Tire balancing

[marko138]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

You should be able to. WIth proper alignment to the valve stem

Exactly. This guy knows his shit. His shop is up by my dad's place.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

You should be able to. WIth proper alignment to the valve stem

And good wheels...

the only time mine wouldn't balance right off the changer was when my wheels had started to egg. Got new wheels, problem solved.

[askmrjesus]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

You should be able to. WIth proper alignment to the valve stem

Yes and no.

Most street tires come "pre-balanced", in that there will be a small blue or yellow dot, usually on or next to the bead, that indicates the lightest part of the tire. This mark is 180 degrees from where the cords or belts overlap, which would be the heaviest part of the tire. Theoretically, this mark is installed at the valve stem, which is the heaviest part of the rim.

This is not, however, not completely accurate. It's just a starting point. By rotating the tire on the rim, you can decrease the amount of weight needed, sometimes all the way to zero. Most shops will not do this, because it is extremely time consuming. You have to keep moving the tire/rim back and forth between the changing machine and the balancer, and adjust the dot placement as you go, about an inch at a time. Huge PITA.

Even if the mark is installed at the valve stem, you can still be off as much as 2-3 oz., and that's a lot of weights. I will usually try to get a tire down to .75 oz, or less, before I stop fucking with it.

Troy is right, it's best to get your tires balanced as close to perfect as you can, especially if your going to run at triple digits. Find a shop that has a computerized dynamic balancer if possible. These machines will not only balance the tire "top-to-bottom" but also side to side. You're not going to get it any better than that.

Oh, my answer is very picky, if you haven't already guessed.

JC

[z06boy]

I've never had an issue with one being out of balance or at least I've never noticed any of my tires being out. If I noticed it I would want it corrected but again...never had an issue with any tire change.

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by marko138

I had a guy that could balance the tire with no weight, just by mounting it. Worked on every tire, every time. He's throw it on the balancer to prove it.

I need to talk to this guy!

Originally Posted by askmrjesus

Yes and no.

Most street tires come "pre-balanced", in that there will be a small blue or yellow dot, usually on or next to the bead, that indicates the lightest part of the tire. This mark is 180 degrees from where the cords or belts overlap, which would be the heaviest part of the tire. Theoretically, this mark is installed at the valve stem, which is the heaviest part of the rim.

This is not, however, not completely accurate. It's just a starting point. By rotating the tire on the rim, you can decrease the amount of weight needed, sometimes all the way to zero. Most shops will not do this, because it is extremely time consuming. You have to keep moving the tire/rim back and forth between the changing machine and the balancer, and adjust the dot placement as you go, about an inch at a time. Huge PITA.

Even if the mark is installed at the valve stem, you can still be off as much as 2-3 oz., and that's a lot of weights. I will usually try to get a tire down to .75 oz, or less, before I stop fucking with it.

Troy is right, it's best to get your tires balanced as close to perfect as you can, especially if your going to run at triple digits. Find a shop that has a computerized dynamic balancer if possible. These machines will not only balance the tire "top-to-bottom" but also side to side. You're not going to get it any better than that.

Oh, my answer is very picky, if you haven't already guessed.

JC

Good post, though I did know it was a PITA to do. I too am very picky and sensitive to even slight imbalance. One of the first things I do it hit 100+ just to see if they did t right. I have found a place, knock on wood, that does a nice job. I think they have the computer balancer. I know it isn't the bubble balancer like the dealership closest to me.

[Tmall]

I still can't understand how a bunch of free floating weight in your tire would balance it.

If that's the case, water in the tires would have the same effect and be cheaper.

[Gas Man]

Originally Posted by Tmall

I still can't understand how a bunch of free floating weight in your tire would balance it.

If that's the case, water in the tires would have the same effect and be cheaper.

Read up on it. I have posted links many times.

BUt I have put them in countless bikes. They work.

[RedRider2k2]

Originally Posted by Tmall

If that's the case, water in the tires would have the same effect and be cheaper.

It does and it is. Truckers have been balancing tires with a couple of cups of coolant for years. Lately we've been installing balancers on trucks too. It's basically a ring that feels like it's full of sand or fine beads that can shift around inside it. It sits between the rim and drum. Keeps the tires balanced and the only real steer tire wear seems to come from poor alignment. If you know Heavy Truck steer tires, you know they need to be balanced well. (Especially Bridgstones)

I've never really looked into why it works but it does seem to.

[N2O Junkie]

I don't typically care whether its balanced or not... I can handle some vibrations... its not going to make me go down lol.

[Tmall]

There's no need to read up on it.

They're not magic beads. They can't search out a spot in your tire that needs weight. If anything they will spread out evenly throughout the tire and make it the exact same as before.
Centrifugal force dictates this.

If you think they work for you, peace of mind is all that matters.


But, scientifically speaking, they don't make any sense.

Your heaviest spot on your tire will be thrown out the hardest by the forces being applied. The beads, if anything, would go to that spot and amplify the effect.