Wheel Balance Weights?

[SpyderWolf]

I am just curious as to how many weights some of you have on your front wheels for balance. I am going to ask the dealer to check the balance on my wheels tomorrow when I take it in for the update. I know every wheel is different, but I actually have 13 weights on the right wheel and only 2 on the left while sitting on the bike. The 13 just seems a little excessive to me for some reason, even though it may really need that many.

What are your thoughts and experience with these weights?

 

[tweeder]

I haven't looked at the rear but I have none on either the front wheels, which I thought was weird but after driving it; no vibrations.

 

[SpyderWolf]

I have not bothered checking my rear wheel yet either.

I need to look more closely at my wife's, but I don't think she has any on the right wheel and may have 3 on the left.

I don't want to seem paranoid, but I am wondering what may have happened if it takes 13 weights to bring a tire into balance? :dontknow:

 

[wyliec]

You'll find that some members removed the weights after installing RideOn.
http://www.ride-onshop.com/content.cgi

 

[Firefly]

I am just curious as to how many weights some of you have on your front wheels for balance. I am going to ask the dealer to check the balance on my wheels tomorrow when I take it in for the update. I know every wheel is different, but I actually have 13 weights on the right wheel and only 2 on the left while sitting on the bike. The 13 just seems a little excessive to me for some reason, even though it may really need that many.

What are your thoughts and experience with these weights?

I've got 4-5 on each. Last balance was done at local Discount Tire shop when I rotated the tires from side to side (have to physically change the tires on the rims since they have a directional tread..).

 

[xpeschon]

I have 4 on one side and 2 on the other... Just for your info there is also 2 on the rear tire... The weights I have are factory yet,, little square ones, oh and also, my weights are positioned near the center of the rim, basically there not on either the left or the right side, kind of in the center but offset a bit..

Joe

 

[NancysToy]

That is an excessive amount of wheel weights. As long as they were able to get the wheel to balance, and you have no associated vibration, I doubt you'll get any relief under warranty. I would check carefully for lumps on the tire tread or sidewalls, an out of round tire, or a wheel that is not true. These could cause a need for excessive balance weights to compensate. Those types of problems are defects, and should be able to be corrected under warranty. You also might be able to reduce the amount of weight by installing Ride-on.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Thanks for the answers, and the information on the Ride-On product as well. I have put Slime in many of our lawnmower, go-kart, and bicycle tires in the past. I was not about to put that in my Spyder's tires, but this product sounds like it may be a good idea.

How many of you are using it right now and, more importantly, how many bottles does it take for one Spyder?

The out of round situation is exactly what I am somewhat paranoid about Scotty. Thanks for the added advice, as I am definitely going to have them check it today. For your information, 13 weights covers nearly 1/4 of the wheel surface.

 

[Lamonster]

I took off 96 grams on my rear tire when I first started using Ride-On. I have 41K on my Spyder now and I have yet to add any wheel weights to my wheels. When I changed rims on front I had 25K on those tires with no weights and they still looked great. Not only that but you get flat protection too.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=88443&postcount=8

 

[Questions]

no weights on the fronts, seems odd but feels ok.

 

[Lamonster]

The tire on the right has 25,000+ miles on it and the tire on the left has 16.000+ miles on it.

 

[Firefly]

For your information, 13 weights covers nearly 1/4 of the wheel surface.

When you put it that way--- something sounds WAY wrong.

 

[SpyderWolf]

The mechanic at the dealership said it seemed excessive to him as well, but that is the way it came from the factory. They have no way to balance these tires in their shop because of the hub size, and only have a bubble balancer to boot.

I think I am going to have to get some Ride-On and then take it to a place like Tire Kingdom, where they can spin balance them for me.

 

[NancysToy]

The mechanic at the dealership said it seemed excessive to him as well, but that is the way it came from the factory. They have no way to balance these tires in their shop because of the hub size, and only have a bubble balancer to boot.

I think I am going to have to get some Ride-On and then take it to a place like Tire Kingdom, where they can spin balance them for me.

I'd do the balancing first, then the Ride-On. Ride-On is a self balancer, and needs a little time to work. Might make the balancing machine be unable to get a true balance. I would certainly check very carefully for bulges, delamination, or other tire defects before I did anything. I'd also jack it up and test tire roundness and wheel & tire runout. A high speed balancer is a good idea, however. Be sure they have stick-on weights in small increment available, and they put them near the center of the rim, instead of near the edge like on a car.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Thanks for the advice on how to look at this properly. I greatly appreciate it. :thumbup:

 

[Studybaker Bob]

wheel balancing

I remember many years ago when I was an auto mechanic that there was a federal law of how much weight a mechanic could put on a wheel & tire. It's not uncommon for a wheel or tire to be out of round. You should be able to check it by jacking the wheel up and spinning it just be eyeballing.

 

[SpyderWolf]

New Dilemma

Okay, where do you get your tires balanced? :gaah:

This is becoming somewhat frustrating now. The dealer says that they cannot balance them because their machine only works for real motorcycle tires and is a bubble balancer. So, I stopped by a Tire Kingdom today and they said they cannot do it as they don't have a small enough adapter to fit the front wheels.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[NancysToy]

Okay, where do you get your tires balanced? :gaah:

This is becoming somewhat frustrating now. The dealer says that they cannot balance them because their machine only works for real motorcycle tires and is a bubble balancer. So, I stopped by a Tire Kingdom today and they said they cannot do it as they don't have a small enough adapter to fit the front wheels.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Try a dealer who sells another brand of large touring bikes, Honda, BMW, etc. Also maybe another independent repair shop. There are motorcycle spin balancers which will take a small adapter. Those dealers may not have the correct adapter, though.

 

[SpyderWolf]

I will probably start making phone calls tomorrow to see if I can find a place that can handle it for me. The weights did not seem to be a problem, as they showed me they had plenty of those. Obviously, once I find a place it will probably be in my best interest to stick with them.

 

[ataDude]

Okay, where do you get your tires balanced? :gaah:

This is becoming somewhat frustrating now. The dealer says that they cannot balance them because their machine only works for real motorcycle tires and is a bubble balancer. So, I stopped by a Tire Kingdom today and they said they cannot do it as they don't have a small enough adapter to fit the front wheels.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

.
Get some stick-on weights from the dealer. Then place the tire on its axle in between a couple of jack stands and balance it yourself.

I found/find myself in the same situation you are in... so you do what you have to do. Not hard.

.