16 replies to this topic

[old codger]

Had all 4 wheels balanced by e tyres and I have a steering whheel wobble at about 65mph, so I went to another local tyre shop and they balanced the 2 fronts, and said they were 10 and 15grms out respectively. So went down A1 today and guess what thats right the bloody wobble is still there. Does anyone know anywhere that actually knows how to balance the wheels on a vx properly in the Cleveland area?

[theolodian]

I don't know the where, but I have a good idea of the what. I have the same problem. Been told it takes a special machine that presses rollers against the tire to balance them. Forgot the name of the machine, it takes some looking to finda place that has one.

[mandarinvx]

Are you sure it isn't a wheel that's out if a few people are having trouble

[old codger]

It was actually ok before e tyres fitted a tyre on the back and so I thought I would get them to balance all four wheels just in case. That waqs a mistake. Anyone know what sort of machine the previous post means? Wonder where will have one?

[robreg5]

The machine that presses rollers against the tire actually rotates the wheel+tyre whilst still on the hub of the car. The fitter/operator can then balance the wheel whilst still on the car. Can be very effective but some people think its a bad idea, as when you rotate the wheel whilst still on the car you are also turning drive shafts etc and in effect you are balancing those too lol. All I can suggest is that you try and find a tyre place that is capable of balancing wheels on the car and give it a try. Hope this helps

[techieboy]

My local Formula1 Autocentre offers a service called "precision" wheel balancing. There's only one guy there who can do it but they actually attach the wheel to the machine through all five bolt holes (like it would be to your car) instead of just through the centre spigot. Never had an issue with balancing with either set of TD's since I started asking them to do that instead. Costs a couple of quid extra, per corner but well worth it. Always spot on. That said, Event Tyres fitted my last set of road tyres and he managed to get it spot on as well.

[theolodian]

The machine that presses rollers against the tire actually rotates the wheel+tyre whilst still on the hub of the car. The fitter/operator can then balance the wheel whilst still on the car. Can be very effective but some people think its a bad idea, as when you rotate the wheel whilst still on the car you are also turning drive shafts etc and in effect you are balancing those too lol. All I can suggest is that you try and find a tyre place that is capable of balancing wheels on the car and give it a try. Hope this helps

That's not the one that I meant. The one I was talking about tries to deal with tires being slightly egg-shaped. Probably what they use for Techieboy's wheels.

Edited by theolodian, 12 August 2009 - 06:23 PM.

[spuk87]

My local Formula1 Autocentre offers a service called "precision" wheel balancing. There's only one guy there who can do it but they actually attach the wheel to the machine through all five bolt holes (like it would be to your car) instead of just through the centre spigot. Never had an issue with balancing with either set of TD's since I started asking them to do that instead. Costs a couple of quid extra, per corner but well worth it. Always spot on.

That's what I've heard before. VX wheels are difficult to balance so they have to use a different 'fitting' which uses all 5 bolt holes as said, think that's fixed a fair few peoples before

Edited by spuk87, 12 August 2009 - 07:21 PM.

[Crabash]

The mobile tyre fitter that did mine assured me that most places will use a "coarse" setting on the machine to save time, he showed me as he adjusted the acuracy after I said the car was going on track. He said he had seen light weight sports cars have probs with "normal" balancing and especially if being used on track. Didn't cost any more just a matter of the fitter being bothered to do it, seems some places are trying to cash in by offering "super balance" or such like for an extra fee. I used to use C&S Tyres in Middlesborough, into motorsport and always got a good service from them, however it must be 5 years since I used them.

[old codger]

Thanks for the advice guys, will try to find somewhere to precision balance the wheels. Might give CS tyres a ring as its pretty close to me.

[SteveA]

Town & country in Boro did a good job on my TD's

[John Faulkner]

any decent tyre place will have the kit to fit the wheels up by the bolts, the main reason being that not all wheels have pop out centre caps..........

[NickB787]

My local Formula1 Autocentre offers a service called "precision" wheel balancing. There's only one guy there who can do it but they actually attach the wheel to the machine through all five bolt holes (like it would be to your car) instead of just through the centre spigot. Never had an issue with balancing with either set of TD's since I started asking them to do that instead. Costs a couple of quid extra, per corner but well worth it. Always spot on.

That said, Event Tyres fitted my last set of road tyres and he managed to get it spot on as well.

Didn't know that will do it next time

[theolodian]

16's are a LOT easier to balance than standard fronts. Just because someone can do TD's does not mean that they can do problematic standard fronts acceptably.

[techieboy]

Didn't know that will do it next time

Yeah, I didn't until the boss said "do you want us to try a precision balance?" when they were having problems balancing a set of 888's on some TD's. Duh, yes, please! Now I get it done everytime. Takes about 3 times longer to do because of the faffing around with fitting the wheels to the balancing machine but it's been spot on every time since. The VX is so much more sensitive to balancing than the Audi and the normal tolerance is just not good enough. Another benefit seems to be that they use fewer weights getting it right. I've had the TD's and 888's done before and the weights have seemingly taken up half the circumference of the wheel.

[NickB787]

Didn't know that will do it next time

I've had the TD's and 888's done before and the weights have seemingly taken up half the circumference of the wheel.

What you mean like mine I need that second set of TD though,drive me every time I have to change from summer to winter tyres

[old codger]

Just to update, I found a garage who did precision balancing, so went there, and apparently the n/s front has been potholed and is out of true.Which is annoying as there isnt a mark on it. So the guys there had to put 80gms of weight on it which has made it a lot better. But when I got home I found a new front wheel for sale online and bought it. Should be here soon and will cure the problem once and for all. Fingers crossed.