How many times do you get your wheels balanced?

[prm]

Is it just me but every time i get new tyres fitted i ALWAYS have to go back to either the original fitter or another tyre place at least 3-4 times to get them balanced properly...........

 

[renault12ts]

It's just you. I get them balanced once when the tyres are fitted.

 

[npuk]

Your alloys may be buckled if they dont balance properly.

 

[prm]

Well, had them balanced at KF 3 days ago cos the 2 times Formula 1 did them they still vibrated, anyway went back this morning and guy said they were well out, couldn't explain why, so we will see later on.....

 

[jaymanek]

Your 18" wheels are most likely slightly out of shape by now.

Like you say, a good balancer may be able to sort that for you.

 

[moonloops]

I had a balance issue on my CLK a while back, took it to a place I know and trust (a fair few miles away) and they balanced them perfectly. I asked them why my local tyre places couldn't get them right. They just shrugged and said you'd be surprised to know how many tyre fitters had poor equipment or didn't know how to balance wheels, especially those that are hub centric?

They also mentioned something called "counter balancing" when the machine shows a perfectly balanced wheel yet the balancing is 180 degrees out and you know about it !!

I should have paid more attention as it was quite interesting.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

MB wheels need to be mounted by the stud holes, not the centre hole, reason being the centre hole is cosmetically central.

 

[prm]

MB wheels need to be mounted by the stud holes, not the centre hole, reason being the centre hole is cosmetically central.

Ah, thats interesting, thanks

 

[jaymanek]

Ah, thats interesting, thanks

No ordinary garage has those fittings though!

Only specialist alignment places like WIM.

We have never once had an issue using the centre.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>called "counter balancing" when the machine shows a perfectly balanced wheel yet the balancing is 180 degrees out

I think they're pulling your leg with this.

 

[renault12ts]

No ordinary garage has those fittings though!

Only specialist alignment places like WIM.

We have never once had an issue using the centre.

I agree, and since the wheels are fitted to the hubs using the hole in the middle, surely they'd be more than just cosmetic.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

To explain further, the inner and outer centre hole are not always perfectly aligned and this is exaggerated by the wheels thickness.

 

[markjay]

It's just you. I get them balanced once when the tyres are fitted.

Same here.

On a more general note for those who, like me, use the standard wheels rather than after-market ones:

Some rim designs make the traditional rim-mounted weights fall off, and need the stick-on ones, but these can only be used on the inside.

In the past 10 years I did not need to rebalance a wheel.

Another good idea is to always balance any wheel - including the rear one and the spare (if not a space-saver). Some tyre fitters do not routinely balance rear or spare wheels, so you have to ask for it to be done.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

Accurate centreing of the wheel is important when balancing wheels. Especially with larger, heavier wheels, you get an error in the static balance of approximately 10g for every 0.1mm of error. You can also obtain dynamic balance errors if the wheel is not mounted truly at right angles to the spindle axis of the balancer.

The important thing to obtain is an accurate replication of the way the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.

The definition of the wheel centre on MB wheels is quite complicated.

The centre hole on the inside face of the wheel is a true and accurate centre, and the intersection of the centreline of this hole and the flat face which abutts the hub is the datum for the wheel.

However, the hole at the front face of the wheel is cosmetic.

This means that if you hold the wheel between cones, you aren't replicating the mounting on the vehicle.

A mounting which picks up on the hole on the inner face and the flat mounting face would replicate the vehicle fixing and remove this source of error.

 

[renault12ts]

To explain further, the inner and outer centre hole are not always perfectly aligned and this is exaggerated by the wheels thickness.

I would assume then that the inner hole is correct, and that the wheel should be aligned using a thing (don't know what it's called) on the inside of the wheel rather than the more usual outside of the wheel.

 

[Dieselman]

I would assume then that the inner hole is correct, and that the wheel should be aligned using a thing (don't know what it's called) on the inside of the wheel rather than the more usual outside of the wheel.

A centring cone.

 

[davidjpowell]

Often had problems with balancing. One branch of Kwik Fit which was handy for the office never balanced first time. A tyre garage close to me know has never been able to balance correctly. I go elsewhere now.

On my BMW I had a out of shape tyre. Took lots of time to spot, and only with the help of a garage who really went out of there way to help. Presented as if out of balance

 

[wheels-inmotion]

Accurate centreing of the wheel is important when balancing wheels. Especially with larger, heavier wheels, you get an error in the static balance of approximately 10g for every 0.1mm of error. You can also obtain dynamic balance errors if the wheel is not mounted truly at right angles to the spindle axis of the balancer.

The important thing to obtain is an accurate replication of the way the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.

The definition of the wheel centre on MB wheels is quite complicated.

The centre hole on the inside face of the wheel is a true and accurate centre, and the intersection of the centreline of this hole and the flat face which abutts the hub is the datum for the wheel.

However, the hole at the front face of the wheel is cosmetic.

This means that if you hold the wheel between cones, you aren't replicating the mounting on the vehicle.

A mounting which picks up on the hole on the inner face and the flat mounting face would replicate the vehicle fixing and remove this source of error.

That's what i said.... But not so elegantly.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

I would assume then that the inner hole is correct, and that the wheel should be aligned using a thing (don't know what it's called) on the inside of the wheel rather than the more usual outside of the wheel.

Yes.... The correct method in mounting the wheel would be a dye in the rear to centre the wheel and then a five fingered brace in the stud holes at the front. This simulates how the wheel is mounted on the car exactly.

 

[prm]

Well, i've had them done again for the 5th time, and the guy at an indie tyre place has got them right, said they were 40grm too heavy on one wheel.... thats after a precision balance, it's cost me £50 to get this right.