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Wheels seemingly can not be balanced?


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Ernie Misner
Novice

Aug 23, 2021, 12:03 AM

Post #1 of 11 (798 views)
Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

Hello, on my 2005 Ford Ranger I bought new aluminum wheels and new tires a while back at Discount Tire. Since the very first day with the new wheels and tires a balance problem showed up at 60mph or faster. I keep taking it back and they have repeatedly balanced the wheels/tires and they swear that the balance is perfect using their high quality balancer. I keep telling the manager that I still have a balance problem so he put another set of new tires on and the balance problem is exactly the same at 60mph or faster (only the new wheels have not been replaced yet). He said that the wheels could not be defective because they balance perfectly on his equipment and now I am stuck for a solution. Question: Is it possible that the aluminum wheels could could be causing a balance problem at 60mph when they show as perfect on his balancing equipment? Thank you for any input! PS - the ball joints, shocks, and alignment has all been gone through at the dealer and everything is perfect that way.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 23, 2021, 2:59 AM

Post #2 of 11 (786 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

Yes, it is possible that the wheels are the problem. Some wheels are just too heavy for the type of suspension they are being used on. This can be especially exaggerated if you went to a lower profile tire. The tires just don't have as much cushion.

Sometimes these problems can be countered but used a special type balancer called a "Road Force Balancer" Not many shops have this equipment.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 23, 2021, 7:09 AM

Post #3 of 11 (769 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

Wheel and tire can balance by weight perfectly. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TRUE or ROUND!

Many tires are not perfect nor tires just a smidge. 1st the tech should try a 180 tire to rim see if that gets it/them true. At some point one or the other isn't in spec, may or may not wear into the flaw.

IDK have you or they rotated them see if that changes takes time they don't have easily.

Brands have historically been bad at this, no names, doesn't matter this is now,

T



Ernie Misner
Novice

Aug 23, 2021, 2:24 PM

Post #4 of 11 (744 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In


In Reply To
Yes, it is possible that the wheels are the problem. Some wheels are just too heavy for the type of suspension they are being used on. This can be especially exaggerated if you went to a lower profile tire. The tires just don't have as much cushion.

Sometimes these problems can be countered but used a special type balancer called a "Road Force Balancer" Not many shops have this equipment.


You might be on to something about the weight of these wheels. Although aluminum they appear to be quite thick and heavy. The wobble in the steering wheel that starts in at 60mph sure feels like some kind of a balance problem though.

They do have a road force type of balancer there at Discount Tire which should be the best I guess but still.... the seemingly balance problem persists.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 23, 2021, 2:28 PM

Post #5 of 11 (740 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

Another problem they have with aftermarket wheels is centering on the hub. Many just don't center well and many simply don't turn straight.

Although they may mount straight on the balancer, many won't mount straight on the car.

Another thing I forgot to mention. You should change your user name right away. If the spammers get hold of it, they will make your life hell.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 23, 2021, 2:32 PM)


Ernie Misner
Novice

Aug 23, 2021, 11:37 PM

Post #6 of 11 (716 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In


In Reply To
Another problem they have with aftermarket wheels is centering on the hub. Many just don't center well and many simply don't turn straight.

Although they may mount straight on the balancer, many won't mount straight on the car.

Another thing I forgot to mention. You should change your user name right away. If the spammers get hold of it, they will make your life hell.


That could be the problem if they are not centering right on my wheels! It's a shame because my current wheels are not that old and look great. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and get some new wheels to find out. The manager at Discount tire where I bought these wheels doesn't believe me that the balance goes bad at 60mph or higher and that is irritating. He can't go for a ride to see himself because of covid.

Thanks for the heads up about not using my real name. I use my real name on all of the photography forums as do many others. I wonder if there is a difference here.


Ernie Misner
Novice

Aug 23, 2021, 11:41 PM

Post #7 of 11 (714 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In


In Reply To
Wheel and tire can balance by weight perfectly. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE TRUE or ROUND!

Many tires are not perfect nor tires just a smidge. 1st the tech should try a 180 tire to rim see if that gets it/them true. At some point one or the other isn't in spec, may or may not wear into the flaw.

IDK have you or they rotated them see if that changes takes time they don't have easily.

Brands have historically been bad at this, no names, doesn't matter this is now,

T


If they are not round and can still be balanced could problems show up at high speeds? That is what I am seeing.

Yes, rotating the tires does make a difference, so not all of the wheels are equally bad. The worst ones are on the front right now but putting them on the back will only postpone the problem in the future.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 24, 2021, 3:07 AM

Post #8 of 11 (709 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

True - you can "balance a brick" but on the road doesn't work out.

This can be seen on balance machines just get near them with a screwdriver or tools tell you how much up and down or the wobble.

All have some, with experience decide OK or is it rim or tire.

Now installed if you could hoist with all four wheels safely (or a shop can easily) see it while running or turning by hand referencing body parts.

My own I notice have a speed lumpy feel that goes away unless tire removed from rims without indexing them. They wear into it unseen at speed just the ounce of rubber more if so or deviance will wear out if small enough.
> Deciding what is within norms is hard but you notice. At high RPM each tidbit of weight is many times more if safe and you can it probably goes away at higher speed? NOt so sure why.

User name! It not you name it's posting an email address. This isn't your trade or looking for expose to an overload of spam to sell you things or annoy you or no reason at all just being collected as we know. Dump here this isn't some ad base for you which isn't allowed here - not here for that stuff,

Tom



Ernie Misner
Novice

Aug 25, 2021, 11:16 PM

Post #9 of 11 (672 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In


In Reply To
True - you can "balance a brick" but on the road doesn't work out.

This can be seen on balance machines just get near them with a screwdriver or tools tell you how much up and down or the wobble.

All have some, with experience decide OK or is it rim or tire.

Now installed if you could hoist with all four wheels safely (or a shop can easily) see it while running or turning by hand referencing body parts.

My own I notice have a speed lumpy feel that goes away unless tire removed from rims without indexing them. They wear into it unseen at speed just the ounce of rubber more if so or deviance will wear out if small enough.
> Deciding what is within norms is hard but you notice. At high RPM each tidbit of weight is many times more if safe and you can it probably goes away at higher speed? NOt so sure why.

User name! It not you name it's posting an email address. This isn't your trade or looking for expose to an overload of spam to sell you things or annoy you or no reason at all just being collected as we know. Dump here this isn't some ad base for you which isn't allowed here - not here for that stuff,

Tom


Thanks Tom and I'll change my user name!

Update! .... I stopped by a local tire and wheel store (not Discount Tire). They pulled one wheel off and said there was no "hub concentric ring" being used. As you know the opening in the after market wheels is larger than the stock hub, so they put some hub rings on the hub to center the wheels better than just the lug nuts were doing. I'll get it out on the freeway tomorrow and see if the shake at 60mph goes away or not. It will be a pleasant surprise if that cures my problems. If not, then I'll bite the bullet and get some new wheels I reckon.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 26, 2021, 2:11 AM

Post #10 of 11 (666 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

OK, I take it now you have a 2" wider track with those rings. Alone that shouldn't be it (remember the brick) but on center is a must.

> MAKE SURE THIS TURNS FULLY NOW WITHOUT RUBBING WHEELS ON FENDERS or those have to go.

Sorry for you it's a hassle if it's fine now do remember it could do it again with tire rotation normally done will need it more now altered,

Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 26, 2021, 3:39 AM

Post #11 of 11 (662 views)
Re: Wheels seemingly can not be balanced? Sign In

Yep, this is exactly what I suggested earlier.

These aftermarket wheels can be terrible. They try to make them compatible with too many different vehicles. This makes it look great on the balancer but you lose everything when you mount it on the car.

Believe me, I managed high volume tire stores for years and I just hated aftermarket wheels, especially the cheap ones.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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