What's on my wheel?

[agarc023]

Just wondering if anybody know what this might be (the gray plastic thing on the edge of the wheel).

The one in the picture is the front passenger side. Driver side front has a smaller one, driver side rear doesn't have one at all, and passenger side rear only has a metal clip

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Ignore the scratches...my father decided to change my brake pads for me while I was away

 

[big_d]

That is a wheel weight. It is used to balance the wheel and tire (typically after a new tires have been mounted).

 

[razrman8]

What he said. Don't remove it. Unless you want crazy vibrations

 

[Viva]

they are suppose to go on the inner part of the wheel. some places dont give a s

 

[johneclipse]

they are suppose to go on the inner part of the wheel. some places dont give a s

not true...you balance both the inside and outside of the wheel....unless your using stick on weights then they go dead middle of the spot of the wheel.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Seriously?? Yes they're wheel weights. And no they don't put them on the outside because they don't care Viva. If there are no tape weights being used (weights taped to the inside of the wheel) the best way to balance is to put weights on both the inside and outside. That is called a dynamic balance and that is what most shops will do as long as the rim has an outer lip to hang the weights on. A static balance is when the weights are placed on the inside only. This is usually not considered to be as accurate as a dynamic balance, but will usually suffice.

 

[MY1GDSM]

they are suppose to go on the inner part of the wheel. some places dont give a s

No they are suppose to go where it needs wight to be balanced...

For Most alloy wheel a decent shop will put weights like this on

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on the inside the wheel to balance it...

Edit: I see Gravedigger is a bit faster to type...

 

[johneclipse]

i beat both of you . ya'll had pics though...

you are correct though...any decent shop would use stick on weights

 

[agarc023]

Well that's what I was thinking, just a little confused because the passenger rear only has a metal clip. Makes me wonder if it should have one on there then. I do have some vibrations, but only when driving 75-80 on the freeway...

Anyways thanks for the replies.

 

[johneclipse]

Well that's what I was thinking, just a little confused because the passenger rear only has a metal clip. Makes me wonder if it should have one on there then. I do have some vibrations, but only when driving 75-80 on the freeway...

Anyways thanks for the replies.

unless for some remarkably strange reason a wheel is completely balanced on its own...EVERY wheel should have weights on it. take it to a tire shop for balance and rotate

 

[Calan]

just a little confused because the passenger rear only has a metal clip.

The weight probably just came off...it happens.

Take your car to any decent tire shop and have your wheels balanced (and maybe rotated).

EDIT:

< slow typing

 

[agarc023]

the best way to balance is to put weights on both the inside and outside. That is called a dynamic balance and that is what most shops will do as long as the rim has an outer lip to hang the weights on. A static balance is when the weights are placed on the inside only. This is usually not considered to be as accurate as a dynamic balance, but will usually suffice.

There are no weights like those or the "tape ones" inside the wheel, so would mine still be considered a static balance?

unless for some remarkably strange reason a wheel is completely balanced on its own...EVERY wheel should have weights on it. take it to a tire shop for balance and rotate

The weight probably just came off...it happens.

Take your car to any decent tire shop and have your wheels balanced (and maybe rotated).

EDIT:

< slow typing

Looks like I will need to do that some time in the near future. Thanks for the help

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Well that's what I was thinking, just a little confused because the passenger rear only has a metal clip. Makes me wonder if it should have one on there then.

Sometimes wheels come with just a clip type metal piece on there. They are used for a .25 oz wheel weight sometimes, so maybe that's what you have.

The weight probably just came off...it happens.
Take your car to any decent tire shop and have your wheels balanced (and maybe rotated).

Yes, very good advice calan. Never hurts if the tires still have some decent tread left.

 

[Calan]

There are no weights like those or the "tape ones" inside the wheel, so would mine still be considered a static balance?

Yours would be considered way over-due for a wheel balance.

Take it in, get it done, be happy.

 

[MY1GDSM]

Just take it in an have all the tires balanced like said above...

If you never been to where you take it Just ask them what Kind of balancing they do, and if they will use the weight like I posted above so that you keep the lip of your rims in good condition.

 

[snowborder714]

As Craig said, the weight could have fallen off. It's not uncommon. If you really care, take them to all get balanced. If you are noticing any wobbling or issues with that corner at speed, definitely take them to get balanced.

From my experience, the use of stick on (inside) vs. hammer on (outside) depends more on the style of wheel and size, and less the quality of the shop.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

There are no weights like those or the "tape ones" inside the wheel, so would mine still be considered a static balance?

If you have weights on the inside lip only you have a static balance.
If you have weights on the inside and outside lip you have a dynamic balance.

 

[johneclipse]

As Craig said, the weight could have fallen off. It's not uncommon. If you really care, take them to all get balanced. If you are noticing any wobbling or issues with that corner at speed, definitely take them to get balanced.

From my experience, the use of stick on (inside) vs. hammer on (outside) depends more on the style of wheel and size, and less the quality of the shop.

what i meant by saying a decent shop is that i know for a fact some shops around here dont even carry the stick on weights and just use the hammer on ones for every wheel that comes in. and its a chain name tire shop

 

[Calan]

From my experience, the use of stick on (inside) vs. hammer on (outside) depends more on the style of wheel and size, and less the quality of the shop.

That ^.

Any reputable shop won't just start pounding lead weights with steel clips onto the edges of your nice shiny alloy wheels; stock wheels or something off a tractor... maybe.

 

[agarc023]

Looks like I know what I'm doing this weekend then