Bare wheels balancing

[MattAndre]

How precisely are the wheels balanced from the factory? Bare wheel only, no tire or valve stem. Static or dynamic balancing?

 

[Whooshka]

My front is off by 2 ounces. When I painted my wheels I decided to balance them before I mounted any rubber. I then used balance beads to take care of the tire.

 

[SkooterG]

In my experience with several dozen wheels they are all over the place. Iow, they are NOT precisely balanced from the factory. And the heavy spot not usually at the valve stem.

 

[Ignacio]

In my experience with several dozen wheels they are all over the place. Iow, they are NOT precisely balanced from the factory. And the heavy spot not usually at the valve stem.

I have a similar if not a more truncated experience with 8 or 10 rims myself. I'd the place the rim on a static balancer, balance with taped on weights, and then put a sticker in that spot with the grams noted. I found it usually helped then when I'd mount tires.

 

[escapefjrtist]

In my experience with several dozen wheels they are all over the place. Iow, they are NOT precisely balanced from the factory. And the heavy spot not usually at the valve stem.

This ^^fart smeller^^ sums it up. My experience is similar, with the heavy spot typically 90-ish degrees off from stem. When mounting tires I do place the dot at the heavy spot. Does it minimize the weights...dunno, but it keeps me happy! YMMV

~G

 

[infrared]

Here is the best way, IMHO. Some extra steps, but very good results. Post #11 only.

wheel/ tire balancing

 

[tschutter]

Here is the best way, IMHO. Some extra steps, but very good results. Post #11 only.

Mounting tires is not for the faint of heart. After setting the heavy spot for the rim, then the light spot for the tire, to break the bead and rotate the tire to match the two, that seems painful. I'm sure it works...
OK, I'll say it before you-all do, Tim's a baby!

 

[Dan Cooper]

Once upon a time Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away
I once had an FJR bare wheel that was out of balance by more than I liked, more than 40 grams.
Used a grinder to remove some material inside the wheel at the heavy side to get almost perfect balance.
Turned out to be a bit of a mistake as all tires mounted afterward needed some weights for balance, some more than one might imagine.
Was no longer able to rotate the tire on the rim to balance out the heavy spot on the tire with the heavy spot on the rim.
Be careful what you wish for!

dan