As I recall, when new, my wheels had no weights on the outside. It seems that's still true on new cars. But, whenever I take my wheels in for balancing, the "experts" always tell me that you have to put weights on both sides to get the balance right.

If this is so, why are there never any weights on the outside on new cars? Do they specially select tires or wheel/tire combos so that outside weights aren't necessary? Or do they only do a static balance?

My poor IROC wheels are totally beaten up from countless weights getting pounded into the clear coat.

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'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

 

I see wheel weights on the outer lip of new cars all the time. Dynamic balancing, vs static balancing. I chose to have nice looking rims and have the weights mounted on the inner lip or tape-on weights inside. I've never had a vibration problem or lost a weight.

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90 RS Convertible
Owner: Top-Down Solutions
http://www.sc3gfb.org/members/lonsal.html
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According to popular theory..... You must put weights on the outside of the rim for a "true" dynamic balance. Me, I don't really care what it looks like, but it shore better handle good at 100+mph.

I am not entirely sure just how much effect it will have only putting weights on the inside of the wheel. Some folks will say "none".

Basically, to each his/her own......

 

The factory gets top choice on new tires. They use a quick check balancer to check the balance of new tires. If the tire is out of factory perameters then it gets sold to your local tire store. Your best choice for new tires is find a reputable company that does not use your size tire on a factory vehicle. This way the tires your shopping for are not already picked through.

 

If the tire/wheel combination is way off(needs alot of weight) then you might notice a difference going from static to dynamic. Otherwise just balance with the weights on the inside. If you are really concerned about the balance, you can have tape weights stuck near the outside of the wheel or center of the wheel. Most of the time it's a waste of time and looks bad.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, current red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

Of course it depends on the rim you are using. Stick on weights inside really aren't that visible on the Pontiac WS6 rims. 8^)



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90 RS Convertible
Owner: Top-Down Solutions
http://www.sc3gfb.org/members/lonsal.html
http://www.taskerinc.com/gs3/profiles/Lon_profile.htm