Moved the Vette to the inside a couple of weeks ago. The STi about a week after I got it home. The Vette wheels cleaned up nicely too.
Nothing wrong with stick-ons either. They make rubber coated hammer on weights, and they will not damage your wheels.
Wheel Weight Location
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield Wisconsin
Wheel Weight Location
Everytime I think about the location of the weights on my '98, I shake my head. You mean to tell me that on such a high end car, they're still installing them like they've done on steel rims from way back? Jesus. When I raced karts, we just siliconed them to the inside of the wheel. They never went anywhere.
To those of you who have re-tired your wagon wheel Vette's, have any of you relocated the wheel weights to the inside of the wheel?
It looks so terrible when the are hammered on the outside of the rim like they did in the old days.
To those of you who have re-tired your wagon wheel Vette's, have any of you relocated the wheel weights to the inside of the wheel?
It looks so terrible when the are hammered on the outside of the rim like they did in the old days.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 302
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
This is one of those things that you never give much thought to, but you're exactly right. It's 1930's technology, (even though that word hadn't even been invented at that time). Upon showing my then newly acquired Vette to a friend who owns a tire shop, he pointed this out to me and offered to replace the weights with stick on's - which he discreetly mounted behind the spokes. A 1000% improvement and truely the way it should have been done to start with. The only downside - the original weights left indelible marks on the wheels and in the clearcoat finish. Still less objectionable than the original weights however. 
PS. I have thin spokes (2001) but I don't think that makes any difference regarding weight placement.
PS. I have thin spokes (2001) but I don't think that makes any difference regarding weight placement.
Last edited by 01QuickSilver; Nov 20, 2006 at 01:50 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
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From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
Any good shop will know not to hammer on weights to the outside of an expensive wheel like we run. Typically hammer on weights are used on the inboard wheel edge, and stick on weights are used as far out as possible on the inside of the wheel. This still provides a good dual weight balance, but doesn't damage the wheel or degrade the looks. It is convenient when the weights can he hidden behind the spokes like stated above, but for the truest balance they may need to be exposed.
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It's unfortunate that GM still puts the weights to the outside. One of the first things I did when I bought my car was to have the wheels rebalanced and move the weights to the inside.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,118
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From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
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St. Jude Donor '09
Mine came with hammer-on weights but I had them changed to stickons ... and they perform just as well. Fortunately, there were no marks left on the wheel lip.
Unless I'm sadly mistaken, C6 wheels don't even have a lip for hammer-ons and they come from the factory with stickons.
Unless I'm sadly mistaken, C6 wheels don't even have a lip for hammer-ons and they come from the factory with stickons.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,065
Likes: 1,276
From: Central Ma
I saw a C6 recently with a huge amount of weight on the outside that made mine look almost non-existent, but still bad. Is there a reason for mounting them on the outside, ie. better balancing?
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From: The Surgeon General has warned that it's ok to smoke mustangs!
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All mine are on the inside too, only one problem I've encountered is this... When I had to have a nail removed and patched, they had to take the weights off and put new one's on, still on the inside, but not in the exact same place as before which isn't a problem, however the sticky residue left behind doesn't come off and I'm not about to take a wool pad to the wheel. 
What to do? hmmmmm...... Any suggestions?
What to do? hmmmmm...... Any suggestions?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
goof off, goo be gone, WD-40, kerosene, mineral spirits.
all of them will soften up the dried adhesive and after 5-15 minutes of soaking a couple times, will let the residue be wiped off wit a cloth with no damage to the clear coat.
all of them will soften up the dried adhesive and after 5-15 minutes of soaking a couple times, will let the residue be wiped off wit a cloth with no damage to the clear coat.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,713
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From: Albany Oregon
This is one thing that drives my nuts when I see it on expensive wheels.
The only issue I've seen with the stick on weights is the fact that when stuck on the inside barrel underneath the brake caliper you run risk of it rubbing especially on after market big brakes, so keep an eye on the clearance after they install them. You just wanna make sure none are sticking up at all. I doubt much would happen but you never know.
The only issue I've seen with the stick on weights is the fact that when stuck on the inside barrel underneath the brake caliper you run risk of it rubbing especially on after market big brakes, so keep an eye on the clearance after they install them. You just wanna make sure none are sticking up at all. I doubt much would happen but you never know.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,808
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From: Sierra Foothills California
I've always had the weights installed on the inside of the wheels The fronts just clear the calipers by thousandths!
I don't want to mess up the finish on my magnesium wheels.
I don't want to mess up the finish on my magnesium wheels.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
A couple of problems with the "hammer on" weights. The clips damage the rim and over time the weight will corrode the finish on the wheel. They do make plastic coated weights to try to elim these problems but, they still happen and not too many shops carry the plastic weights. I am told that the best balance is with the hammer ons on the outside. However, I have most always had the wheels on my vehicles "road force" balanced and the "stick ons" applied inside. Have not had a balance problem afterward (unless I hit a big friggin pothole or wildly attack a curb), nor have I ever had a properly applied "stick on" come off.
(Dang, I hope I didn't just jinx myself)
Cheers
(Dang, I hope I didn't just jinx myself)
Cheers
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The only stick ons that I had stay on were the ones that Tire Rack supplied when I bought a set of wheels/tires. All the local guys have poor products that don't stay on until I get the car home. Therefore, I have stayed with plastic coated hammer on weights from the Goodyear store.
Bill
Bill
