Wheel weights

Fred Werring

Well-known Member
Wound up buying a cheapo bubble balancer, different style from harbor freight, what can I say, it works. Got the vibration out of the front of my car. Bought this one because the cone is 6" in diameter at the base.

Still going to keep an eye out for an old service station balancer though.

Question now is.....what type clip on wheel weights will work on everything? I see PZU's and FC's and MC's and many more, they all say they work on different style rims.

Is there one style that will work on a variety of wheel types? Alloy and steel?

Using the adhesive weights now, don't know that I trust them to stay on.

Thanks

Fred
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While there may be wheel weights that "claim" to work on different types of wheels, there are none that will work WELL with all types of wheels. The reason for this is that the thickness of the rim metal varies. Alloy wheels have a much thicker metal than steel wheels. A weight that will clamp onto a steel wheel and hold will probably not open up far enough to go onto an alloy wheel. A weight that is open enough for an alloy wheel will not hold tight on a steel wheel. Anything in between will be at best a compromise, and will probably not work well on EITHER type of wheel.

Of course, somebody is sure to chime in with a "universal" solution that they SAY that they never had a problem with. I stand by my statement.
 
Check with your local tire dealer, they probably have a box of old ones they'll sell at scrap price. That way you get a variety of sizes.
 
I bought the cheapest stick-on weights I could find on Ebay, no problems. I clean the rim with water and a rag, I didnt bother to use brake cleaner or anything. I think if you use them, you will start to trust them. Besides, whats the worst that can happen? You lose a weight and have to rebalance a tire? On a machine you already own? I can think of worse things to happen.

I bought used clip-on weights from a reloader, he was going to melt them for the lead. I dont know enough to know the different types but I sort them into 2 piles. Wider clips for mag rims and narrow for steelies. So far, no problems. I reuse clip-on weights first, if Im out or cant find what I want, I use stick-ons.

Watch craigslist, sometimes you can fine balancers cheap cheap cheap.
 
I use steel wool then hit it with brake clean... Its not coming off....
A bubble balance is not going to do a perfect job anyways why worry about the weights you use...
 
I prefer a spin balance to a static balance. Unless you have Posi-traction, you can spin balance your tires by mounting them on a jacked(and blocked) up driven wheel. Experiment with say, a 1oz. Weight at different points on the rim to find the least vibration, then vary the size of the weight til it's balanced. Leaving the drivers door open while spinning the tire with accentuate the vibration.
 
50+ years ago a tire shop owner told me to never reuse a clip on weight. They can come off while driving down the high way, and punch a hole through a fender.
 
And as soon as 2 stones get stuck in the tread it is out of balance anyway. I don't balance tires. If they are that out of round/balance they weren't good in the first place.
 

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