"RoadForce" Wheel Balancing Equipment?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Lino lakes Minnesota
"RoadForce" Wheel Balancing Equipment?
Has anyone heard of or had experience with shops using "RoadForce" wheel balancing equipment? I'm told they actually apply a load to the tire simulating the tire on the ground while performing the wheel balancing process.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 990
Likes: 207
From: Bay Area CA
My local America's Tire shop just installed a road-force balance machine. Since I purchased my C7 tire warranty from them, free balance is included. I will give it a try soon.
America's Tire is the same as Discount Tire.
America's Tire is the same as Discount Tire.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Yup, good stuff.
Here are some good numbers to shoot for on a Corvette:
Here are some good numbers to shoot for on a Corvette:
Be sure to give the tech some specs to shoot for. On a C6, road force numbers:
20 is too high
15 is acceptable but could be better
10 is excellent
I had a guy who was satisfied with a RF of 22 on one of my tires, couldn't figure out why the car was vibrating. As someone said, you can have a square that is perfectly balanced but it won't roll very smoothly.
20 is too high
15 is acceptable but could be better
10 is excellent
I had a guy who was satisfied with a RF of 22 on one of my tires, couldn't figure out why the car was vibrating. As someone said, you can have a square that is perfectly balanced but it won't roll very smoothly.
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Michael S. Palmer
Pro
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 701
Likes: 179
From: Muskoka ontario
All our cars since then, Road force balance only....always good, only way to go IMO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
What I consider the best tire shop in Cleveland uses a Hunter Road Force machine and since I found them 5-6 years ago, they are the only ones I trust with my wheels and tires. A former tire shop even sent me there when they couldn't balance my new wheels and tires on my '09 Z. This is a family owned company in business since the 40s. I've never had a wobble or vibration since.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 399
From: North Haven, CT
Would never have my tires balanced any other way.
Here is a great locator to find a shop near you that has the proper equipment:
http://www.gsp9700.com/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Here is a great locator to find a shop near you that has the proper equipment:
http://www.gsp9700.com/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 500
From: West Seneca NY
Definitely worth the money I put new tires on my truck and had traditional balance done at the shop who installed them, put on my truck & torqued properly one tire that was on the front wasn't right, went back they rebalanced & just added more weight, still was bad, so I went to local dealer for road force & that one tire was out 35lbs.
Dazed Confused & Verklemp
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 110
From: Naples, FL & Clear Lake, IA
The most important issue is the guy operating the balancing machine.
I prefer Road Force Balance, but have had idiot operators that couldn't balance themselves, much less a tire. My Naples tire guy, is the best I have ever used... He gets tires down to the lowest weight possible. TireRack uses RFB and he ran into one of their tires being a whole ounce off... which is why I had shake.
In IA, I have a tire guy who doesn't have a RFB machine, but his work is almost as good, at less than 1/2 the price as most RFB shops.
I prefer Road Force Balance, but have had idiot operators that couldn't balance themselves, much less a tire. My Naples tire guy, is the best I have ever used... He gets tires down to the lowest weight possible. TireRack uses RFB and he ran into one of their tires being a whole ounce off... which is why I had shake.
In IA, I have a tire guy who doesn't have a RFB machine, but his work is almost as good, at less than 1/2 the price as most RFB shops.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 867
Likes: 26
From: SW Ohio
I've been aware of and understand the concept behind RF balancing (although never had to use the procedure yet) but have a question….and hoping there are some here who perhaps have either used the machine or have had multiple experiences with using the method. Bottom line, the point about a tire being in perfect balance and yet not round is understandable. It's gonna bounce at speed, even in balance.
So, question I have is whether RF balance can account/correct for an out-of-round tire--whether the OOR condition is a result of a manufacturing defect or tread/ply delamination--and secondly, is that a good or a bad thing? Should a RF balance be used to discard any new or used tire that can't be balanced using this method? Or can RF balance actually 'force' a tire into balance compliance even if it has an unacceptable amount of radial runout?
So, question I have is whether RF balance can account/correct for an out-of-round tire--whether the OOR condition is a result of a manufacturing defect or tread/ply delamination--and secondly, is that a good or a bad thing? Should a RF balance be used to discard any new or used tire that can't be balanced using this method? Or can RF balance actually 'force' a tire into balance compliance even if it has an unacceptable amount of radial runout?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 13
I've been aware of and understand the concept behind RF balancing (although never had to use the procedure yet) but have a question….and hoping there are some here who perhaps have either used the machine or have had multiple experiences with using the method. Bottom line, the point about a tire being in perfect balance and yet not round is understandable. It's gonna bounce at speed, even in balance.
So, question I have is whether RF balance can account/correct for an out-of-round tire--whether the OOR condition is a result of a manufacturing defect or tread/ply delamination--and secondly, is that a good or a bad thing? Should a RF balance be used to discard any new or used tire that can't be balanced using this method? Or can RF balance actually 'force' a tire into balance compliance even if it has an unacceptable amount of radial runout?
So, question I have is whether RF balance can account/correct for an out-of-round tire--whether the OOR condition is a result of a manufacturing defect or tread/ply delamination--and secondly, is that a good or a bad thing? Should a RF balance be used to discard any new or used tire that can't be balanced using this method? Or can RF balance actually 'force' a tire into balance compliance even if it has an unacceptable amount of radial runout?
Usually, if the tire isn't really defective, the system will tell the operator how to rotate the tire on the wheel to minimize the rolling imperfections. I've had tires measure 20+ that when rotated 45 degrees came in under 10.
The balance measurements are taken separately from the road force measurements so they are essentially independent.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 867
Likes: 26
From: SW Ohio
So it will find both tread/belt deformities as well as abnormal radial runout? Bottom line, it sounds like a tire that will 'speed' balance but not RF balance should be demounted and discarded, yes?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 500
From: West Seneca NY
The tire I had was so far out it could not be balanced at all, after the road force I was told it should be replaced.
Dazed Confused & Verklemp
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 110
From: Naples, FL & Clear Lake, IA
Correct!
I have had Michelin & Bridgestone tires RF balanced to 1 & 2, with little weight. In one instance under 4 with no weight. Remember, RF also considers the rim, so poor quality rims or bent rims will also be discovered. Works best if rim is checked before tire is mounted.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 13
Correct!
I have had Michelin & Bridgestone tires RF balanced to 1 & 2, with little weight. In one instance under 4 with no weight. Remember, RF also considers the rim, so poor quality rims or bent rims will also be discovered. Works best if rim is checked before tire is mounted.
I have had Michelin & Bridgestone tires RF balanced to 1 & 2, with little weight. In one instance under 4 with no weight. Remember, RF also considers the rim, so poor quality rims or bent rims will also be discovered. Works best if rim is checked before tire is mounted.
While some will put the bare rim on the machine to measure it's trueness, the machine can only combine the wheel measurement and the road force measurement if it is performed at the same time.
Again, road force is not balancing, it's validating that the tire is correctly mounted on the wheel, the wheel and tire are concentric and the overall system does not have force variations as it rotates under the load of the car. It is the only way to determine if the tire is actually defective based on how it deforms under load.