New tyres..... balancing without professional help.

[doglegdon]

Probably an old chestnut, but is it possible?
Am about to change out my "racing slicks" (Sahara's) to Tourances next week.
Where I live there's no wheel balancing available for bike tyres. Any advice on how to get as good a balance as possible?
I've heard that on some tyres there are marks specifically that you can align to the valve stem that can give you reasonable balance, is this correct?
I'm offshore Vietnam at the moment, so haven't been able to check my new ones yet, (they arrived the day I left for work, typical!).

[Tarka]

Put the spindle through the wheel..or a long bar of the same diameter... and support it (stacked pallets,bricks,breeze blocks,etc) so the wheel is off the ground and can rotate.
Spin the wheel and when it stops,mark the High Point.
Repeat and see if it constantly stops in the same position.

Ideally,you`ll have some stick-on wheel or wrap-around wheel weights,but if not use some lead strip or similar that can be securely wound around a spoke.

Add some weight at the High Point and repeat the process until the wheel stops in different postions.


It`s easier again if you have a centre stand,but if so,leave the calipers and speedo cable off to avoid drag on the wheel.

[lowflyer]

Absolutley brilliant,

What a great site this is !!!!

[doglegdon]

Absolutley brilliant,

What a great site this is !!!!

Ditto, many thanks. Will see if i can get proper weights in Singapore on the way home this week

[Chad]

Absolutley brilliant,

What a great site this is !!!!

yup information passed on by one of the kings of ukgser

tarka your a mine of information

[Tarka]

Absolutley brilliant,

What a great site this is !!!!

yup information passed on by one of the kings of ukgser

tarka your a mine of information

One aims to please......

[Jenna]

tires are wound and yes they have a natural point at which they will balance best, if the tire is tested during production for balance then you should find an orange/red dot stamped on the sidewall: this is the LIGHTEST point on the tire and therefore should be aligned with the valve (heaviest point on the rim) when fitted to minimise the weights needed...lol but!!!

Some rims are actually dynamically balanced and the weld is used to offset the weight of the valve ( so making the above statement void ) to spot a dynamic rim when its new ( its imposable when older) you will find a small yellow dot on the rim and this is the rims HEAVIEST point, and you should match the tyre dot to the rim yellow dot for minimal balance weights..lol simple hu

[Dilbert]

Dogledon
Start with Jenna's method to get it close and then check or adjust it as Tarka's method, this is how we used to balance stuff in the good old days

[BobA]

JUST fitted my TKC80's today, and no motorcycle balancing near enough to me, so I will be balancing EXACTLY as Tarka as stated. This was also exactly as my not-so-local friendly tyre fitter recommended, but more importantly, is exactly how EVERY tyre company in MotoGP balance their new tyres on team's rims...by hand, on stands, with sticky weights and tape..so it can't be far wrong I say!!!

I'll let you know how I get on, but I will be concentrating on the front, and will try the rear if I can be ar$ed.

Bob

[Dilbert]

Bob
May be worth duct taping the weights on to start off with untill you're sure you've got them in the right place?