Wheel vibration and long term effects?

[rh71]

I have experienced a vibration with my X5 whenever going above 60mph ever since getting aftermarket wheels. After numerous balances (including road-force), it persisted. I should also mention I have spacers on there (but vibe was there before spacers). Recently a normal balance made it ok again, but shortly after, it reverted to vibrating above 60mph again. It looks like I'll have to deal with this until I get another set of wheels, but in the meantime, will driving like this hurt the vehicle mechanically (specific parts, etc.)? It's a nearly 6000lb car but I only do about 20 percent highway so I want to know if this is still something to really worry about, for the good of the car.

[ECS Tuning]

Vibrations can wear out suspension components due to the added stress. Are your wheels hubcentric?

James with ECS

[rh71]

the site I purchased from listed it as 74.1mm which should match without hub rings. Some posts say the E70 is 74.0mm though. I didn't get it bored or anything - it just went on. Nobody has brought that up before so it has me thinking - would it even go on properly if slightly off? Would it cause such vibration (root cause as opposed to symptom)?

Why would it disappear and re-appear after some time? Baffled for years.

[ECS Tuning]

Correct E70 bore is 74.1. The wheels should be a dead match there. The car drives perfectly fine on the stock wheels correct? That leads me to believe there is an issue with the aftermarket wheels or the tires on them.

ECS Tuning

[rh71]

Can someone explain how an out of round rim could lead to this seeing that the tire surrounding it is filled with air (cushion) to take a round shape anyway? Is it the spinning of the imperfectly circular - (eliptical?) rim itself that's throwing it off? Does this explain why it's only happening at greater speed and not on slower, local roads? If so, it should be obvious it's the rim rather than the tire. Just trying to determine if replacing the rims onto the current tires will solve this. Not wanting to replace both since the tires still have some good tread life left.

[Price]

Is it just one wheel that causes the problems?

[rh71]

Originally Posted by Price

Is it just one wheel that causes the problems?

can't tell... it's either or both of the rears... and it's not like I can swap them left to right or front to back.

[Price]

Originally Posted by rh71

and it's not like I can swap them left to right or front to back.

Why? Left/right shouldn't be an issue, and my guess the 315 will even fit in front, you just won't be able to steer all the way, but for a quick road test should be fine.