On Wed, 24 Sep 1997 21:51:03 -0300, Greg Bleakney
<blea...@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

>Hi All,
>I have a 95 Escort wagon and recently put on a set of Volkswagon Passat
>aluminum rims with 195-60-14 tires. Since the swap I've noticed a VERY
>Slight vibration at 110 - 120 kms / hr. I have had all wheels balanced
>twice, checked carefully for bent rims (none found), had a 4 wheel
>alignment, swapped wheels front to back, and the shake is still there.

Can you swap a pair of your old wheels and tires back on?
Is the vibration noticeable in the steering wheel (front tires) or the
seat (maybe rear tires).
Do the VW wheels fit snugly on a machined register on the hubs?
Relying on the wheel bolt/studs to center a tire is something only
Honda dares try.  An off center tire is out of balance, and causes a
mechanical hopping motion as well.  If the tires were balanced on a
machine, off the car, the brake drums/rotors sometimes have
significant unbalance that is not compensated for.  You didn't change
brake parts when you swapped wheels, did you?
Chrysler used to say police car wheel >>and tire<< runout had to be
less than 0.09 inch for high speed smoothness.  Look at the mold lines
on your tires.  Are there several running across the tread  into the
sidewall?  Then they may have been made in segmented molds, and would
be considered premium tires.  It;s easier to keep the belts and stuff
centered with a segmented mold.  Less expensive tires are made in a
clamshell mold, and had a single mold line right down the middle of
the tread, which is probably worn off by now.  Some manufacturers put
fake segmented mold lines in their clamshell molds.   Good luck,

Dan