I have just taken the wheels off my SL and given each a proper wash. One thing struck me as very odd. None of the wheels has any balance weights attached. I had the wheels refurbished last year by my local MB and that's the way they've come back. I've had no vibration or judder at any speed ( albeit I never drive over the limit ) and tyre wear is completely even. Going in for four new tyres tomorrow, it'll be interesting to see if my local kwik-fit decides weights are required. Is it normal not to have any balance weights at all ?
Borys
MB Enthusiast
Kwik fit they kill rims over there.Machines to balance are cheap.Also what I've noticed most garages when balancing don't spin the wheel till balance is zero,Usually they spin once put weights on and they think job is done.....no no no untill it will be zero.Sometimes even it takes to move a tyre on the wheel to get it perfect but not all know about it/It's very dificult these days to find some body who cares about customer and do the job propely
Chrishazle
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2008
- Messages
- 5,941
- Location
- Nr Ashford, Kent
- Car
- 2008 S204 C220CDI Elegance Estate Auto, 2008 R171 facelift SLK280 Auto.
Would not recommend kwikfit for wheels on an SL500 - they may be OK for Fiestas and Focuses, but for performance machinery you need someone used to working with expensive alloys and fitting/balancing to performance cars. You'll pay a little more - but when you see what someone like JRM do (they run the Sumopower cars in FAI GT1) compared to ATS etc - it's worthwhile!
I'd suggest you hunt around near you for someone that handles performance machines! For a start, they'll put the weights on the inside - ATS insisted on putting mine (for the c270) on the outside!
I'd suggest you hunt around near you for someone that handles performance machines! For a start, they'll put the weights on the inside - ATS insisted on putting mine (for the c270) on the outside!
For years I was forced to use kwik-fit due to having a company w211. I used to have constant battles with them over their desire to fit Dunlops by default. They would also often insist my tyres were not ready to change even, when they were at 2mm. Obviously the lease company used had a fixed price contract with KF.
However, after using many different KF branches over the years, I finally found one who are excellent to deal with, take care of my car and wheels and seem to care what I think. I have used them for the last 4 years with all 3 of our cars and am very pleased with the service. By using their online purchase and booking tool they are also cheaper than anywhere else locally.
However, after using many different KF branches over the years, I finally found one who are excellent to deal with, take care of my car and wheels and seem to care what I think. I have used them for the last 4 years with all 3 of our cars and am very pleased with the service. By using their online purchase and booking tool they are also cheaper than anywhere else locally.
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
Tyres are virtually never fully balanced as made so will require some balance weights when fitted.
Colin_b
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2007
- Messages
- 1,779
- Location
- Leicester
- Car
- C250CDI (C320CDI & SLK350, Sold) & the Trusty Citigo
Wheels aren't either, and aren't perfectly circular, there should be one or two paint marks in the inner rim to indicate heavy and low points.
Tyres have similar marks, so fitting them properly by aligning the correct markings reduces or eliminates the need for weights to correct unbalance, assuming decent wheels and tyres.
Most tyre fitters don't bother, its as easy to bung on a 50g weight as a 5g.
Camskill in Whitehaven deserve an honourable mention, they do align the wheel/tyre properly
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
Camskill in Whitehaven deserve an honourable mention, they do align the wheel/tyre properly
So do they always end up with no balance weights on. Aligning tyres isn't difficult, use the red dot.
Colin_b
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2007
- Messages
- 1,779
- Location
- Leicester
- Car
- C250CDI (C320CDI & SLK350, Sold) & the Trusty Citigo
Not just the red dot, the other ones as well (depending on tyre manufacturer).
Are you seeing dots? Those color-coded sidewall markings serve a purpose. | Goliath Business News
Last time I used Camskill for 4 tyres, 3 had 5g or 10g weights, 1 had none. Pretty good going, I thought.
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
The red dot is meant to go by the valve, the yellow dots indicate heavier sections.
horgantrevor
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2011
- Messages
- 1,903
- Car
- w202 c43 & w210 E220 CDI estate w219 W221
new wheels or new tyres will always need weights very rare if they dont better chance in winning the lottery
dont go to kwick fit please have some sence and call to a company that have a good name
when getting new tyres the wheel first has to have old tyre removed and all old weights
new tyre fitted put on machine double checking no old weights are on
let the machine spin and tell you were to apply then the operator needs to clean the spots were he is fitting new weights good machines have a laser which shows the spots perfect
some weights may have to be fitted on inside edge and others inside inner edge
when the wheels is on the machine with the cover down if you stand in line with your alloy you will see a clear buckle if its their
my local guy will show you if he finds a bad one
good luck
dont go to kwick fit please have some sence and call to a company that have a good name
when getting new tyres the wheel first has to have old tyre removed and all old weights
new tyre fitted put on machine double checking no old weights are on
let the machine spin and tell you were to apply then the operator needs to clean the spots were he is fitting new weights good machines have a laser which shows the spots perfect
some weights may have to be fitted on inside edge and others inside inner edge
when the wheels is on the machine with the cover down if you stand in line with your alloy you will see a clear buckle if its their
my local guy will show you if he finds a bad one
good luck
wheels-inmotion
Active Member
Us "old timers" can remember when wheel balance required significant balance weights. In reply the wheel manufacturer would mark a heavy spot on the steel rim and the tyre manufacture would mark a light spot on the tyre. In an ideal world marrying these marks up reduced to need for ( excessive ) compensation.
In today's world things are very different. The surgical build of alloy's and tyres dismisses the old school logic and now depends on accurate balance measurement and compensation.
Today's wheel balancers can tell the tech to move the tyre on the rim in order to optimize the balance outcome.
To date the only manufacture that still marks the wheel with a heavy spot is Rolls Royce....... Going that extra mile i suppose?
In today's world things are very different. The surgical build of alloy's and tyres dismisses the old school logic and now depends on accurate balance measurement and compensation.
Today's wheel balancers can tell the tech to move the tyre on the rim in order to optimize the balance outcome.
To date the only manufacture that still marks the wheel with a heavy spot is Rolls Royce....... Going that extra mile i suppose?
wheels-inmotion
Active Member
I disagree, zero compensation even set at "fine" does sometimes need zero weight.
Chris Murray
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2005
- Messages
- 950
machines are set at 5g resolution because counterbalance weights for passenger cars are available in 5g multiples
Sp!ke
Administrator
I would have thought that a really slick tyre shop could put the weights on the centre of the rim inside the tyre.
You'd have to put the tyre on twice for each wheel I guess?
You'd have to put the tyre on twice for each wheel I guess?
Users who are viewing this thread
Similar threads
