One of the worst experiences any driver or car owner can have is a tire that wobbles either at low or high speed. The car will no longer drive smoothly as it moves from side to side without any visible cause.
There are several reasons why it feels like your tire is wobbling at low speed. It’s better to have the car inspected to know why the wobbling occurs because driving a car that wobbles at low speed is not safe.
Reasons Feels Like My Tire is Wobbling at Low Speed
The reasons why it feels like your tire is wobbling at low speed are:
1. Low Tire Pressure
One of the common causes of wobbling tires at low speeds is usually low tire pressure. When the pressure in your tire is very low, the car will not be able to drive the way it should. The driving capacity will be compromised.
Other dangers of driving with low tire pressure are poor gas mileage, tire failure and blowouts, and premature and uneven wear. Therefore, if you’re experiencing a wobbling tire at low speed, check your tire pressure.
2. Problem with the Axles
If your axles have gone bad, it will affect the movement of your car. It can cause the tire to wobble at low speeds.
The best thing to do is to test the axle to see if it’s the culprit. The best tool for this testing would be the axle wrench, use it to lift the axle off the ground and ensure it’s even with the ground.
However, if while lifting the axle it shows an uneven movement, then the problem is the axle. If you don’t know how to do this testing yourself, I’d suggest you take your car to a professional.
As reiterated earlier, it’s not safe to drive a car with a bad axle especially one that causes the tire to wobble.
3. Misalignment
When your car is not properly aligned, it may cause the car to wobble and move from side to side. I experienced this problem after replacing my steering rack, while I was driving the car to an auto shop where the alignment would be done, the car was just wobbly and moving from side to side. However, the problem stopped immediately after the alignment was completed.
Therefore, apart from having a low tire pressure, misalignment could be the cause of the problem.
4. Wheel Balancing
People underestimate the power of wheel balancing. If your wheel is not balanced, it can cause the tire to wobble at low speeds. Always balance your tire anytime you replace or remove the tire from the rim.
5. Worn Out Tire
If your tire is bad or worn out with uneven thread, it can cause the tire to wobble at low speed.
If your tire has eaten its thread on one side, the tire thread will become uneven hence why it wobbles. Therefore, check your four tires and replace them if they are no longer in good condition.
6. Damaged Engine Mount
Bad engine mounts may cause your car to feel wobbly. The engine mounts are made to hold your engine steady and prevent it from moving as you drive. However, if one or two of the mounts go bad, it may cause your car to feel wobbly.
7. Damaged Transmission Mount
I’ve had transmission damage in the past and I know what I went through until it was fixed. A damaged transmission mount can contribute to a wobbly feel when driving.
Inspect the mount to be sure it’s still in good condition. Have it replaced immediately if it’s no longer in good condition?
8. Rims that are Bent from Hitting a Curb
If you were in an accident or hit a curb before your tire started feeling wobbling at low speed, the truth is, it could be that your rim was bent and no longer in good shape, hence why it’s affecting your diving.
Check all four rims and see if one is bent or out of shape as a result of an accident and replace it immediately.
10. Damaged Wheel Bearing
Since the wheel bearing is what connects the car’s hub to the axle on each wheel, you will definitely feel an impact when the bearing goes bad. It can cause the wobble feeling you get while driving.
Therefore, if by now you’re yet to get a solution to what could be the cause of the problem, it may interest you to know that wheel bearing can be the cause. Have it checked and replaced immediately.
11. Loose Lug Nut
If your lug nuts are not tightened properly, it can cause your tire to wobble. Tighten all four tires’ lug nuts to be sure that they are properly tightened. The same goes for other bolts and nuts on your tire.
12. Damaged Suspension
If your shock absorber has gone bad or your suspension is failing, it may cause your car to fail. Have the suspension checked to be sure they are not the cause of your problem.
These are the major causes of wobbling feeling while driving at low speed. One or two of the explained causes above should be the problem you’re having.
The good news is that these problems can be fixed or replaced. They are not something that will make you sell or stop using your car. Once you discover the real culprit and have it fixed or replaced, the problem will be gone immediately.
Solutions to Wobbling Tire at Low-Speed
- Ensure your tire has the accurate pressure it needs to function. Once you notice that your tire is low, gauge it with the appropriate pressure it needs and you should be good to go.
- If the axle is the problem, have it replaced to end the wobbling issue.
- Always check your alignment, especially after working on your car legs. It’s very important. If the alignment is not correct, it won’t cost you too much to have it done.
- If wheel balancing is the problem, it is a simple fix, visit an auto shop where they perform wheel balancing and have your tire balanced.
- If your tires are worn out or damaged, have them replaced immediately.
- Inspect your engine and transmission mounts, if they have gone bad, have them replaced immediately.
- If having a bent rim is the cause of the wobble feel while driving at low speed, then the solution would be to replace the rim immediately. It shouldn’t take much of your time at all.
- If the wheel bearing is the problem, you should have it replaced as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
If you are driving and your car starts to feel wobbling at low speed, don’t be afraid, if you can still be able to drive the car to an auto shop or home, go ahead but if the wobbling is too much that driving is not possible, you can park by the side of the road and call a tow truck. Tow the car to an auto shop have them look for what caused the problem and have the parts replaced immediately.
