Re: [A/S] Wheel balancing beads

[Dan Ames <d_28732@xxxxxxxxx>]

I once spent two days at the Porsche factory while
they assembled a car for me.  The department that
placed tires on wheels did a very meticulous balancing
job, more so than any tire dealer that I've ever seen.
 I was able to get wheel/tire combinations that
required absolutely no balancing weights, and the ride
of that car at high speeds was definitely smoother
than any other car I've had.
 
That experience made me aware of the necessity of
precise tire/wheel balancing.  On another occasion I
was getting a set of tires for an american car and
watched closely the balancing technique of the dealer.
 After mounting the tire, the wheel was spun at high
revolutions and a gauge was placed on the outside
surface of the tire.  They actually had a device that
trimmed the rubber down to a precise diameter.  I
noted that certain make tires had more out-of round
than others, and I made a point of buying tires made
by a manufacturer that obviously had more precise tire
molds and/or manufacturing techniques.

This tire trimming is not used by most tire dealers -
they simply add compensating weights, which I believe
is a shortcut and not effective at all speeds.

A man in my area is closely involved with a Nascar
racing team, so I'll be asking him about how they do
their balancing.  Of course, I realise that the tires
that they use are far different from the normal tire.

Dan/NC