If your car feels smooth in the city but starts shaking once you hit 55–70 mph, you’re experiencing one of the most common — and most ignored — early warning signs of vehicle trouble.
Highway vibrations almost never fix themselves.
They get worse, more expensive, and eventually dangerous.
Here’s what causes the shaking, what symptoms to look for, and when it’s time to get your car checked by a mechanic.
1. Tire Balancing Issues — The #1 Cause of Highway Vibrations
This is by far the most common culprit.
When a tire isn’t perfectly balanced, it creates a small wobble that becomes dramatically worse as your speed increases.
Typical symptoms:
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Steering wheel shakes between 50–70 mph
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Vibration comes and goes as speed changes
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A “humming” or “whirring” sound
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Feathered or uneven tire wear
Tires naturally lose balance over time — especially after hitting potholes (a Nashville specialty).
2. Uneven Tire Wear or Cupping
Tire wear patterns tell a story, and one of the biggest red flags is cupping, a scalloped, bumpy wear pattern caused by weak suspension components.
If your tires vibrate and you see patches of uneven wear, the cause is almost always:
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Worn shocks
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Weak struts
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Damaged bushings
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Poor alignment
Left alone, cupping destroys tires long before their expected lifespan.
3. Wheel Alignment Problems
When your wheels aren’t aligned, they don’t track straight.
This leads to the tires fighting against each other at high speeds, causing vibrations that get worse the longer the misalignment goes untreated.
Signs include:
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Steering wheel off-center
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Car pulling left or right
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Uneven tire wear
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Vibration while accelerating
Misalignment is especially common after hitting potholes or curbs.
4. Bent Rims — One Hard Hit Is All It Takes
A bent wheel doesn’t always look damaged to the eye, but at 60 mph, even a slight bend will cause a vibration cycle.
Most rim bends come from:
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Potholes
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Speed bumps taken too fast
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Hitting a curb
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Railroad tracks
Aluminum rims (on most cars today) bend much easier than steel, making this a frequent issue in Nashville.
5. Bad Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings let your wheels spin freely.
When they wear out, they create both vibration and noise — usually getting worse the faster you go.
Typical symptoms:
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A deep humming or growling sound
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Vibration that intensifies with speed
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Heat around the wheel area
Bad bearings should be replaced quickly — they can cause the wheel to seize or detach.
6. Engine or Transmission Mount Problems
If the vibration happens under acceleration, especially from 40 mph and up, it may not be your tires at all — it might be your engine.
Damaged mounts cause:
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Shaking during acceleration
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Vibration that improves when you let off the gas
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Clunks when shifting
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Excessive engine movement
This type of vibration often starts small and gets progressively worse.
7. Driveshaft or Axle Issues (Especially on Trucks & SUVs)
On rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the driveshaft must stay perfectly balanced and straight.
If it’s bent or out of alignment, it will shake the entire vehicle as speed increases.
Axles can also cause vibrations if:
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They’re bent
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CV joints are worn
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U-joints are failing
This is common after off-roading, hitting debris, or minor accidents.
When Highway Vibrations Become Dangerous
You should schedule a professional inspection ASAP if:
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The vibration gets worse with speed
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You feel shaking in the steering wheel
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The car vibrates under acceleration
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You hear humming or grinding noises
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Tires show uneven wear
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TPMS light keeps coming on
These issues often lead to blowouts, worn tires, broken suspension, or steering problems if ignored.
Let Us Diagnose the Shake Before It Gets Expensive
At We Can Fix Your Car, we use precision tire balancing, alignment checks, suspension testing, and full undercar inspections to find exactly what’s causing your highway vibration.
Most problems are quick and affordable to fix — when caught early.
If your car is shaking at 55–70 mph, don’t wait.
Bring it in and let our technicians make your ride smooth (and safe) again.