Tire Balance

Bish Wheeler · #1 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 06:18 PM

Anybody else have trouble balancing the front tires? I'm running Goodrich T/A tires and I'm having a heck of a time getting them balanced. We can come close, but at around 50 mph I'm tap dancing. I've got "fake" knock offs that attach with allen screws so you know they are not exactly centered. Could those things cause the problem? Guess I should take them off and see, Huh? Anyway, if any of you have suggestions, fire away.

BTW, I finally found out what T/A means: "Traction Advantage"

Bish

HighPlainsDrifter · #2 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 08:45 PM

Hey Bish,
I would check the shocks instead of the wheel balance. Many times a shock is the cause of what feels like a tire trouble and let the tire bounce up or down or both.
Perry.

Bish Wheeler · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 09:06 PM

Hi Perry,

The shocks are brand new, I will check, but I don't think that's what is causing the problem. We are doing the balancing act with the car jacked up and the wheels on the car. We have managed to get it a lot better, but of course I want it to be as smooth as silk

Bish

HighPlainsDrifter · #4 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 10:14 PM

The other thought I had is if your tires have been sitting on cold cement all winter, I would take it in to a good tire shop and see if the belts are ok, they can separate and cause the wheel to shake also. I normally jack up the car and let the suspension unload over the winter or park it on plywood to get the tires off the cold cement. some of these things are hard to track down. Good luck!
Perry

Bish Wheeler · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 10:45 PM

The prime offender is the left front. I can live with it as it's not all that bad, but you know, you tend to fixate on things. The car never sat all that much, but if worse comes to worse I'll put new rubber on.

M & M · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2002, 11:49 PM

Bish,

Are you balancing the tires on the car or off? By you prior post I am assuming on. If you can find a tire shop with an old style wheel balancer that will balance them while still on the car you might lick the problem. That way you can get them spun up to the speed you are seeing the problem at.

Often times balancing them off the car will not not give a true balance because of several things, in your case it could be the knockoff for example.

Unfortnuately not many shops anymore have a balancer that will work with the tires on the car.

Best of Luck,
Mike

Bish Wheeler · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 12:34 AM

Oh we're doing it on the car, in a front end shop. Spinning the wheels way up even using a strobe. Been thinking about it off and on all evening and if we can't get to the bottom of it tomorrow guess I will spring for a new tire or maybe two. One of the problems is these cars are so light weight you can feel everything. I guess what I'm asking all you guys is; do you all have smooth operation at all speeds, or do you have a few rough spots?

Bish

M & M · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 09:13 AM

Bish,

Sounds like your doing it the right way! Just a thought..... before you buy another tire, try switching sides with the front tire & wheel (to check balance only, not perminate), obviously if you can't get it to balance then you know it's a problem on the car, not the tire. Maybe you can narrow things down a bit before spending money.

Of course if you do buy a new tire you can always put the old one in the trunk for a spare.....

Good Luck,
Mike

392cobra · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 09:46 AM

bish,
you might not have a balance problem. while you have the tire on the car,spin the tire and check to see if it has high/low spots or areas . it doesn't take alot for you to feel it on the road at 50 mph . there used to be places that would true tires .

Bish Wheeler · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 10:25 AM

Thanks guys, I'm heading out to work on it again, as soon as the snow melts! I'll let ya know what the end result is.

Bish

Bish Wheeler · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 09:49 PM

Found the problem,

It was the rear wheels! They were way out, took 4oz of lead on one. Everything is now riding smooth. So nice to not rattle down the road.

Bish

Bob Parmenter · #12 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 06:00 PM

Bother Bish,

I am biting my mental tongue here.........................it's tough not to send out a zinger about lead in the rear!!

Keith Vincent · #13 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 06:55 PM

Yo, Bishop. Found snow chains for those 295/15's? I'll start looking here in Tacoma. You may need them to join us next weekend

M & M · #14 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 08:33 PM

Keith,

Have you got your car back yet? If not, have you herd from John when to expect it?

Thanks, Mike