Good info on tire balancing

[kai920]

Had my 4th balancing in 5k miles done today. The last one was out of balance the moment I drove out of the shop. The guy at the new discount tire store I went to(the last store obviously couldn't get it right) said T4R wheels need a lug centric balance with the hub centric plate behind the wheel. The standard cone type balancing is insufficient.

He showed me the plate he was using and said it is specific to the T4R and Toyota trucks and they special order them because our wheels are difficult to balance. No sure if that BS or not, but thats what he said.

So far so good, but I'm not yet convinced its not the tires.

 

[martini]

That's the second time I've heard something like that about needing an adapter, first time was from this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/perfo...argers-more/173-tire-balancing-must-read.html

 

[kai920]

When I had the balance done just a few hours ago, I told the guys not to rotate the tires. When I had them balanced last week they were rotated. I took it for a drive with one of the managers at Discount after balancing today and everything was good.

When I got home, I realized they had rotated the tires(I have some marks on one of my wheels, and I knew that wheel was in the rear before going to the shop, was now up front). I took it back and told them to re-rotate my tires.

As soon as I left vibration is back. WTF? I'd gladly get rid of these tires but they will only prorate replacements and I would be losing $.

Guess I'll spend my next day off this week back at Discount Tire.

 

[Acidmeld]

Thats why i balance my own tires. 115mph with zero vibration...

 

[snhrph]

I had tires on both trucks Road-Force balanced on Hunter GSP-9700.

Silent Armors on the 4Runner were originally high-speed balanced by the tire shop that installed them, and there was a subtle but noticeable vibration. I took the truck to a performance shop in Queens, and what a difference!!!

IMHO, Road-Force balance is the ONLY way to do it, it is well worth the extra cost.

 

[K.C.]

Thats why i balance my own tires. 115mph with zero vibration...

Same here!!

 

[Jeff T]

Doesn't TireRack use the Hunter on everything they mount??

 

[kai920]

Thats why i balance my own tires. 115mph with zero vibration...

Normally I would but I seem to have misplaced my hunter wheel balancing machine.

 

[Presta24]

how do you balance your tires yourself?

 

[K.C.]

how do you balance your tires yourself?

Buddy has a shop...instead of his techs doing the work, I do the dismounting, mounting, airing up, balanance & put it back onto the car...and without airtools. (personal preference)

 

[TRADICLES]

Rotate

I had tires on both trucks Road-Force balanced on Hunter GSP-9700.

Silent Armors on the 4Runner were originally high-speed balanced by the tire shop that installed them, and there was a subtle but noticeable vibration. I took the truck to a performance shop in Queens, and what a difference!!!

IMHO, Road-Force balance is the ONLY way to do it, it is well worth the extra cost.

Ditto,Road force balancing worked perfectly for me.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I love our Hunter Machine at work for its Road Force feature and how simple it makes balancing the wheels. Which reminds me... I need to rebalance my wheels/tires sometime this month...

 

[kai920]

So I had my fifth balance and a road force balance yesterday. I actually now have vibration at lower speeds than before and now more severe at higher speeds. Road force balance made it worse. I'm so fed up. Any ideas what else could be going on? I didn't have the issue when the tires were new(well they're still new, only 6k on them) so I am convinced it is the tires.

 

[TRADICLES]

Tires

So I had my fifth balance and a road force balance yesterday. I actually now have vibration at lower speeds than before and now more severe at higher speeds. Road force balance made it worse. I'm so fed up. Any ideas what else could be going on? I didn't have the issue when the tires were new(well they're still new, only 6k on them) so I am convinced it is the tires.

Sounds like a tire is out of round or something .Major imperfections in the tire due to poor manufacturing practices cannot be fixed by balancing,just replacement.Good luck.

 

[kai920]

I'm now at the point of the whole prorated replacement ordeal. Its sad really, this proration business. I only have 6k on these and I would lose around $400 just to have them replaced with something of similar cost like the Geolanders.

 

[Jeff T]

That is total BS. Based on what I've read they have not been right since day one. How did you pay for them? Credit card companies can be helpfull.

Do you have a family friend that's a lawyer? A phone call or letter could help.

Like I said they have been bad since day one and as I see it you have done everything to make it better and now you're going to get screwed. Not right.

 

[kai920]

How did you pay for them? Credit card companies can be helpfull.

Can you elaborate?

 

[Jeff T]

Can you elaborate?

Credit card companies tend to look after their customers. You could call your credit card company and dispute the charge since you have not been happy since day one. Explain how you have been back and forth trying to remedy the situation but it has not gotten better. They will pull the amount from your bill and notify the vendor they are not getting paid. It is now in the vendors court to make you happy.

The problem with tires is there is wear and the prorating BS. Stick to your guns, the issue has been since day one and you had do drive it to see if the problem was still there.

Good Luck!

 

[kai920]

I'm starting with some emails to the the company in question and the tire manufacturer. we'll see where that gets me.

 

[TRADICLES]

balancing

I'm now at the point of the whole prorated replacement ordeal. Its sad really, this proration business. I only have 6k on these and I would lose around $400 just to have them replaced with something of similar cost like the Geolanders.

Hope everything works out for you.