16 replies to this topic

[DouginDenver]

I can't believe I never knew this before, but it was only recently that I noticed that alloy wheels that have no lip - like propus or many XC90 wheels - are not balanced with those ugly clip-on lead weights, but are balanced by adhesive weights stuck to the inside of the wheel. So is that an option for any alloy wheel, whether it has lip or not? Can you just tell Discount Tire or whoever - "Balance them with the adhesive weights"? Any reason not too? Does it cost more? Is that what most of you do?

[Mesoam]

hammer on wheel weights supposedly balance a wheel better but they damage the lip and frankly look god awful

I have personally never noticed a difference in ride between the two different types of weights

the stick on weights work fine, and should NOT cost more money

be sure to request the stick on ones as if you don't you'll wind up with the hammer on type

[Black Betty]

I work my summers in a tire shop so I do have experience here:

The sticky weights are more likely to go out of balance than the clip on weights. When you drive you heat up the wheels and the adhesive also heats up and thus can more easily loosen. It is also a little more of a challenge to balance some times. Never the less I still use the sticky weights on all my wheels. When you buy your tires make sure they include a lifetime balance this is good for both sticky weights and clip on weights.

You can also cheat and do whats called static balance. What this is supposed to do is place one sticky weight on the middle of the barrel. Instead of one weight on either edge. I consider cheating using this balance setting but putting a clip on weight on the back edge.

Whatever balance you choose make sure the operator has it set to that setting. The balance's are slightly different. It should not cost more at all. If you have large spoked wheels like pegs or titans you can actually hide the weights behind the spokes if the operator is experienced.

When you go to get these weights CLEAN your wheels very very well. You do not want some tire monkey dragging your rim out placing it face down on the concrete and cleaning it himself. The weight will not stick to anything but clean metal so it must be clean. Brake build up sucks,and usually in this case I will just use a wire wheel to clean a inch ring all around the barrel.

[T5power]

paint your wheels gold, they'll get the hint not to use the butt ugly hammer weights... well at least they do around here

[Black Betty]

T5Power, on 08 November 2009 - 06:16 AM, said:

paint your wheels gold, they'll get the hint not to use the butt ugly hammer weights... well at least they do around here

False I would still smack a hammer on weight if you brought it to me. If you asked then obviously I'd do it then. Point is they are tire monkeys and will do anything as easy as they can. sticky weights take twice the time if you do it right 50% more if you half ass it.

[tomcat]

The down side to stick on weights is when the monkey fitting your tyres puts one tyre on the wrong way around (directional), then balances it, then after I point out what a dick he is he removes the tyre, turns it around, removes the stick on weights he's just stuck to my freshly painted wheels.....along with a very large chunk of paint!!!.....I was not impressed.

[Black Betty]

tomcat, on 08 November 2009 - 09:24 AM, said:

The down side to stick on weights is when the monkey fitting your tyres puts one tyre on the wrong way around (directional), then balances it, then after I point out what a dick he is he removes the tyre, turns it around, removes the stick on weights he's just stuck to my freshly painted wheels.....along with a very large chunk of paint!!!.....I was not impressed.

If your paint peeled because of a sticky weight you didn't prep right. Did you want that monkey to not balance your wheel? If you painted them right then you wouldn't have a problem...I seriously hate when I spend an hour mounting someones tires and they try to blame their laziness on me. I cant even count the number of customers who blame curb rash on me. But when I point out that all my tools are plastic they STFU.

I've refinished plenty of wheels if you dont do it right sure its a PIA to do it right but in the end its worth it.

[Che'_Moderator]

Black Betty, on 06 November 2009 - 08:05 PM, said:

I work my summers in a tire shop so I do have experience here:

The sticky weights are more likely to go out of balance than the clip on weights. When you drive you heat up the wheels and the adhesive also heats up and thus can more easily loosen. It is also a little more of a challenge to balance some times. Never the less I still use the sticky weights on all my wheels. When you buy your tires make sure they include a lifetime balance this is good for both sticky weights and clip on weights.

You can also cheat and do whats called static balance. What this is supposed to do is place one sticky weight on the middle of the barrel. Instead of one weight on either edge. I consider cheating using this balance setting but putting a clip on weight on the back edge.

Whatever balance you choose make sure the operator has it set to that setting. The balance's are slightly different. It should not cost more at all. If you have large spoked wheels like pegs or titans you can actually hide the weights behind the spokes if the operator is experienced.

When you go to get these weights CLEAN your wheels very very well. You do not want some tire monkey dragging your rim out placing it face down on the concrete and cleaning it himself. The weight will not stick to anything but clean metal so it must be clean. Brake build up sucks,and usually in this case I will just use a wire wheel to clean a inch ring all around the barrel.

You can dynamic balance to the inside, not just static. If you are really that anal just get a dynamic on car balance. If you just want the best looks tell who ever balances your tires to balance to the inside and you will not even see wheel weights.

[Stormtrooper1]

When i had new tires put on the saff i asked for the sticky weights. no extra cost, and no troubles. Discount tire even threw in the silver valve stems for free!

[Black Betty]

Che'_Moderator, on 08 November 2009 - 01:53 PM, said:

You can dynamic balance to the inside, not just static. If you are really that anal just get a dynamic on car balance. If you just want the best looks tell who ever balances your tires to balance to the inside and you will not even see wheel weights.

Thats what I said I considered cheating its not the best balance but it will work and it gives you the look you want. FYI alot of VW wheels don't have the back lip to do this.

[tomcat]

Black Betty, on 08 November 2009 - 09:33 AM, said:

If your paint peeled because of a sticky weight you didn't prep right. Did you want that monkey to not balance your wheel? If you painted them right then you wouldn't have a problem...I seriously hate when I spend an hour mounting someones tires and they try to blame their laziness on me. I cant even count the number of customers who blame curb rash on me. But when I point out that all my tools are plastic they Oh hush.

I've refinished plenty of wheels if you dont do it right sure its a PIA to do it right but in the end its worth it.

No, they where prepped right, they just were not baked afterwards (did them at home) 2k paint is still quite soft for a good few months after spraying, he was told this and still went at it like a bull in a china shop. Moreover if the monkey fitting the tyres hadn't put one on back to bloody front then there wouldn't have been a problem, the rest turned out fine. I too have refurbed many wheels and I've been spraying for years so I certainly know what I'm doing.

[the commissar!]

I have thrown the weight off the stick on ones a few times leaving only the sticky back on the wheel of my Viggen...Do they have some max speed rating or something???

[Black Betty]

the commissar!, on 12 November 2009 - 10:04 PM, said:

I have thrown the weight off the stick on ones a few times leaving only the sticky back on the wheel of my Viggen...Do they have some max speed rating or something???

Not that I have heard. Most likely the wheels weren't cleaned properly. The sticky weights stick on like crazy if the wheel is clean.

[pwebb]

the commissar!, on 12 November 2009 - 10:04 PM, said:

I have thrown the weight off the stick on ones a few times leaving only the sticky back on the wheel of my Viggen...Do they have some max speed rating or something???

I've definitely had bad luck trying to use the wrong type of hammer-on weights.

if applied to a clean section of rim, a sticky weight will never fly off.

[Che'_Moderator]

pwebb, on 13 November 2009 - 02:01 AM, said:

I've definitely had bad luck trying to use the wrong type of hammer-on weights.

if applied to a clean section of rim, a sticky weight will never fly off.

We use them in racing with no problems. Centrifugal force alone will hold them on if they are applied correctly. Valve stems on the other hand will rip out if not supported.

[the commissar!]

Black Betty, on 13 November 2009 - 01:30 AM, said:

Not that I have heard. Most likely the wheels weren't cleaned properly. The sticky weights stick on like crazy if the wheel is clean.

I was trying to say the sticky part stuck to the wheel and the weight came off the sticky part...the sticky part is still well hung to the wheel and the weight is nowhere to be found.

[pwebb]

the commissar!, on 13 November 2009 - 06:01 PM, said:

I was trying to say the sticky part stuck to the wheel and the weight came off the sticky part...the sticky part is still well hung to the wheel and the weight is nowhere to be found.

wow. those are garbage weights...