Tire balancing advice

[Adam R]

I've had a long standing issue with getting a good balance with my 100 series tires so I changed tires and still had a problem. All joints and bushings have been verified to be in good condition. While on a road trip to the Northwest, I got them balanced in Grand Junction, CO (Discount Tire) just 500 miles after installation and they were anywhere from 1 to 3.5 ounces off. After leaving Grand Junction, the problem was nearly as bad as when I drove it in so I got them balanced again after another 500 miles in Salt Lake City and they were up to 2 ounces off. These are factory wheels with 285 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Tire wear after 1500 miles is un-noticeable and I had an alignment done by Toyota before I left and before the tires where installed. In my mind this was clearly a balancing issue only.

They guys in Salt Lake listened to my frustration and used a hub centric adapter and then a finger adapter to press the wheel (via the wheel lug holes) against the hubcentric plate. This basically mimics the way the wheels mount to the Landcruiser. Every other time, the tire shops used the cone adapters to center the wheel being balanced. For the first time in years, I have a steering wheel that does not wiggle back and forth.

Might be something to ask for next time you get a re-balance.

Adam

 

[inkpot]

Good info. I have had similar problems. John

 

[Wasatch Jay]

Adam,

I'm curious as to which shop you went in Salt Lake City?

 

[Adam R]

Adam,

I'm curious as to which shop you went in Salt Lake City?

I used the one at 2999 Glen Eagle Drive, W Valley City, UT. Josh was the manager that day and did a great job of listening to and fixing the problem.

I had always assumed the cone adapters were a reasonable way of centering the wheel, but when I was getting so much variation between balances a day apart, something clearly wasn't right.

Adam

 

[Topmounter]

Not sure what rig they use, but the Discount Tires guys in several Denver locations have installed and balanced my tires without a problem since I've had my hundie... 285 AT/KO's and now 285 Dura-tracs on 16" factory wheels.

Good to know though what rig it takes to get them right if you're having troubles though.

 

[Wasatch Jay]

I used the one at 2999 Glen Eagle Drive, W Valley City, UT. Josh was the manager that day and did a great job of listening to and fixing the problem.

I had always assumed the cone adapters were a reasonable way of centering the wheel, but when I was getting so much variation between balances a day apart, something clearly wasn't right.

Adam

Thanks Adam!

I would have thought the cone method would work as well.

Perhaps the bolt hole circle in some wheels is not concentric with the center hole?

It's good to know there's an alternative if the cone system doesn't work.

 

[TheFuzz]

I've been having a balance issue w/ my DuraTracs above 45mph. I usually only commute in-town to work but have been noticing it more lately since i've been out and about more. I might look into this on my next rotation.

 

[agaisin]

I've been having a balance issue w/ my DuraTracs above 45mph. I usually only commute in-town to work but have been noticing it more lately since i've been out and about more. I might look into this on my next rotation.

i recently had my wheels balanced - but had noticeable vibration in one wheel > 65mph. turned out either they forgot to balance that wheel or the weight came off - they said on our big wheels the weights sometimes come off. not sure if that was true or bs, but wonder if thats happened to others too...