Can't get tires to balance - what's the best balancing method?

[Spooled-up]

I have Goodyear Wrangler 305/70r 16's on American Racing 16 x 8 aluminum wheels. Just had them rotated the other day by Tire Discounters here in Cincinnati area. Originally, they only did a static balance where there were weights only on the inside of the wheel where you couldn't see them. There was some wheel induced "hop" in the rear as I could see the bed vibrating up and down at certain speeds. I had them do a dynamic balance where weights are put on both the inside and outside of the wheel. They used a whole lot of weight and it looks terrible. On a six inch section of wheel there are four different weights. Doesn't look right to me and the vibration is worse! They probably damaged the outer rim of the wheel too since I heard them hammering the weights on to the wheels while I waited.
I've heard that there are many different ways to balance tires and wheels such as rubber patches placed inside the tires, rotating the tires on the wheel to "match" the irregularity of the wheel to the tire as close as possible, and different kinds of balancing machines. Hunter has one that simulates a road surface under the wheel to check for balance under load.

Has anyone found a solution for difficult to balance tires and wheels?

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'99 2500 4x4 long bed quad cab auto with sport package.
My Toys

 

[trning]

Originally posted by David Kelley:
I have Goodyear Wrangler 305/70r 16's on American Racing 16 x 8 aluminum wheels. Just had them rotated the other day by Tire Discounters here in Cincinnati area. Originally, they only did a static balance where there were weights only on the inside of the wheel where you couldn't see them. There was some wheel induced "hop" in the rear as I could see the bed vibrating up and down at certain speeds. I had them do a dynamic balance where weights are put on both the inside and outside of the wheel. They used a whole lot of weight and it looks terrible. On a six inch section of wheel there are four different weights. Doesn't look right to me and the vibration is worse! They probably damaged the outer rim of the wheel too since I heard them hammering the weights on to the wheels while I waited.
I've heard that there are many different ways to balance tires and wheels such as rubber patches placed inside the tires, rotating the tires on the wheel to "match" the irregularity of the wheel to the tire as close as possible, and different kinds of balancing machines. Hunter has one that simulates a road surface under the wheel to check for balance under load.

Has anyone found a solution for difficult to balance tires and wheels?

If it's done right static is fine. If it's done right you will have weights on the inside and outside about 1/4 around the tire. Also spin balance is good maybe they should try that.

 

[Skyjacked Ram]

I had my tires balance about 2 months ago, after which I notice there was alot of vibration coming from my front end... so I took it back to the tire shop and had them rotate the rubber on the rim until they required very little weight... on one tire it required 8oz to make it balance, after rotation it took next to nothing and my truck drives as smooth as a shakin' cummins should.

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1998. 5 QC long bed 4x4 24v Auto 4. 10s spinnin' 33x12. 5x16. 5 mud BFG's on weld roadhawks K&N Bushwacker fender flairs Dodge/Cummins 1ton mud flaps

 

[lschultz]

Sounds like you need to have the tires trued(Sp)makes the tire round. Had some tires like that once. They had lots of weights on them and rough. After they were trued and balanced they were smooth and very little weights. Find a place that can balance them on the truck too.

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2000 Dodge 4x4 Quad Cab SWB 5-SP
2001 VW NB TDI
AMSOIL(#504865) DEALER & USER

 

[Jeff Clark]

I use an internal balancing agent called Equal in my 245/70-19. 5 Michelins. It has the consistency of fine sand and balances the tire as it rolls along. I've always wondered if it would work on smaller tires like those for 16" rims. It takes three bas per tire for mine so maybe 1 or 2 for your size. Check with a place that does large truck tires.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Physcotty Air", TST PowerMax2, VA, 275's, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake, Cowl Induction Hood

"If it ain't broke, it ain't a Dodge"

 

[rod77zilla]

I guess to Qualify myself, I worked as a technician at the local Dodge dealership for a while and I build rockcrawling jeeps for fun, so I do know a little bit about it. I'll start by saying that The hammering you heard them doing is entirely normal. The weights they added are designed to be hammered onto the wheel. As for adding more than one weight per wheel, that means one of 2 things: 1. Their balancing machine could be ghetto and not get it right. the most accurate machine around about a year ago was the Hunter 9000 road force balancer. I just used one today after remounting my stock michelins (my 35" baja claws wore out)and they ride smooth as glass. But even with a good machine, sometimes the tire and/or rims are out of round or balance really bad. The hunter can measure your rim runout and tire balance and tell you where to draw lines to remount the tire on the wheel for OEM matching to compensate. Goodyears are in general not really known to be balanced or rounded very well. michelins ( and I hate street tires) on the other hand rarely give any trouble. i saw where someone else was talking about Equal. That's what we do with our jeeps. It's called powder balancing. It's nearly impossible to get big enough wheel weights to balance 40-44" tires, and if you do, they almost always get knocked off when you're off road. They throw in however many bags it takes for your tire size and then remount your tire. when the tire gets spinning somehow the bags pile up wherever they need to be to balance the tire. I haven't ever done it to small tires, but they charge us $15 a tire to do it. so the choice is yours: find someone with a hunter 9000 machine and/or someone who will powder balance your tires. Be aware that warped brake rotors and unbalanced driveshafts can cause vibrations too

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[rod77zilla]

sorry, I meant for that to say: that adding more than one wheel weight per side means one of two things:1. the machine is ghetto or 2. the tire/ wheel is very far out of balance and/or roundness. I had some kellys one time that took weights in 4 places per side (the hunter 9000 told me to get new tires) but they rode fine ( the weights were ugly)

 

[Spooled-up]

Rodzilla,
Thanks for the info. Do you know of anyplace that might have a Hunter 9000 balancer such as a certain chain of tire stores? Guess I'll have to call a whole bunch of places otherwise. I might try someplace that sells a lot of big tires. They probably know where to go.

Appreciate all the help guys.

 

[Smokescreen]

Definetely spinning the tire 180 to 90 degrees around wheel to find a better balance is a great method. Also try stick on weights on inside out outside of wheel for the most accurate balance. and yes, when they hammer weight onto an aluminum wheel it will damage the edge, this is why I suggest stick on. As long as the wheel is clean when applied they will not come off. Good luck.

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2001 ETH with beans