Tires: steering wheel violently wobbles over 45mph, Tire Balancing

Question
We had our relatively new tires on our odessy rotated and rebalanced 3 days ago. All was good with cars performance. We now have a significant amount of tar on the tires from workers resuracing outside our home and not informing us of the tar. Now when I go on the freeway over 45mph there is a signifcant shaking of the steering wheel which increases with speed. My question is that if there is road tar on all the tires covering various parts of each tire, will this cause the steering to shake and should we get it removed or buy new tires? we where told it would just come off. But with the steering shaking surely that can not be good or safe for the car?

Answer
Andy,

It seems quite likely that the road tar is throwing the balance off.  You could buy new tires, but it will eventually wear off.

But unless the vibration is quite severe - and you are driving fairly aggressively, the safety issue is pretty small.

Here's what I would do.  Go back to where you purchased the tires.  Tell them about your problem.  Hopefully, they'll suggest that the tires be rebalanced (for free) and then when the tar comes off and the vibration returns, that they rebalance the tires (for free) then.