New BFG 33x10.5/15: but look at the balance weights? (1 Viewer)

[High Desert]

No White dot?

No dots on these tires only mark is the "18" you see in this photo. I will inspect them closer Friday. In the photo the tire has not been washed, the blue protect stuff is still on the white letters (mounted black wall out)

If the 18 is the mark..then it is well off from being near the valve stem.

found a white dot on two rims., You can see one @ six o'clock on the rim in the photo. these are 1984 rims but the dots seem uniform so not just a act of time got them there.

And, I have got to check the White Letter side for dots..oops..forgot that side...

 

[silicon_toad2000]

I was always of the understanding that there is a mark on the tyre which shows a light or heavy side and that the heavy spot on the rim should be found first on the balancing machine and then the tyre fitted accordingly. I'm up for new tyres soon, I'll have to see if they do that and if they don't, f they'll do it after I have asked them to do it.

 

[Tinker]

Old tech is to put the rim on a bubble balancer by itself 1st, then place the tire on top of it & rotate it relative to the rim until the combination is closest to balanced. Then mount & spin balance.

Computerized spin balancers have made tire monkeys (sorry) stupider.

 

[RredFJ40]

I have the exact same setup with nowhere near that much weight. Either demand another tire or have them spin the tire on the rim to offset the heavy area of the rim and the heavy part of the tire.

A lot of BFG's are square tires. Literally. Have them balance your rim alone to make sure it's not out of round, and if it is have them rotate the tire 180 degrees to try and balance out the rim if there's a heavy spot in the tire. My 33x12.50r15 BFG KO's took a good bit of weight to balance out, but that was because of poor rotation habits of my buddy who I bought them off of.

 

[High Desert]

I have the exact same setup with nowhere near that much weight. Either demand another tire or have them spin the tire on the rim to offset the heavy area of the rim and the heavy part of the tire.

Gonna do just that..It just looks so wrong...

took it out on a "speed" run this morning..70mph smoother than I've ever felt in this rig..so the balance is good..I'm just afraid My kids or dogs will get lead poisoning...

 

[cr cruzr]

it ain't rocket science

(Suspected) main culprits behind this issue;

A) Lazy technician.
or,
B) Uneducated technician.
as well as,
C) Uncaring management.

Whenever it is possible, I always use Costco as my source for tires (as they bend over backwards to please their members). Failing that, I go over the details (such as wheel weight placement) with the manager/ supervisor - prior to any work being performed.

The wheel and tire are two separate components, that each have their own "sweet spot". That is, they individually balance out at different points. the trick in all of this is mating the two together - with the least amount of lead possible.

Competent tire technicians know how to figure out how to mount tires to rims - without having an ingot of lead attached to the exterior of any given wheel. You are the owner of the vehicle, and you should expect to be able to "show off" the tires and rims (like many of us are want to do).

While the balanced wheel may suit its purpose, it does not make for anything attractive. If a wheel has some definite issues (and may require so much lead) it should be considered ripe for replacement.

If the tire business won't respect your concerns or demands, then they should consider you one more lost repeat customer. Pride of work may not be an art form, but it sure seems as if it is a lost trait...

 

[mwalls54]

No dots on these tires only mark is the "18" you see in this photo. I will inspect them closer Friday. In the photo the tire has not been washed, the blue protect stuff is still on the white letters (mounted black wall out)

If the 18 is the mark..then it is well off from being near the valve stem.

found a white dot on two rims., You can see one @ six o'clock on the rim in the photo. these are 1984 rims but the dots seem uniform so not just a act of time got them there.

And, I have got to check the White Letter side for dots..oops..forgot that side...

on the white letter side there will for sure be a white spray looking stuff near the lip of the tire. check and see if it is where the valve stim is on the black wall side.

 

[High Desert]

on the white letter side there will for sure be a white spray looking stuff near the lip of the tire. check and see if it is where the valve stim is on the black wall side.

uh ...yep, found one on the white letter side..sprayed on looking stuff...no where near the valve stem. Heading back to the tire shop..


EDIT 10/5/08 Went back, had them dismounted remounted etc..Lost most of the weights except on one wheel has two 3.5 oz next to each other. I can live with it..runs smooth. The tech guy just slapped them on the first time.

It was @ Costco, they worked with me on it. I'm ashamed to buy them there in that I have worked with Tire Factory some as a employee..with the best pricing they could give me..Costco beat them by almost $200. too bad, but, I'm not donating to charity here..

 

[FJ-KroozerKrusader]

i have a fj62 with bfg at 32x11.50x15 on stock rims and i had that many weights also. i thought was a little much as well

 

[PabloCruise]

Old tech is to put the rim on a bubble balancer by itself 1st, then place the tire on top of it & rotate it relative to the rim until the combination is closest to balanced. Then mount & spin balance.

Computerized spin balancers have made tire monkeys (sorry) stupider.

Cool to read, confirms my intuitution about optimal balancing...