Why is my car shaking after the snowstorm?

If you hit the road after Tuesday's snowstorm only to find your car shaking at higher speeds, you may not need a mechanic. This can be alarming for some who don't know the cause, and may even lead you stop at to the mechanic on the way to work. But there's a fix, and it may not be what you think. Car guru John Paul offers an explanation.

Q: Drivers have reported their cars shaking when driving at or above highway speeds the day after a snowstorm. What could cause this?

A: The issue is the ice and snow build up in the wheels and cause the tires to become unbalanced. This can be a minor steering-wheel shake to feeling like the wheels are going to fall off the car. Once the snow melts off the wheels from the heat of the day the car should behave normally again. Some slightly obsessive drivers will go so far to take their snow brush and clean in between the spokes of the wheels to knock off the snow and ice.

Once the wheels are clean, if the car still vibrates it is possible that one of the wheels/tires could have been damaged by a pothole. If the car is still shaking, have it looked at by a good repair shop.

John Paul, is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has 40+ years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. Follow him at on Twitter @johnfpaul or facebook.com/Mrjohnfpaul.