For instance, if a 15" wheel is 1 ounce out of balance at rest, at 60 mph the impact force will be 4.6 pounds. A small amount of imbalance when a wheel is at rest can amount to a great deal of impact force when the wheel is spinning at highway speeds. These impacts occur when a tire has a heavy spot on one end of its tread. Static imbalance subjects the wheel to vertical (up and down) impacts that become worse with higher speed. If the wheel was in balance statically, it would not have the tendency to rotate by itself.įorce is directed out away from center of wheel during rotation If a wheel with static imbalance was mounted on a spindle with the heavy spot on top, the heavy spot would rotate to the lowest possible position on its own. Therefore, before computer balancing, static balancing was performed with the wheel at rest. There are two types of wheel balancing, static and dynamic. Lead free tape-on weights are also available. Alternative weights are made of steel or zinc or a zinc alloy called ZAMA, which combines zinc, aluminum and copper. Lead weights were banned by The European Commission in 2005 and they are now also banned in several of The United States. The use of lead wheel weights began in the 1930's. Chrome weight strips are also available.Īluminum, painted and alloy wheels can be easily scratched and it is worth noting to use plastic protectors to cover tire tools to prevent damage. Tape-on weights can be placed in a hidden placement on the inside of the wheel so they are not noticeable on the outside for the best appearance. These weights are attached by means of double-sided adhesive tape after cleaning the wheel area. Tape-on weights are available in strips that can be cut to length to achieve the desired weight amount. Tape-on weights may also be used for aluminum wheels. Aluminum wheels with a flange for a clip-on weight may require a coated or alloy clip so they will not corrode the wheel.ĭifferent types of Clip-On weights fit a variety of applications. Different types of clips are available to accommodate the variety of wheel types and wheel covers. There are several types of clip-on weights available in 1/4 ounce increments. Clip-on wheel weights are attached to the rim using a wheel weight hammer. Types of Wheel WeightsĬlip-On weights are hammered in place and Tape-On weights use adhesive double-sided tape.Ĭorrecting imbalances requires attaching wheel weights to the rim. Although it is theoretically possible to balance a square tire and wheel, it does not mean that it will roll smoothly. However, runout of more than 0.125" is recommended for replacement of the tire or wheel. It should be noted that runout of less than 0.030" will not typically cause a noticeable vibration. It is possible to balance an out-of-round tire and wheel assembly and still have vibration due to wheel hop (also call wheel tramp). If excessive weight amounts are needed to balance the tire it may be an indication of a defective tire or that the tire may be incorrectly seated on the wheel rim. New tires will have minor imbalances that are correctable by adding a wheel weight to a specified location to counter the effect of the imbalance. The imbalance can be caused by issues in manufacturing, or from tire wear. Tire imbalance results when the weight of a tire's materials is not distributed equally throughout the tire thus resulting in the tire being heavier on one side than the other. Vibrations from a rear imbalance may not be as obvious, but will still result in tire wear. The front tires produce more noticeable symptoms than the rear when out of balance due to the translation through the suspension and steering components and the feedback felt at the steering wheel. Tire and wheel imbalance can result in a cupped tire wear pattern, traction loss and premature wear to suspension and steering parts. Other causes can be related to drivetrain issues and / or bent components. Tire and wheel imbalance is one of the most likely causes of vehicle vibration.
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