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.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by racedoll

I need to talk to this guy!

Dugan's Cycle in Duncannon, PA.

[Gas Man]

I hear ya. I'm just saying it SHOULD be able to be done.

Don't matter to me. I run beads and therefor it only costs me about $6 a wheel and they are balenced better than stick/clamp on weights. IMO

[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.

[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.

[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.