Have owned 2001 LXi and now a 2011 Town & Country TL, and am about to replace the 2011. Both vehicles have had an annoying wheel balancing problem. Every time I get the wheels balanced the vehicle rides great for about 100 miles. After that the balance goes out and vibrations start at about 60 mph. I have returned to rebalance and have confirmed it is the wheels going out. This has been a frustrating problem, as I do a lot of highway driving. I am considering going to Honda or Toyota, but there are things about the T&C I really like, except for this wheel balancing problem. Anybody out there experiencing this or have any suggestions for a fix?

 

There is a LOT of missing info about your van that is missing to make a GOOD suggestion. Vans mileage tire age, abnormal wear patterns, besides highway driving any other poor road conditions it regularly in driven on?
On many cars I have been associated with continual need for rebalance is from slightly shifted belts in the tires and can NOT be balanced away. Jack up one corner at a time and spin the wheel while watching for "wobbles" in the tread area. if so, the only fix is new tires, I have even seen this in brand new tires.

 

Chrome plated ?

 

I follow your thought.. The OP did not specify rim type and could be "throwing"wheel weights IF the proper design fastening weights are not being used.

 

Modern chrome is carp especially I would think in your rust belt. We use more salt than all the worlds restaurants and don't seem to have the problem here although even corroding alloy and steel has always been an issue the world over. Cept maybe California.

 

Right now, the 2011 T&C has 105k on it, but the problem has been on going since I bought it at 25k. The van came with Bridgestone Ecopias which had the same balancing issue. Tires didn't last very long. At about 45k I put a set of Tigerpaws (worst tires I ever had) on it. Same issue. About to replace them now. They lasted a while, because I usually have to rebalance every 2 weeks, but there is scalloping evident from the balancing issue. The 2001 T&C I had came with 215/60/16 Tigerpaws at about 25k. Same exact issue. I replaced them with 225/60/16 Goodyear Eagles, which had a slightly wider stance. They were slightly better, but still had the same issue to a lesser degree. You make a good point about the shifted belts, but I would have to be very unlucky to get that many bad tires. I recently replaced both front strut assemblies on the 2011. The problem still persists. Van rides great after tires are balanced. After 100 miles or so the balance slowly goes out. I do a lot of highway driving. So, you can imagine how frustrating this issue is.

 

Its a 2011 Touring L with whatever rims come standard on the model. Not chrome. In South Florida. No salt.

 

To be quite honest, I have dealt with people that have had 3 complete sets of brand new tires show these effects...Quality control in manufacture is NOT what it used to be. Who is doing your tire work for you, sounds also that they don't know much of reading tire issues and how to correct them, may want to find another place. Not to "toot my own horn", but I have spent many years of my life in the auto repair trade, and have seen many ODD things happen!

 

Check entire front end for ball joints and other looseness issues. If the tires are being chewed up by alignment or other problems, it's not surprising that they would go out of balance as a result. Seven years and 105,000 miles can wear out a front end pretty thoroughly.

 

Its a megga heavy lump for the worlds most skinny wimpy [Anti Roll/sway Bar] 'drop links'. They need changing more often than my socks even when they do no work and the knock heck out of the geometry. Even the heavy duty ones sold are skinny.