Tires: Vibration, front end vibration, bad tire

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2000 Celica w/80,000miles.  I had to brake hard at 90mph and it caused a front end vibration.  It feels like a front tire has a bump for every rotation.  Meaning the vibration increases with speed.  I have rotated the back tires to the front to see if there was any change.  It did seem to improve the vibration but hasn't gone away.  The tires I moved to the front are brand new and the tires that were on the front only had about half the tread left.  The vibration can also be felt in the steering wheel.  I am not sure if this is connected but at around the same time the vibration started I began to notice a noise in the steering column only when i turn right.  The car has to be under a load to make noise, it will not do it if just turning the steering back and forth at idle.  The first couple time i heard it I thought it was my keys settling, so thats what it sounds like.  It is quiet and does not do it everytime I turn right and it doesnt seem to matter how hard I am turning.  sometimes it does it at a slight turn and then not at a hard turn or visa versa.  Thankyou for your time.

ANSWER: Amber,

You have flat spotted the tires.  That is, you have ground of some of the rubber when you did the panic stop.  They are now phyiscally out of round.  You might actually be able to see it if you look carefully.  The flat spot will be a round shaped area on the tread.

There is nothing you can do to fix this.  So you will either have to live with it or replace the tires.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I looked for the spot, I didnt see one, but the vibration is pretty slight, most of my friends dont even feel it.  I have isolated the bad tire by rotating them around.  I guess my question is: is there any danger in not replacing it and is there any possibility it could just need balancing?  Also I did rule out the noise in the steering, it was just my alarm came loose.  Thanks for your earlier answer, I have asked several mechanics this same question and they all tell me cv joints, and it isn't, I have had cv joints go and this feels totally different.  Thanks again for your time, and I do believe your right on w/your answer.

Answer
Amber,

Aside from the annoyance factor, there is very little risk.

BTW, balancing will help, but that will not eliminate the out of round condition.  If the vibration is only slight, then I would think the cost of balancing would not be worth the trouble.