Tire balancing question
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 69
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Tire balancing question
Did a search and couldn't find much info on this - I have a set of track tires/rims for my GS that I need to get balanced, however pretty much every shop I called in my area does not do road-force balancing for tires these sizes (315's upfront and 345's in the back). My question is - how necessary is it to road force balance track tires and where are people going in order to do this?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,009
Likes: 2,707
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Your profile doesn't give any information, so we have no idea where you live. With location info, there's a good chance that someone here will give you a recommendation.
Is Road Force necessary? If you get lucky, no. But get it done right and you'll know that any vibration is from something else.
A square wheel can be balanced perfectly, but doesn't drive very smoothly. A regular balancer would be happy with the square wheel, the road force balancer would flag it immediately.
Most Discount Tires & America's Tires locations have the Hunter Road Force Balancing Machines. A good number of dealers have them now. Many big chain tire shops. Many approved installers from Tire Rack have them.
Skill of the worker still counts. The machine will show a Road Force number. My experience:
20: You can feel a slight vibration
15: Maybe a very slight vibration
10 or less: excellent
Let the tech know that you want 10 or less, and have him rotate the tire around the wheel if necessary to get there. If he can't get it down around 10, you may have a bent wheel or bad tire. If he won't try, he's a slob and you should go somewhere else.
Prices vary widely.
Is Road Force necessary? If you get lucky, no. But get it done right and you'll know that any vibration is from something else.
A square wheel can be balanced perfectly, but doesn't drive very smoothly. A regular balancer would be happy with the square wheel, the road force balancer would flag it immediately.
Most Discount Tires & America's Tires locations have the Hunter Road Force Balancing Machines. A good number of dealers have them now. Many big chain tire shops. Many approved installers from Tire Rack have them.
Skill of the worker still counts. The machine will show a Road Force number. My experience:
20: You can feel a slight vibration
15: Maybe a very slight vibration
10 or less: excellent
Let the tech know that you want 10 or less, and have him rotate the tire around the wheel if necessary to get there. If he can't get it down around 10, you may have a bent wheel or bad tire. If he won't try, he's a slob and you should go somewhere else.
Prices vary widely.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 615
From: Blacksburg Va
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,952
Likes: 6,753
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
As unbelievable as it may seem to some, we actually raced--quite successfully--well before road force balancing existed!!! 
In fact, one year decades ago, we were having trouble with a tire/wheel at Bonneville and I found an old bubble-balancer stuck away in a filling station. I balanced it myself and it worked fine. Good racing!!!
In fact, one year decades ago, we were having trouble with a tire/wheel at Bonneville and I found an old bubble-balancer stuck away in a filling station. I balanced it myself and it worked fine. Good racing!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 690
Most of the club racer I know don’t even bother with balancing their wheels and tires. And if they’re R Comps on non-beaded rims, the tire move around on the wheel anyway.
Having said that. If you drive TO and FROM the track, track wheels and tires should be balanced. Road force balancing for track wheels and tires isn’t necessary for performance and lap times, but may be necessary for sanity sake, especially if you’re OCD.
Having said that. If you drive TO and FROM the track, track wheels and tires should be balanced. Road force balancing for track wheels and tires isn’t necessary for performance and lap times, but may be necessary for sanity sake, especially if you’re OCD.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Most of the club racer I know don’t even bother with balancing their wheels and tires. And if they’re R Comps on non-beaded rims, the tire move around on the wheel anyway.
Having said that. If you drive TO and FROM the track, track wheels and tires should be balanced. Road force balancing for track wheels and tires isn’t necessary for performance and lap times, but may be necessary for sanity sake, especially if you’re OCD.
Having said that. If you drive TO and FROM the track, track wheels and tires should be balanced. Road force balancing for track wheels and tires isn’t necessary for performance and lap times, but may be necessary for sanity sake, especially if you’re OCD.
Regards
Chip
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