Tire Weights

[Da Bull]

I just got new tires on F150 last week. When I was washing my truck today I noticed that they put the tire weights on the outside of my rims. Can these weights be installed on the back side of the rim where they don't show? I am positive there were no weights showing with my old tires.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Most good tire shops split the weight evenly between the inner and outer rim flange, you get a slightly better balance doing this.

Charles

 

[Diesel-Mech]

They did a dynamic balance which for all purposes other than aesthetics works better, if you want them on the inside take them back and ask to have them static balanced which will allow them to place the weights on the inside. I'm just going off memory its been awhile since I have messed with tires so maybe someone here will have a little more in depth advice.

 

[travisd]

If the inside of the rim is flat and clean enough, you could also have them use stick-on weights positioned as close to the outside edge as possible. really dependent on the wheel design how effective this is. They need to be on a clean surface so they'll stick well.

 

[tw33k2514]

If the inside of the rim is flat and clean enough, you could also have them use stick-on weights positioned as close to the outside edge as possible. really dependent on the wheel design how effective this is. They need to be on a clean surface so they'll stick well.

Travis is dead on. But unless you have nice chrome rims or something I see no point, you get a better balance with an outside/inside combo.

 

[krooser]

Yep... it's norma to have WHEEL weights on the outside when dynamically balancing wheels/tires.

 

[ironroad 9c1]

function over form. I hate a ******** out of balance tire.

 

[Britwrench]

All the modern balancers I have seen will calculate weight sizes to allow the weights to be placed inside the rim, or in some cases behind the spokes..

Note, my knowledge applies to auto wheels, not trucks.

 

[KnightFire]

I usually agree with function over form, except in this instance.

Nothing irks me more than seeing globs of lead plopped on the lips on nice wheels. I've always used static balances (versus dynamic) on all my vehicles and have always been pleased with the results. I get far more than the expected lifespan from my tires.

If a tire simply can't be balanced with a static balance and MUST be balanced dynamically, you may have larger issues (just my personal experience) with the tire and/or rim.

Technically speaking I know that a dynamic balance is superior to static; however, if I get far more mileage out of my tires than expected from the manufacturer, never have balancing issues, and don't have to see those ugly *** weights...whats the loss?

 

[Costner]

I had rims on a previous vehicle that due to the lip design they wouldn't hold weights well if at all. The shop that balanced the wheels used the stick on weights on the interior side of the wheels.

One wheel worked great for about two miles down the road when I heard a loud "crack" sound as they were thrown up against the underside of the vehicle.

I guess that adhesive doesn't work so well when it is put on top of a layer of brake dust etc. All things being equal I prefer stick-on weights because they are hidden, but they need to be installed properly.

 

[Zeke]

It is true that the tech can enter a narrower rim width on the computer and install weights at equal distances from the balance center line, toward the outside and toward the inside and maintain a near perfect dynamic balance. Of course, nothing's perfect unless the tires are shaved to perfect round and then the speed distortion of the tread has to be located.

You don't want to know how long it takes and how hard it is to balance a Bonneville racer tire.