Wheel balancing wisdom needed......

[solidstate100]

Firstly, many thanks to all that have replied to my various previous threads about "how do I do this, or where can I get that or why does that do that" etc etc, its what make this subforum the best bit of the Gser whole, PERIOD.

Now, I am about to fit my shiny new Metzeler Enduro 1 and 2's. No problem there, fitted quite a few motorcycle tyres in my time BUT so far have not fitted any to wheels that have security bolts, which mine do. My thoughts are straying to "how do I static balance them" meaning should I fit the tyre with the balancing mark at the valve? At the security bolt (which is approx opposite the valve hole) or at some other recommended distance around the rim. Or is it not even possible to balance these properly?

Any thoughts, help, wisdom, pointers, instructions or good old fashioned advice would be very welcome!

Thanks all

 

[Fanum]

Firstly, many thanks to all that have replied to my various previous threads about "how do I do this, or where can I get that or why does that do that" etc etc, its what make this subforum the best bit of the Gser whole, PERIOD.

Now, I am about to fit my shiny new Metzeler Enduro 1 and 2's. No problem there, fitted quite a few motorcycle tyres in my time BUT so far have not fitted any to wheels that have security bolts, which mine do. My thoughts are straying to "how do I static balance them" meaning should I fit the tyre with the balancing mark at the valve? At the security bolt (which is approx opposite the valve hole) or at some other recommended distance around the rim. Or is it not even possible to balance these properly?

Any thoughts, help, wisdom, pointers, instructions or good old fashioned advice would be very welcome!

Thanks all

Eeek....

FWIW (and that's not much) I'd go for the 'light spot' marking somewhere between the lock nut and the valve, bearing in mind that the valve is way further out than the locknut and therefore will have a far greater effect.

In all honesty though, I doubt it will make any difference in the real world- I've never noticed the difference between unbalanced and balanced knobblies or even semi knobblies like the Enduros, and I suspect that unless you're on a sportsbike with road rubber, it makes little difference. (Apart from the times I've paid for tyres to be fitted in Morocco where it's cheaper to have done than the hassle is worth doing it myself, I've never bothered balancing my self-fitted tyres and have never noticed any bad effects.....nearly all of mine have been TKCs or Heidis with the occasional Anakee or similar thrown in)

Fit them using common sense then ride them.......the slight vibes that you'll get from sharp edged blocks will disguise any potential inbalance initially, and after a short while, the tyres will balance themselves anyway, and if not, you can static balance them pretty easily with a B&D workmate and a few pennies worth of weights)

 

[Mongolian Explorer]

Balancing tyres

Never bothered and never felt the need.

 

[JJH]

Yes I can agree with that. JJH

 

[mikeyboy]

Absolutely balance them,if you have the kit!
Why would you not?
Given the weight of the bead clamps it won't make much difference where the tyre balance point is located..
Spoke mounted balance weights are pretty expensive but are the best option(assuming spoked wheels)
Having ridden trail bikes with unbalanced wheels and watching the wheel hammering up and down at 70 mph it would seem to me to be the right thing to do

 

[solidstate100]

OK thanks chaps. Gonna go with positiniong the light point midway somewhere between valve and clamp, spin em up and se how they feel - then balance if needed. Many thanks!

 

[fayeslane]

Absolutely balance them,if you have the kit!
Why would you not?
Given the weight of the bead clamps it won't make much difference where the tyre balance point is located..
Spoke mounted balance weights are pretty expensive but are the best option(assuming spoked wheels)
Having ridden trail bikes with unbalanced wheels and watching the wheel hammering up and down at 70 mph it would seem to me to be the right thing to do

+1 why wouldn't you? Did a mate's KTM on full knobbies. He was astounded, he thought that level of vibration was normal I have found some Heidenau tyres can take 80gms of weights to get them right. That's a long way out of balance.

 

[solidstate100]

HA!

Having just removed the protective wrap I can see there are no friggin light marks anyway! So its gonna be completely random position and see what happens. I have ordered some weights from FleePay so will tackle a static balance next week when Ive srubbed em in a bit and if they feel a bit out.

Cheers

 

[solidstate100]

Well, they are fitted - and so far dont seem to need balancing, (at least not that I can detect anyway) so all good there!

Good tyre to, quite surprised how good in fact. Quite hoonable!!