Road Force Balance Rip Off!!!
11-29-2007, 10:46 AM
#1
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Road Force Balance Rip Off!!!
I have been to 3 Discount Tire Stores now and while I paid for Road Force Balance they didn't do it...
It's either a laziness thing or a training issue. The beauty of road force balancing is matching the wheel with the tire.
The correct procedure is to mount the tire on the wheel and run it on the Road Force Balance machine. At this point the machine tells you how to align the tire on the wheel. Then you must dismount the tire and rotate it on the wheel to the correct alignment. It's like pulling teeth to get these guys to dismount the tire and rotate to the correct position = Road Force Balance....
They will say ahh, it's close enough... Hunter recommends anything above 20 be re-aligned. I had 2 tires in the 60's and 1 in the 40's and I had to get the manager to make them align the thing like I was paying extra for...
So beware, just because you pay for Road Force Balance doesn't mean you are getting it....
It's either a laziness thing or a training issue. The beauty of road force balancing is matching the wheel with the tire. The correct procedure is to mount the tire on the wheel and run it on the Road Force Balance machine. At this point the machine tells you how to align the tire on the wheel. Then you must dismount the tire and rotate it on the wheel to the correct alignment. It's like pulling teeth to get these guys to dismount the tire and rotate to the correct position = Road Force Balance....
They will say ahh, it's close enough... Hunter recommends anything above 20 be re-aligned. I had 2 tires in the 60's and 1 in the 40's and I had to get the manager to make them align the thing like I was paying extra for...
So beware, just because you pay for Road Force Balance doesn't mean you are getting it....
11-29-2007, 10:51 AM
#2
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Good to know. Sounds like it is time to find another shop to do work on your car.
11-29-2007, 11:36 AM
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Great info!!! I have got road force balance on my last couple sets but they never remount the tires.
I'll keep my eyes on them this time to make sure they are under 20.
Thanks,
-Mike
I'll keep my eyes on them this time to make sure they are under 20.
Thanks,
-Mike
Hard to get good help these days.
11-29-2007, 11:51 AM
#8
Race Director
Why would the tech have to "dismount the tire" to rotate it on the rim? Maybe it's just the terminology that has me asking.
When I've had tires/wheels that were really out of balance, rather than add significant weight, the tech merely deflated the tire (break the bead) and rotated it 180 degrees, inflated and rebalanced.
When I've had tires/wheels that were really out of balance, rather than add significant weight, the tech merely deflated the tire (break the bead) and rotated it 180 degrees, inflated and rebalanced.
Last edited by hotwheels57; 11-29-2007 at 11:56 AM.
11-29-2007, 12:17 PM
#9
Safety Car
I've had my tires/wheels balanced ON my car/truck forever. It's the only way to go. Didn't know it was called a "road force" balance though.
I've had my tires/wheels aligned and balanced by the same shop for 40 years. That's the only way they do it.
I've had my tires/wheels aligned and balanced by the same shop for 40 years. That's the only way they do it.
11-29-2007, 12:19 PM
#10
Safety Car
BTW, I've read/heard a few other stupid things they've done @ Americas Tires. Sure, they're prices are good, nothing awesome though, but their service SUCKsss !! (So, I've heard). I'm about to get mine from them, since I've already paid for them - OVER a MONTH AGO, and they're still Supposed to be on "Special Order" (Nitto Invo in stock size)
AND stock size tires for my Honda Accord (Falkens: Still on special order) 
11-29-2007, 12:22 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Why would the tech have to "dismount the tire" to rotate it on the rim? Maybe it's just the terminology that has me asking.
When I've had tires/wheels that were really out of balance, rather than add significant weight, the tech merely deflated the tire (break the bead) and rotated it 180 degrees, inflated and rebalanced.
When I've had tires/wheels that were really out of balance, rather than add significant weight, the tech merely deflated the tire (break the bead) and rotated it 180 degrees, inflated and rebalanced.
11-29-2007, 12:47 PM
#14
Safety Car
you don't really need a "road force balance" unless you are having a problem getting the wheel/tire to balance in the first place. 
Save your money unless you are having a problem.
just my .02
Save your money unless you are having a problem.
just my .02
11-29-2007, 01:29 PM
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Hey all, the 20 I was referring to is a number the Hunter machine gives as a result of the road force test. For more detail check out the Hunter web site - http://www.gsp9700.com/index.cfm
As for dismounting the tires you are right about the low profile causing problems. They tried letting the air out, popping off the beads and with 3 tire techs they couldn't spin the tire on the wheel, finally just figured it was easier to dismount and re-mount.
As for just spinning the tire 180 deg, ya it's the same deal, only the machine can measure exactly where to spin the tire to for the best results. Maybe 55 deg is all it will need to be aligned...
As for paying for road force balance, I guess if you have good wheels you don't need it but if you have repros... any little bit helps...
As for dismounting the tires you are right about the low profile causing problems. They tried letting the air out, popping off the beads and with 3 tire techs they couldn't spin the tire on the wheel, finally just figured it was easier to dismount and re-mount.
As for just spinning the tire 180 deg, ya it's the same deal, only the machine can measure exactly where to spin the tire to for the best results. Maybe 55 deg is all it will need to be aligned...
As for paying for road force balance, I guess if you have good wheels you don't need it but if you have repros... any little bit helps...
11-29-2007, 01:50 PM
#16
Race Director
I got my wheels and tires mounted at a family owned business when I was in NJ. They were the greatest people to deal with. They road forced balanced my tires for free! It looked like an *** kicker of a job but they did an awesome job. Best I've ever seen. They even put the wheel weights on the inner wheel wells. BTW, they we recommended by tirerack..
11-30-2007, 10:35 AM
#17
Safety Car
11-30-2007, 12:00 PM
#18
Jacks996
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I took mine to discount tire and had one tire that was way out and they dismounted it and spun it on the rim and reinflated it and than used the road force balance machine. Mine came out great.
11-30-2007, 12:14 PM
#19
Safety Car
11-30-2007, 12:16 PM
#20
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Just get a normal balance, and use stick on wts, not the clamp on wts.Mounting and dismounting tires is not easy on alloy rims or rims larger then 18" Some shops wont mount 19 or 20" rims any more.
After the stick on wt is attached, take some HVAC high temp alumium duct tape and put over the wt.
One of my racing wheels
The challenge with some after market rims, is just they are so poorly made the rim and tire combo can not be balanced