[rtmeikle]

I just had my wheel refinished and tires mounted, and they put the weights to balance the wheels on the INSIDE, which I really like 'cause it looks a lot better.
BUT... soon after, each weight (on all four wheels) one at a time, flew off when I was doing 80mph+ on the freeway.
I haven't noticed any vibration or anything, how important is it to get them re-balanced? Why do they even need to be balanced? I thought there'd be some vibration in the steering wheel or something, but there's no discernable difference!
ROB

 

[mk3jet]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (rtmeikle)

balancing your wheels is important for the wear of your tires. if you ride with them un-balanced, depending on how off it is, your tires will develop "cupping" which is pretty much an un-even wear across your tread. take it back to the shop, let them know that your weights came off, they should re-balance for you for free.
even if you dont feel the vibration, i would recommend having them re-balanced, just so that your tires last longer.

 

[rtmeikle]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (mk3jet)

Do a lot of you guys have the weights on the inside of your rims?

 

[DiscoStu]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (rtmeikle)

My guess would be that most people with aftermarked wheels have them balanced on the inside.
Get them balanced, it's cheap, and most places will do it while you wait.

 

[mk3jet]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (DiscoStu)

weights on the inside is fine. its purely an asthetic thing. whoever is balance should just make sure they clean the area well before they stick the weight on, because the weight will not stick to brake dust.

 

[SabreVR6]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (mk3jet)

One of my largest pet pieves are those shops that balance alloy wheels and put the DA$N weights on the outside. I make it a point to tell them to put them on the inside not only on my wheels but on any alloy wheel so the next Joe doesn't have the same beef-- hopefully. Anyway, on wheels that have seen road use before, it is common to have the weights on the inside of the wheel make that neat thunk noise when they fly off into the wheel well. On new wheels (brand spankin' new) it is less likely to happen due to a 'cleaner' surface with which to adhere.

 

[bajan01]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (SabreVR6)

In any case the force on the weights is outward as the wheel spins. So if they come off then chances are whoever did the job did it pi$$ poor by not cleaning the surface very well.

 

['97Trek2.0]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (bajan01)

if they fell of all it means is that they didn't clean them good enough before they put them on or the weights were cold when they put them on. (i used to work at discout tire co.) there is nothing different about putting them on the inside. all you do is puch two different buttons on the machine before you spin it and then put them where it tells you. the quality of balencing isn't any worse or better

 

[late_apex]

Re: Explain Wheel Balancing...? (bajan01)

Yeah, it sounds like they just didn't clean the surface. Wheel balancing is useful because when a wheel is produced it is not perfect. There could be more mass on one side or another. They are very miniscule differences, but that's what you get from mass production. The way to counteract it is with weights. It is very nessasary to balance your wheels. What you can't feel might be something as severe as your tire bouncing off the road which wouldn't be good during heavy braking.