Balance slicks?

[1glaserfwd]

Just wondering how many of you guys are balancing your slicks. I had some 24.5x8x15 and I did balance them and it seemed fine. I just purchased some 26x8.5x15 and put them on the balancer and it wants crazy amounts of weight that you could not really fit on the wheel. I don't know if its cause of the larger sidewall that makes it seem this way or not. I found nothing searching on here but on other forums seems like a mixed bag. BTW this is on a FWD! Any input would be appreciated.

 

[twicks69]

I most definitely balance my slicks. I have had to depressurize and rotate the slick on the wheel to better achieve balancing with minimal weights on several occasions.

 

[99gst_racer]

We balance all slicks that we sell/mount here, without a doubt. I've never heard of a racer that didn't.

How much weight is a crazy amount? I've seen my fair share over the years that needed alot of weight to balance, but we did always get it balanced.

 

[1qkfwd]

No not anymore. I used to balance them all the time. (Own a tire shop so equipment at disposal) The weld wheels Im running are not 100% true and would always take a lot of weight. One thing when mounting them is to match mount by getting the low spot of the wheel and tire to match. Some slicks will have the Yellow or red dot. Line it up on the stem. Or as Tim said, use the balancer to find the spot where it takes the least amount of weight.

Reason not to balance slicks. Well its a Bias tire and doesn't hold a perfectly round form anyways. I haven't had any vibration issues since I quit balancing them.

 

[1glaserfwd]

No not anymore. I used to balance them all the time. (Own a tire shop so equipment at disposal) The weld wheels Im running are not 100% true and would always take a lot of weight. One thing when mounting them is to match mount by getting the low spot of the wheel and tire to match. Some slicks will have the Yellow or red dot. Line it up on the stem. Or as Tim said, use the balancer to find the spot where it takes the least amount of weight.

Reason not to balance slicks. Well its a Bias tire and doesn't hold a perfectly round form anyways. I haven't had any vibration issues since I quit balancing them.

This is exactly wh.at I have been reading on all the ls1 and v8 guy forums. They say that the tire probably spins on the wheel anyway and at that point is not balanced either. I guess I will try and run them not balanced this time. The one wheel wanted 13.5oz. ARFWD do you know if spacers are needed for the 26x8.5x15 on a fwd dsm with stock suspension. They rub just barely on the top of the strut!!

 

[Steve93Talon]

Unless you're screwing them to the rims, there's a chance they could spin and go way out of balance. I balanced my 2 slicks when I was running FWD, but didn't bother on the AWD setup. No difference in how smooth the car goes down the track.

 

[TurboDSM90]

Had them balanced when I first put them on then the weights fell off a year later. Haven't noticed a difference without the weights on there.

I would keep in mind that the tires will spin on the wheel with a hard enough launch/low enough tire pressure.

 

[1glaserfwd]

Thanks a lot guys for all the input, any opinions on running a 1\4 spacer with longer wheel studs so it will clear my stock suspension.

 

[4gsx63]

I had mine balanced but then the weighs were hitting my Wilwood calipers (part of the TCE drag kit). I ended up taking all the weighs off and didn't feel any more vibrations than before.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Only run just enough spacer. Don't space too far.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Never balanced mine and have no issues at all.

 

[1qkfwd]

This is exactly wh.at I have been reading on all the ls1 and v8 guy forums. They say that the tire probably spins on the wheel anyway and at that point is not balanced either. I guess I will try and run them not balanced this time. The one wheel wanted 13.5oz. ARFWD do you know if spacers are needed for the 26x8.5x15 on a fwd dsm with stock suspension. They rub just barely on the top of the strut!!

Ok on my awd when I cut the 1.39 I had the wheel tire marked and it never spun on the wheel. My fwd is screwed down now because I had it spin. But I think that's cause they where freshly mounted and had the tire lube on it.

It's not uncommon to see that kind of weight. I know mine would ask between 3.50oz to 5.50oz per side. That's to much weight. With half that kind of weight on a radial tire you'll feel a pretty good vibration at freeway speeds. I speak for my experience but wanting that kind of weight and trapping between 135-140, the car felt very smooth.

I run spacers with my welds. I think they are 7/16th. Problem is the wheels have a very thick center and use a long shank. So I installed arp 1/2x3.5" wheel studs. That way I meet the nhra rule of the stud protruding through the lug enough.

 

[twicks69]

I always black goo the tires on install.

 

[1qkfwd]

I always black goo the tires on install.

That's good stuff. Seals imperfections when you have slightly rusty wheels.

 

[Phil1320]

I DO NOT balance slicks.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Very interesting... I assumed they were always balanced, but....

 

[99gst_racer]

Very interesting... I assumed they were always balanced, but....

Right... We sell/mount/balance slicks on a daily basis here where I work and I've never once had a customer request to skip the balancing process. If anything, half of them ask for bubble balancing because they don't trust the spin balancer as much. I'm actually very surprised to hear so many people here don't worry about balancing.

 

[SBstar]

Yep, no balancing here either, car runs smooth down the track.

I did a lot of research on the subject prior to deciding, it's about 50/50 in the drag race community between doing it and not doing it. Most who do it agree that bubble balancing is probably the way to go. Some mentioned horrible vibrations without balancing and after balancing it went away. The way I looked at it I'd see if there were bad vibrations and I'd take them back and balance if needed. No such issues, and I don't have to add any weight now.

 

[1glaserfwd]

I am glad to see all the input here. On the LS1 forum, MT tires posted and said that the only way to balance a slick correctly is to use a bubble balancer. I am not sure of anybody who even uses those anymore. I am gonna try it without and see how it feels and will go from there. Thanks again for all the input I am sure this will be helpful in the future for anybody else wanting to know this question!

 

[eclipsed4seed99]

never have balanced mine, M/T et drags sucked for vibration, MnH ride so much better very smooth no balance

 

[talontd92tsi]

A friend of mine owns a local v8 (mostly Mustangs) speed shop.

He personally bubble balances all of his slicks, said that he got massive shake at the big end without it,

BUT.

He also runs 17" wide slicks so take that for what it is worth (weight maybe?), and they are screwed in/beadlocked/whateverthehellitscalled.

His 82 Mustang went 8.65 @ 165 on 12PSI of boost (made > 1200whp at 15psi), so I take his word for a lot of things (not saying that anyone in here is wrong, especially with Phil , Shane, Justin, and Jeff in here putting in their two cents. They have all gone faster than I ever have, and I will NEVER come close to what Jeff has gone (cant wait to see Shane and Jeff again at the Shootout).

Speaking of which... are you and the wife down for some wings again this year Shane?

But enough with my apples/oranges conversaton. Continue.

 

[killercolt]

Balance the rims and forget about balancing with the slicks on. There is nothing smooth about going down the track with 10psi of air pressure.

 

[Auto RS T]

When I worked at the slick store on track we always bubble balanced, after screws were installed if the customer requested that. Like Tim said, if the weight is heavy for one side spin the tire on the rim to even it out.

 

[forcefed86]

I don't balance the rim or the tires anymore. Always spun balanced mine in the past.

Had a used set of slicks a couple years ago that just wouldn't balance. Broke the tire loose and rotated it etc... I was getting ready to junk them and figured I'd try the "walmart balance bead trick" I used 4.5 ounces of the heavy airsoft pellets per tire. (28x9x15 MT slick). The car was smooth as glass up to 137 or so. Now I do it on all my slicks. Just trapped 147 this weekend with a 29x12x15 slick.

Heres the basic run down of how "dynamic balancing" works.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg&feature=player_embedded]DynaBeads demo video - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Bud92gsx]

But if you dont balance your tires aren't you gonna have some extra vibration?