Balancing Tires

[FJRocket]

I'm trying to balance a new Pirelli Diablo Strada front tire. The red dots are positioned at the valve stem. It seems I need some 21 grams almost directly opposite the stem. Smitty warned me not to get too anal about this, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't dismount the tire and move it around in order to get less weight on the rim.

Am I chasing my tail? Are Pirelli's ass backwards and the dots go OPPOSITE the valve stem?

 

[Pending]

Checked the balance of the wheel before mounting the tire, to find the actual heavy spot on the rim. (Sometimes the valve stem is not at the heaviest point, but mostly it is.)

 

[SkooterG]

I am not familiar with Pirellis whatsoever......

However, obviously one of the major advantages to balancing our own tires is that we can balance the wheel all by itself and figure out not only where the heavy spot is, but also by how much.

For instance, I have my rear wheel marked where the heavy spot is, and it takes 28g to balance the wheel only. The last time I installed a rear Avon (Unfortunately no mark for heavy spot), and first tried to balance the wheel/tire combo, the heavy spot was almost exactly identical to where it was with the wheel only. And it was going to take more than 60g to balance. So obviously, through sheer bad luck, I had matched the heavy spot on the wheel and tire.

So even though its a pain in the arse, I deflated the tire, re-broke the beads, and rotated the tire relative to the rim by 180 degrees. After getting the tire re-seated and aired up, Voila!.........

It now took only 4g (half a sticky weight) to balance the whole rear combo, and it was dead on!

Schwing!

Too bad I got a flat 125 miles later, but thats for another bedtime story boys and girls.

IMHO, 21g is not that bad, but then I have been known to be a wee bit too anal-retentive.

Did you balance your wheel only and know that info already? If not, I would probably go with what you have, and assuming no problems, do it the SkooterG anal-retentive "right" way the next time.

 

[SkooterG]

Oh yeah, in reference to Pending's post which I didn't see until after I posted mine........

My personal experience with 4 different wheels so far is that the heavy spot of the wheel is NOWHERE EVEN CLOSE to the valve stem. Bunk wives tale that is as far as I am concerned.

 

[FJRocket]

Thanks guys. I already rode the bike with the 21+g weights. OoOoOoohhh, the Pirelli on the front is nice!

When I take off the back (now that Sears sold me a freakin 27MM socket), I'll balance the wheel, then play with the rubber after that.

So am I to now ASSume that the red dots are the LIGHT spot on the tire and then locate that to the heavy spot on my wheel? Hmmm? That the idea???

 

[Pending]

That's what I've always thought, dot signifies the light spot on the tire.

 

[FJRocket]

One reason I asked was because I thought I read on another forum, far far away (long time ago) that there was a manufacturer that put their dots on the tire to go opposite the valve/heavy spot. IOW, the dots are bassackwards. Just checking. So far, the Pirelli's seem fine the way I balanced them.

 

[wontica]

Neither of my FJR wheels has the heavy spot located at the valve stem. I balance the wheel by itself then check it with the tire mounted. This gives me the tire's heavy spot. If you rotate the tire so that the two heavy spots are opposite you will minimize the amount of weight needed for the final balance. My first set of Avons took 1/8oz front and 1/2oz rear.

 

[FJRocket]

Wontica, you and others were right. My rear rim was 12 g heavy opposite one of the spokes. Not even close to the valve stem. I lined the red dots of the Pirelli up with the heavy spot and was able to balance it with just 7 grams. Sweet!

 

[smitty141]

Hi Doc, how did you like the tire changer?? I put on a new avon on the rear before I left for Arkansas, it was the worst one I ever had for weight. It took 40g to balance... I moved the tire around two different times...I think some tires are better than others. 21g is not out of line for a front...Let me know what kind of mileage you get from your new tires...And by the way, had a great time in NW Arkansas. Did over 400 miles on Friday, 410 on sat.. around 300 Sunday to get back home.. Best kept secret in the USA..

 

[FJRocket]

I was cussing the changer quite a bit toward the end. I was having a bear of a time trying to get that rear tire mounted. After taking a break, having lunch and a rest, I re-read the posts and then tried to change my technique. Popped right on after I got that figured out. Having that special bar and the center vertical bar to work against sure makes it a better job.

The Pirelli's feel great so far. Smooth as silk. Solid and quiet. Once I scrub them in a bit more, I'll let you know how they grip and turn.

Goodby to the Tomahawks. A somehwat failed "experiment", but not as bad as many had thought. One defective front tire, which was promptly replaced and covered by the manufacturer. They payed to have the second tire remounted, too. Alas, after about 2K miles that thing started cupping, and it never did feel as smooth as the Pirelli I have on their now. Sure didn't feel as nice as GalaxyBlue's new Avons, either, which I rode the first day they were on his '05.

The rear Tomahawk seemed to work pretty well. It'd been on there about 5K miles without any noticable problems. Seemed smooth, round and capable. It was just starting to show signs of cupping and wear. I probably could get another grand or two out of it fairly easily. I'll probably keep that one as a spare, just in case... The front tires are definitely scrap.

ITMT, I have a pair of Avons just sitting there waiting to replace the Pirelli's. That will probably be in the Spring. They MIGHT last that long. We'll see how it goes after the EOM, Ohio Fall Ramble and rest of the riding season up here in the flatlands.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I just put the Avons on prior to the Yosemite trip. I don't like the front tire. Weird girations at 15-30 mph at moderate lean. Oh well...on 5-7 k to go I suppose and then I'll try something else.