PR2s

[FJRless]

Since I've read so many good things about the PR2s I decided to order a set. I saw that a small bar code label is right on the bead of the rear tire. I tried to peel it off but it seems embedded. Anyone ever come across this? I haven't mounted it yet but am concerned the tire bead won't seat and I'll have to deal with air loss issues.

 

[FJRay]

I've mounted a few sets for other people and seen the bar code. No reported leaks.

 

[ynotride]

I've mounted 4 sets so far and no issue at all with the barcode.

 

[canucklehead-biker]

What they said...

 

[Patriot]

What they said...

yepper

if it bothers you...just cut it out with a dremel tool :assassin:

 

[JimLor]

Ditto here.

 

[Fred W]

+1 here. And, in case you were wondering, no the bar code is NOT a balance mark.

Michelin has decided to not put any balance marks on their tires claiming they are too close to perfect to bother.

My mounting and balancing experience suggests otherwise... :angry:

 

[xcsp]

Michelin has decided to not put any balance marks on their tires claiming they are too close to perfect to bother. My mounting and balancing experience suggests otherwise... :angry:

I have to question that as well, just had a set of PR2's put on at the local dealer. B-spec on rear.

Front took zero weight, the rear, well, I'm not sure what each of the weights weigh, but see the pics! I asked if they tried rotating the tire on the wheel to a different position to lessen the amount of weight needed and they claim this is the best they could do.

Here is after I took some black paint to "hide" the weights on the black rim:

 

[escapefjrtist]

If I had to guess that looks like 60 - 80 grams of weight... I've never had a PR2 take that much weight, especially after rotating to lessen the amount. If I were a betting man, the dealer spun it up on a balance machine, added the weights and sent it down the road.

--G

 

[08FJR4ME]

My rear was near perfect. The front however needed 20 oz's. I hope this solves the increase buzz at higher speeds. I just redid the front because I knew it was a little off. Today I will atempt the rear brakes and another throttle body sync. and then it's out for a test ride.

Originally the bike smoothed out at 90+ and was like glass. I hope to achieve better results for the ride down to NAFO.

Dave

 

[Fred W]

Michelin has decided to not put any balance marks on their tires claiming they are too close to perfect to bother. My mounting and balancing experience suggests otherwise... :angry:

I have to question that as well, just had a set of PR2's put on at the local dealer. B-spec on rear.

Front took zero weight, the rear, well, I'm not sure what each of the weights weigh, but see the pics! I asked if they tried rotating the tire on the wheel to a different position to lessen the amount of weight needed and they claim this is the best they could do.

From the weight pictures you posted above I can tell you two things with relative certainty:

1 ) If the tire is actually in balance right now, that tire has some serious balance issues.

2 ) The dealer is lying about rotating the tire to the best position on the wheel, which puts #1 in question.

The reason I say that is because an unshod FJR wheel is lightest at the valve stem. There is some variation from wheel to wheel but all of the reports I have seen of people that bothered to check their bare wheels have found the light spot to be very near the valve stem. Mine (for example) is light there by 21 grams (three small square sticky weights).

As was stated you have about 60 (or more) grams of weight at the light spot of the wheel, for that to happen the tire must be mounted with its light spot aligned with the wheel's light spot. If they just rotated the tire 180 degrees the amount of weight would be much less, and probably the weight would then be required at the 180 spot, since the tire misbalance appears to be considerably greater than a wheel's misbalance.

 

[xcsp]

Thanks for the info guys.

I will be checking with the dealer on this, as I just couldn't believe it took that much weight to balance out.

 

[FJRless]

Thanks for the input. Obviously, I'm going to mount the tire and try it. I hope I didn't increase the chances of a leak by trying to remove the label. I can think of better places to put the bar code though.

 

[xcsp]

FJRless, let us know how much weight it took to balance.

 

[FJReady]

The reason I say that is because an unshod FJR wheel is lightest at the valve stem.

Fred, Not always true. My rear wheel light spot was about 120 degrees away from valve stem hole. Of course my metal valve stem was installed at the time so I can't say for sure. Regardless, the reason the unshod wheel is out of balance is due to the manufacturing tolerance or non-uniformity of the wheel casting. When I spun the nekkid wheel on its bearing centers, the machined surfaces(were the tire bead sits) ran true as can be. The 'as cast' surfaces between the beads and around the 3 spokes on the hub side of the wheel runout quite a bit. This would explain why the naked wheel isn't balanced and the randomness of the center of gravity. The casting process is not exact.

 

[08FJR4ME]

From the looks of it I would say 90 grams of weight. :blink: Man that's a lot for a PR2.

I just check my rear and it only has two little stick on squares which are a 1/4 oz. if I recall. Please don't ask me to convert. :dribble:

If possible I would have the dealer check the rim for balance before mounting the tire. I can't imagine a PR2 being that out of whack. Sure glad I bought my Cycle hill tire changer and balancer. I rebalanced my front today and it is much improved the ride at 90 MPH. Buy the way I am all done with sticky weights. :angry: No goo be gone to be found in the house and whatever that crap is they use it don't want to come off. Found a good deal last week and ordered all my OEM parts at 40% savings.

Dave

 

[FJRless]

From the looks of it I would say 90 grams of weight. :blink: Man that's a lot for a PR2.
I just check my rear and it only has two little stick on squares which are a 1/4 oz. if I recall. Please don't ask me to convert. :dribble:

Buy the way I am all done with sticky weights. :angry: No goo be gone to be found in the house and whatever that crap is they use it don't want to come off.

Dave

I've found that a little brake clean soaking that spongy goo for about 30 seconds and it wipes away. The advantage of tape weights is that you can put them anywhere on the wheel. You have to work around the spokes with the clip-ons. I also add duct tape as a precaution.

 

[Fred W]

From the looks of it I would say 90 grams of weight. :blink: Man that's a lot for a PR2.
I just check my rear and it only has two little stick on squares which are a 1/4 oz. if I recall. Please don't ask me to convert. :dribble:

Those a 7 grams each

If possible I would have the dealer check the rim for balance before mounting the tire. I can't imagine a PR2 being that out of whack.

Definitely worth knowing, IMO. And marking the inside of the wheel for future reference. But I can imagine the wheel being ~30 grams or more off, and then the tire being another 30-40 grams off, so if those light spots are aligned we're talking a lot of possible grams.

I can also imagine that the wheel is not really in balance with all the lead on there...

By the way I am all done with sticky weights. :angry: No goo be gone to be found in the house and whatever that crap is they use it don't want to come off.

Goof Off is an indispensable shop supply.

I use and reuse the little sticky weights. I peel off the double sided sticky stuff that they come with, and use 3M acrylic auto trim tape (the red stuff). Clean the rim and back of the weight with the Goof Off and let them dry before sticking on with the trim tape. You'll never lose a weight and no need for duct tape.

BTW - Goof Off also works well to clean the stuck-on rubber residue off the wheel's bead area.

Found a good deal last week and ordered all my OEM parts at 40% savings.

And you are gonna share with your buds, now Dave, aren't ya?

 

[xcsp]

Update-took the wheel to the dealer, and discussed the excessive use of balancing weights with this new tire.

I again was told that they had tried several times to lessen the amount needed by rotating the tire on the rim, so their next step was to order in a new tire and try that. Fine, let's try it. Left the wheel at the shop.

A while later I get a call, they went and tried re-balancing it, and came up with better results, not sure if it could be any better, but it was a good improvement.

Here's a pic to show the weights, valve stem is at about 1:00, where the weights are at 6:00.