I've just recently noticed that my car feels like it is going over a bump in the road, especially at slow speeds. I don't see any obvious damage to the wheels, but I suspect that one of the wheels is bent. The wheels are Lowenhart 18" BR5s. Can anyone confirm my suspicion?

 

to be sure, take it to a good tyre shop and have them put the wheel/tyre on the machine check it.

 

Just yesterday I had a tire shop rebalance my front 18" BR5s. Still had a vibration even after the Lexus dealer did a realignment last week. Found out that the tire/wheel are still balance but the tire is not circular. The technician told me that I may had hit a pot hole or something that cause the side wall of the S-03 to deform a little bit but not enough to bend the rim. When he mount it on the balancer you can see the tire move up and down. The rim stay circular. Only fix is to replace the tire. Still have plenty of tread left therefore need to live with it a little bit longer.

Chu...

 

Doesn't sound too safe...time to replace the tire....you dont want a blowout and have potential damage to the rim.

 

Let me tell u about bending rims. In my previous ride 02'TL, i bent my BR5's so many times, mainly b/c i drive fast. And for some reason miami is in this whole construction thing, but that's a different subject. Anyways, the only real way to find out is by having techs spin the rim around. But a cheap way is by taking the rim out and looking at the inside of it. Many times i have seen my outside lip w/ no sratches and bends but as soon as my car is on the lift i notice that they're bent in the inside. Get use to it, especially if u drive fast, it comes w/ the territory.