| Author |
Message |
David Anderson (66.90.197.248)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:30 pm: | |
Getting ready to install 6 aluminum wheel in place of my old steel. Is balancing a big issue? The tire shop wants $20 per tire to do it.
He says he usually only does the front for truckers.
What do you guys think?
David Anderson |
Joe Laird (Joelaird) (198.81.26.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:48 pm: | |
David, You will get conflicting reports on this.
I always balance all of my tires.
Truckers don't ride in the trailer.
I pay a lot of money for Michelins and the cost of balancing is minimal when taken in that perspective.
You are installing longer studs, right?
In my opinion, tires, wheels, steering, brakes, suspension are no place to go cheap.
Hope this helps, Joe |
jmaxwell (66.42.92.1)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 12:47 am: | |
Buying alum. wheels all around and concerned w/ $120-$160 for balance? I might save money on the back but wouldn't even consider it on the front. Look at it this way: less than 1/2 the price of one wheel to have them all balanced. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.190.119.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 9:00 am: | |
I can assure that an unbalanced bogie wheel will cause a vibration that can be felt throughout the bus at certain speeds. Don't go "cheap charlie" on balancing all wheels. What if you have two drive wheels that are out of balance and they happen to get installed so that the maximum out of balance position of each tire is adding to each other? It would probably shake you off the road.
Richard |
Pete RTS/Daytona (207.69.115.237)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 10:05 am: | |
You might want to look at this
-->http://www.counteractbalancing.com/
A unique powder (silicon/glass beads) you put inside the tire - I've used there product on my GMC M/H (16.5) tires & it works great - This product was really made for big tires - truckers have used it (or products like it) for years
There is a another product called "equal" but I have heard that if it beomes wet it clumps bably
Pete RTS/Daytona |
DaveD (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 11:26 am: | |
I used Equal in my motorhome when I replaced the tires and it worked well, but the instructions warned that the inside of the tire needed to be dry. I never had to add any significant amount of air to the tires after they were installed, but I can imagine that air which had a high moisture content might create a problem. The product with the silcon/glass beads seems like an ideal solution.
DaveD |
Doug (12.90.22.197)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 2:24 pm: | |
Both my dad nad myself use Cetrimatic Ballancers.
same idea as the glass beads but nothing inside the tire, and you can put them on your next buss when you sell this one.
I paid about 250.00 for the set.....no need to ballance ever again.
My dad is an advocat of tire trueing too......10.00 per tire....not alot of places do it, he just did all 6 on his 4108 and says that he has never ridden in a bus so smooth. |
David Anderson (66.90.195.97)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 9:19 pm: | |
Thanks for the opinions. Yes, I'm installing longer studs.
The shop I'm talking about uses the lead weights pinched on to the rim edge, I think, similar to car tires. I don't have a source of the other types of balancing beads, etc. you describe. Where does one find stuff like that? |
DaveD (216.18.113.69)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 8:26 am: | |
The Equal balancing powder came from a local truck centre.
DaveD |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (65.194.145.39)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 10:11 pm: | |
Doug's dad may be onto something. If you are going to spend the money on wheels (and new tires also?) then it may be an excellent idea to have the tires "shaved" or trued to insure total roundness.
While this is usually done only with caps, sometimes it also pays to have new tires checked also. Costs a little more, but you will be amazed at the smooth ride at Warp 8. (or even a little bit more)
As far as the balancing goes, you would be surprised how little a big bus tire can be unbalanced to be noticable by the driver or rear passengers. Even an ounce or two can make a difference. Good luck. |