Rear Wheel Balancing.

[boxer]

How do you guys go about getting the rear wheel balanced when a new tyre is installed?

The people who fit my tyres to the wheels can't do it. Is it a dealer only job? After 35k miles I'd like to get it done.

Thanks.

 

[Chris G]

Hi Boxer

If your using a high street tyre crew, and you agreed aprice for fitting and balancing, then I would take it back and firmly request that they either sort it out, or pay the local bmw dealer direct and let you take the wheel/bike to them as they dealers must be able to do it,

Ihave used national tyre b4 now and they nip down the road to the bmw place while you wait, on the other hand the guy who does my rubber now has bought a rear bevel drive from a scrappers and welded it onto an adaptor so it will fit the balancing machine that he has!

 

[boxer]

I normally buy via mail order because I've a rare genetic condition that causes me to punch the person on the other side of the counter when I hear the words "they'll be in next week" for the fifth time.

The local high st outfit can't do it even after charging £5/wheel to fit a tyre.

Looks like a dealer then.

 

[Chris G]

"The local high st outfit can't do it even after charging £5/wheel to fit a tyre."

Call me a tight Yorkshire git, but if were me and not too far out of my way i'd go back and get a refund on the fitting

 

[Lord Snooty]

Is it a problem?

Does it actually cause a problem when you ride the bike. I had a similar situation last year when I had new tyres fitted at National Tyres in Brecon. They didn't have the right adaptor but they were very apologetic and gave me a discount and a UK road atlas as compensation. I've never had the wheel balanced and it has not been a problem at all.

 

[boxer]

Is it a problem?

lord Snooty.

Not at all. After 5yrs I was thinking that may be I should get it checked out before it did become a problem.

Thanks each.

Russ

 

[THE PICT]

If the tyres been fitted properly ie the heavy spot opposite the valve it shouldnt be too bad.If the rear wheel is a wee bit out you shouldnt really feel it.If the front is a bit out you will feel it.

 

[dik]

greetings from sunny notts

i cant give you a link at the moment but there are plans for the adapter somewhere on the net.

or if anyone is really concerned about getting it balanced and in my area i'll gladly do it for you as i have a balancer and adapter.

all the best
rich
notts

 

[Geezer]

Sorry to hear that your local tyre dealer can't balance your rear tyre, I must be lucky as I've used two local dealers one high St[Atlantic Tyres] & a bike only [Sidcup Tyres] both of which had no trouble balancing both front & rear tyres, Might be worth shopping around !

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Surprised to hear that National Tyres couldn't balance the rear. Their Carmarthen branch fitted and balanced a pair for me last year which I bought else where as they couldn't source them quick enough. Perhaps it was just luck that they had the right adapter, I'll check it out with them tomorrow as I'm looking to replace the Anakees soon. Think I'll be going back to the good old Tourance

 

[MikeO]

I'm looking to replace the Anakees soon. Think I'll be going back to the good old Tourance

Dennis, what made you decide to do that? How did the Anakees last, handle etc?

MikeO

ps National at Gt Yarmouth couldn't balance the rear either....

 

[(RIP) Dennis]

Mike,

Generally not impressed witht the Anakees, only around 6K miles from the rear. Handling, whilst it couldn't be described as bad, doesn't seem to give as much feed-back as with the Tourances, particularly in the wet.

I don't ride that fast (too old to bounce, if you know what I mean), but I do use a lot of minor and very twisty/mucky roads around West Wales, and I just feel more confident on the Tourances. Although let's be honest, if you hit a pile of cow s---t halfway round a bend, nothing is going to grip all that well !!!!!

Dennis

 

[Howard Millichap]

I think you'll have to ask around at all the tyre places. I used to get all my tryes at Watlings until I got the BMW. They didn't have the adaptors to allow the wheel to fit the balancing machine. I found that ATS did. So from then on I went there. Although they had never used said adaptors until I went there. I had to figure it out with them.
Now, I've designed and had made a hub onto which I bolt my wheel. It is about 150mm long with a bearing at each end through which is a spindle. I can now sit the wheel and hub onto axle stands and do a reasonable balancing job myself.