regular suspension maintenance can reduce such problems. If the shaking is severe, don't force it - safety first! It's best to have it checked and resolved at a professional repair shop.
