It isn’t unusual for the steering wheel to shake after a car’s tires are rotated. The shaking isn’t caused by the rotation; however, other problems can become more noticeable after the rotation.
Here are some possible reasons for a steering wheel to shake after a tire rotation:
Uneven tire wear can create a lot of vibration in the steering wheel and road noise after a tire rotation.
Unbalanced tires are the most common source of shaking. When tires are moved, especially rear tires to the front, any imbalance issue becomes more noticeable.
Warped brake rotors can result if the lug nuts are over-tightened after a tire rotation.
After a tire rotation, the tires need time to adjust to their new positions. The vibration or shaking may disappear as the tires wear in after the first 50 miles or so of driving in their new positions on the wheel assemblies.
However, the shaking may also be a symptom of a problem that was uncovered as a result of the rotation. Bring it to the attention of one of our mechanics if there is no improvement after a short period of time; they can determine the cause for certain.