Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: DIY tire balancing.

Plus the stick on ones can go on the inside of the wheel, out of sight.

Mark

 

You really need a small postal scale to be able to cut the weight to get the right needed weight. So getting a basic stick is all you really need. The imprinted weight amounts are nice but really less use full in the end. I prefer the thinner weights. The only drawback is it takes more of them.

Jim steel rims usually use that style and some aluminum wheels.Stick on weights are used more often now. There are even chrome weights for polished wheels.

 

Doing a good balance does not always allow for the weights to go to the inside out of sight. It all depend on the center hub and relation to offset. This goes back to the discussion of what type of balance is better(easier). knowledge will afford you the bubble balance method if done correctly.


One thing to mention about balancing.....when having your tires installed be sure the technician uses the balance information on the tire to mount the tire correctly on the wheel. This will insure the least amount of balancing weights are used to correct. There are even more complicated tricks to do with the wheel stem prior to the tire install to also reduce the amount of correction via weight needed. After all what good is a light set of wheels if you just add weight to them??:lol:

 

Had that happen to me once, weights all over the wheels, lots of them, took the wheels to a better installer, way less weights.

Mark

 

I don't dispute that the balance deteriorates over time. However for my driving style and conditions, it seems the balance generally remains "good enough" that I haven't felt a need to rebalance before the tire wears out.

The only times I had tires rebalanced were not from necessity but because it was a free service from the shop I purchased the tires from (like Discount Tire as bee1000 mentioned earlier). It made a difference although not enough that I would pay for it. Maybe the best strategy for Jinky is to simply purchase tires from a place that includes free rebalancing.

 

Then you are one that takes care of your tires i.e. checking tires pressure frequently and adjusting them properly, watching for tread pattern wear etc...
The convenience of personally owned bubble balancer is for those that do spirited weekend drives, occasional or regular track days which does effect the wear pattern and ultimately effects the balance.
The shops that give free wheel/tire balance are not generally offering frequent checks by the same customer.

 

Cool!

FYI, look for an industrial spring supplier and swap out what's on there for a softer spring and you will be good to go in the future.

Matt

 

Harbor Freight Portable Wheel Balancer - Blogs - Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club

Blitzcat from the Tar Heel MINI club posted a blog entry about using the same tool.

 

Easy DIY tire balancing: Tire Balancing Products

(sorry if this was already discussed in here...I didn't see it on my scan through the thread)

 

There was a similar product through J C Whitney "back in the day" in high school I got a 4 set. They worked well for as much as I knew about cars than but the first block or 2 the tires shock until the beads evened out. Now to be clear that was waaaaaaayyyyy back in the 70's so I am sure the products of this type have changed?



Jerry nice to see the balancer working out.

 

We had a Sears upright washing machine that used the same principle with steel balls in a hollow tube ring to balance the load during the spin dry cycle. You could always hear those balls "ringing" until they achieved balance, then they were silent.

 

No, not personally. I've heard great things about it and have been meaning to give it a try.

 

I hadn't heard of balancing beads until recently, and became intrigued as I looked into it. People who use it (some for years) swear by them and I actually didn't find anybody unhappy with them, which is saying a lot. They might be just the right thing for goaljnky because they self adjust as the balance changes. I think people are just uncomfortable because it is so radically different from traditional balancing techniques.

 

They may work...

but the explanation as to why doesn't make any sense. They claim that when the wheel is out of balance, the axis of rotation moves towards the heavy part and the lighter side moves away from the axis of rotation. But if you look at the forces in play, the axis of rotation will move away from the heavy spot (higher centripital acceleration at the higher mass) and it should have the oppisite effect!

I'll have to think about this one some more.....

Matt