QuestionI bought a 2006 Honda Accord EX V6 with 17" (50 sidewall) Michelin Pilots. I have less then 2000 miles and have had the car back to the dealer and 2 tire shops 5 times to no avail.
I live in a cold climate and when I hit highway speeds in the car (60mph+) when the tires are cold, I get a vibration (not a shimey) in the vehicle and audible road noise (sounds like severe cupping).
After 5 minutes at highway speeds, the vibration and noise goes away. The vehicle can sit for as little as 3-4 hours and produce the same results at initial highway speeds. The colder the weather, the worse it is.
Dealer claims it's flat spots and cannot be corrected. 2 tire shops claim much the same and advised that I cannot do anything to correct this.
I had a BMW 325CI with 17" (45's) without any of these issues (also Michelins), so I am questioning the validity of the dealer/tire shops.
Can you help? Perhaps a different tire, softer compound (non-performance)? I don't use the vehicle for performance driving, so would be willing to give up handling for a smoother ride (e.g. touring vs. performance).
Appreciate any inisght you may have.
AnswerIn some respects, there isn't much you can do. The nylon in the tires is shrinking where the tire is flatten by the road surface when the tire cools, and until it warms up, the tire doesn't want to change shape.
Some vehicles are much more senstive than others to this, and I suspect your Honda is one of those.
One way to improve the situation is to use a higher inflation pressure. Try 3 to 5 psi above what it says on the placard.
