Radial Tire Waddle

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Suzuki XL-7, 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2003 Suzuki XL-7, and 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Waddle is side to side movement at the front and / or rear of the vehicle.

It is caused by the steel belt not being straight within the tire. It is most noticeable at low speed, 8 to 48 km / h (5 to 30 mph). It is possible to road test a vehicle and tell on which end of the vehicle the faulty tire is located.

If the waddle tire is on the rear, the rear end of the vehicle will shake from side to side or "waddle". From the driver's seat it feels as though someone is pushing on the side of the vehicle. If the faulty tire is on the front, the waddle is more visual. The front sheet metal appears to be moving back and forth and the driver feels as though he is at the pivot point in the vehicle.

Waddle can be quickly diagnosed by using a Tire Problem Detector (TPD) and the following the equipment manufacturer's recommendations.

If a TPD is not available, the more time consuming method of substituting known good tire / wheel assemblies on the problem vehicle can be used as follows:

Ride vehicle to determine if the waddle is coming from the front or rear.
Install tires and wheels that are known to be good (on similar vehicle) in place of those on the offending end of the vehicle. If the waddle cannot be isolated to front or rear, substitute the rears.
Road test again. If improvement is noted, install originals one at a time until offender is found. If no improvement is noted, install known good tires in place of all four. Then install originals one at a time until offender if found.

Fig 1: Identifying Radial Tire Waddle
Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.