Volvo Car USA LLC

Technical Journal

Technical Journal Title

Ref. No.

Vibrations due to wheel / tire

TJ 32161.15.0

Issuer (Dept.)

Issue Date

Status Date

Technical Service

5/10/23

5/24/23

Car Market

Partner

Function Group

United States and Canada 3 US 7510 Volvo Car USA 7726
Function Description

Page

Summer tire, separate

Page 1 of 6

Attachment
File Name

File Size

TJ 32161 - 1.jpg

0.0944 MB

TJ 32161 - 2.jpg

0.0474 MB

Rows beginning with * are modified
Note! If using a printed copy of this Technical Journal, first check for the latest online version.

DESCRIPTION:
If vibrations occur in the car while driving high speed / freeway driving, follow advice under Service.
Vibrations may occur due to several reasons, usually driveline (especially AWD vehicles), or wheels.
Tire uniformity is not unique for Volvo cars but could be more frequent when using bigger tire
dimensions, for more information about tire uniformity, please read here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact
=8&ved=0ahUKEwj2ndir_aPaAhWItlkKHZ72DmwQFghtMAw&url=https%3A%2F%2F
www.iso.org%2Fobp%2Fui%2F%23!iso%3Astd%3A21715%3Aen&usg=AOvVaw1PGF1BgNumOeW0r9dC3MO
A good video describing road forces can be seen here:
http://www.volvotechinfo.com/index.cfm/u/tnn98b/
Tips: If needed, activate subtitles and automatic translation for your language.
*Vehicle type updated

CSC Customer Symptom Codes
Code

Description

V7

Complete vehicle/Vibration/When driving above 45 MPH

W2

Front/rear axle/Vibration/shake

V2

Steering wheel/Vibration/shimmy/When driving above 45 mph

V1

Tires/Vibration/out of round

DTC Diagnostic Trouble Codes

Technical Journal 32161.15.0
Vehicle Type
Type

Eng

Eng
Sales
Desc

Body

Gear

Steer

Model
Year

Plant

Chassis range

Struc Week
Range

224

2019-2021

0000001-9999999

201835-202046

225

2019-2021

0000001-9999999

201817-202046

227

2019-2021

0000001-9999999

201846-202046

234

2017-2017

0000001-9999999

201617-202046

235

2017-2021

0000001-9999999

201624-202046

236

2017-2021

0000001-9999999

201646-202046

238

2017-2021

0000001-9999999

201646-202046

246

2018-2021

0000001-9999999

201717-202046

256

2016-2021

0000001-9999999

201505-202046

536

2019-2021

0000001-9999999

201746-202046

SERVICE:
Notes: If vibrations occur only when braking, then this TJ should not be followed. If the car is
equipped with AWD system, also check TJ 20803.
If pre-analysis indicate that the vibrations are coming from the wheels or tires, then check the steps
below in the recommended order.
1. Tire pressure.
Too high tire pressure will cause harshness and increased vibrations.
Check that tire pressure is according to the recommended tire pressure table in the Tire Label
attached at the B-pillar. If possible use the Comfort or Recommended tire pressure.
2. Tire imbalance.
A. Tire rotate on rim: Tires should have a visible white and a yellow dot printed on tire inner side
indicating the location of the balancing weights, yellow for inner side, white for outer side,
see picture TJ 32161 - 1.jpg.
If these markings do not match the locations of the balancing weights, then rebalance the
wheel, it is possible that the tire rotated on the rim due to high engine torque.
B. Missing weights: If balancing weights are missing but there are white and yellow dots on the
tire, then it is likely that the weights have been lost and needed to rebalance the wheel.
* New better balancing weights with better 3M glue and better assembly process have been
introduced on a few wheel variants during year 2021 with good result, and starting from
2021 w40 all wheels will have the new balancing weights from 3M.
C. Factory imbalance: Wheel imbalance could occur within the first month after delivery. The
reason for this could be that most tires are transported stacked in “laces” and some tires
could get a minor deformation. The factory balance the wheel and the wheel is OK, but
after the car been used for a while the deformation in the tire is gradually eliminated and the
previous wheel balancing from factory may no longer be optimal.
Note: Volvo is investigating if the tires could be transported stacked in “chimney”, see picture
TJ 32161 - 2.jpg.

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Technical Journal 32161.15.0
3. Radial road force / tire uniformity.
All new tires have some degree of radial road force due to normal manufacturing variations,
however all tires and complete wheels are being tested for road force before shipped to Volvo.
Road force / tire uniformity may also be a result of other factors after the vehicle was built, such
as transportation / storage where the car is not being used, or damaged rims.
The best way to detect and solve this is to use a roadforce machine and to match the tire to the
rim, check the video link for a better understanding about road force.
TIE Service Product Journal (SPJ) 32993 mention Volvo service requirements for a road force
machine.
If a road force tool is not available at the workshop, check if another nearby Volvo dealer or
professional tire workshop have this equipment and can assist.
Note: there are no recommended road force values for service, but the factory acceptance levels
at 3.0 BAR (44 PSI) tire pressure are the following: S60/S90/V90/V60/V60CC = 105 N,
XC90/XC60/XC40 = 120 N, V90CC = 90 N and these values are approximately 25% less at
2.3 BAR / 33 PSI.
Note: Most customers will accept the factory road force values (at normal tire pressure), but a
few customers may still be critical, in order to solve these critical cases or it may be required to
check the wheels further with assistance of this TJ to reach a lower road force value of 67 N /15
lbs at 2.3 bar / 33 PSI.
If a new tire is found with high road force during PDI/PDS and if the tire must be replaced, then
please claim this tire directly to the tire manufacturer.
4. R-Design and front spring expanders during transport.
Spring expanders are fitted in factory on cars with low chassis (such as R-design) during
transport, these must be removed during PDI.
If not removed, then it will cause harshness and vibrations in the front suspension.
Check and if needed remove front spring expanders.
5. Loose cavity noise reducing foam in the tire.
Cavity noise reducing foam are usually installed on some larger wheel sizes. Pirelli PNCS,
Michelin Acoustic or Conti Silent is written outside the tire sidewall if the tire is equipped with
cavity noise reducing foam.
Loose foam has primarily been seen only on XC90/S90/V90 20" summer tires (mainly model
year 2016-2017)
If heavy vibrations occur and the wheel can not be balanced, then demount the tire from the rim
and check the cavity reducing foam.
If the foam is loose then contact the tire manufacturer directly for a replacement tire according
to their warranty procedure.
* Note: Cavity reducing foam is since 2019 w46 only equipped on some 21" and 22" tires.
6. Flat spotted tires (due to long time parking / showroom cars / improper tire storage).
Flat-spotting can be a temporary problem since the tire will round out as driving warms it
up. Cold ambient temperatures make rubber compounds stiffer, increasing their tendency to
flatspot.
The longer tires remain stationary, the more likely they are going to be flat spotted. Tires on
vehicles stored on the ground for many months can be permanently flat-spotted.
Note that during transport, showroom or storage, it is important to keep an higher tire pressure
to avoid flat spots.

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Technical Journal 32161.15.0
Volvo Cars is delivering vehicles from factory using a transport tire pressure at 2.8-3.2 bar
(40-46 PSI).
During storage it is also important to follow the storage program (to drive the car and if needed
also fill up more air), in order to avoid tires being flat spotted.
* Please note that tires always loose some air pressure during storage due to diffusion (physical
process). It is therefore necessary to regularly increase the air pressure.
Remember to lower the tire pressure to Comfort / Recommended tire pressure first during the PDS.
In most cases it should be possible to cure flat-spotted tires, but it requires driving the car so
that tire temperature reach the temperature as when the car was parked.
Note: If the car was parked at warm temperatures or if the tire temperature was high when
parked, then it may not be possible to drive the car enough to reach the same temperature
during winter / cold weather conditions. In these cases try to contact a professional tire
workshop to check if they have special equipment or procedure which can remove flat spots.
7. Flat spotted tires (due to hard braking / misuse).
If customer deactivated the ABS system and braked the car with locked wheels, then it can
create permanent flat spots which cannot be cured.
Damaged tires must be replaced.
8. Rim run-out, damaged rim.
New rims do not cause any vibrations, these are tested at both rim manufacturer and at our
wheel assembly supplier.
But cars being used could get their rims damaged by external impacts (pot-holes / curbs, etc.),
which could lead to the rim become oval or cracked and this will also cause vibrations and/or
slow tire air leak.
A damaged rim will probably be detected in the wheel balancing machine or in a roadforce
machine.
Note: It might be needed to remove the tire to see how severe the damage is.
If the rim is oval or cracked then the rim must be replaced (warranty not applicable).
9. Snow / ice / mud, etc. stored in rim (inner side).
Clean rims from snow/ice/mud.
To reduce the risk for having a repeat repair it could be good to apply some rim wax on inner
surface of rim.
10. Eccentric wheel installation.
The rim should be installed exactly on the center position on the wheel hub spigot.
In normal condition there should be a minor gap of 0.06 mm between wheel hub center spigot
and rim center bore, and no vibration should occur.
The maximum allowed gap should not exceed 0.19 mm, else it could result in an eccentrical
installation which cause vibrations.
Note: A sensitive customer may react to vibrations with a gap as low as 0.12 mm.
Remove the wheel from the wheel hub and measure the wheel hub spigot diameter, it should be
within Ø 63.19 and 63.26 mm (model year 2016-2020).
Measure the rim center bore diameter, it should be within Ø 63.32 and 63.38 mm.
Minimize the gap by installing a few rounds of thin tape on the wheel hub spigot, it purpose
is to increase diameter of the wheel hub spigot to create a tighter fit to the rim and less wheel
eccentricity.

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Technical Journal 32161.15.0
If any part is significantly outside the above specifications (rim or wheel hub), then it is
recommended to replace that part, send a TIE Vehicle Report with all measurements and
photos.
Note: From approximately 2020 Q2 new wheel hubs will be introduced with slightly increased
spigot diameter for a tighter fit to the rim center bore.
11. Shimmy vibrations in steering wheel.
Dynamic imbalance from wheels or drivetrain may lead to shimmy (sideways / lateral) vibrations
which can be felt in the steering wheel when driving around 120 km/h (75 mph).
Critical customers may find this in V60/S60/V60CC.
* A new PSCM software to compensate for shimmy vibration was introduced in V60/S60/
V60CC from model year 2021.
* Due to a newly discovered quality issue (TJ 36015) the compensation for shimmy vibration will
be temporarily removed from 21w48.
12. Drive shafts.
Damaged drive shafts may cause some vibrations which are best noticeable when accelerating
the vehicle (3:rd gear at speed 70 km/h or 45 mph), and the vibrations are usually significantly
less during coasting.
The most common reason for damaged drive shafts is improper handling during a service repair,
where the drive shaft was accessed and was allowed to fall down causing stress or an initial
damage on the drive shaft joint.
Note: When a such repair is carried out by the workshop, it is important to secure the drive shaft
and let it hang in a hook to prevent damage to the drive shaft joint.
Note: Example of workshop repairs which could lead to damages to the drive shafts:
Replacement of engine, gearbox, front knuckle, front control arms, some front suspension parts.
If vibrations occur only from the front wheels and none of the previous steps in this TJ had led to
any improvements, and if the vibrations are more evident during acceleration, then as a final step
try another set of front drive shafts.

VST Operation Number
VST Operation Number

Description

Gen.Op.

General Operation

VEHICLE REPORT:
Yes, please submit a Vehicle Report if the service solution described in this TJ has no effect and it is
believed that the vibrations are caused by something else than wheels/tires.
Use concern area “Vehicle Report” and sub concern area “Support not needed”, use function group
2180.

To view TJ attachments continue t next page. This TJ has two attachments.

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