Wheel weights, refinishing Fuchs question

VaSteve · 12-08-2003, 06:23 AM

One of my projects for 2004 will be to refinish the Fuchs on my car.

I have been looking in the archives at photos people have posted and the thing I have noticed is that none of you all seem to have wheel weights. Currently, my wheels have all these weights glued on at various places. How do you keep your tires from wearing unevenly?

Second question is: I love the look of the polished "paddles" and was thinking of converting mine from the current all balck centers. So my questions are A) Will it look weird on such a late model car - they look great on the earlier cars, I'm just not sure on my 83. B) How about if I key the color of the backgrounds with the body. (I have attached the only photo I have at work, which could be better.)

Thanks
Steve

Rot 911 · 12-08-2003, 06:29 AM

Most of us have the tape on weights on the inside of the wheel. Not as perfect a balance, but it still works well. Here is a pic of my '86 with the polished paddles:

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

When I repainted my wheels, there were dozens of wieghts in various places. I removed them all & when I had my tires mounted they only had to add a few weight to balance them.

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

Steve,
Most people put weights on the inside to make it look nice. The problem is it requires more weight to balance out.

Mark sP · 12-08-2003, 06:32 AM

I also have weights all over the outside rims

I think this is just shoddy tyre-fitters. I am going to get them re-balanced and insist that the weights are applied to the inside of the wheels.

I had this done on my Audi, and the wheels look much nicer.

FWIW, on mid 80's cars like yours and mine, I prefer the all black wheel centres. I agree that polished paddles look awesome on early cars.

Rub some Vaseline into the black bits and get some crested caps. If you are handy you can make a nice job of the painting the crests by hand. I did mine and they look nice imo and saved me a packet.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Lazy wheel jockeys put weights on the outside. They can be glued just inside the back of the centers and on the inside lip....just takes a little patience and time. Kids making close to minimum at a tire shop need a little incentive....that's where a folded bill comes in handy.

Keeps the marks on the lips down and I get a perfectly balanced wheel. Last guy even spun the tire position on the wheel to find the best balance so as to use the least amount of weight.

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

"Most people put weights on the inside to make it look nice. The problem is it requires more weight to balance out".

This is not true

Better tire and suspension shops like G2 here have machines that will optimize the tire's balance to that of the rim to minimize the amount of weight needed to balance both the tire and the rim. The machine tells the technician where to rotate the tire on the rim, the tire is mounted, filled with air and then it is spun up to determine the location where the weight needs to be applied.
The weights are adhered to the inside and then taped over with a tape similar to duct tape.

Rufblackbird · 12-08-2003, 09:58 AM

newer machines like the one we have allows the operator to choose where they want to place the static wheel weights (stick-ons) inside the wheel. OUr machine can also be programmed to hide the weights behind the spokes.

911pcars · 12-08-2003, 10:55 AM

The tire/wheel combo can be out of balance both axially and laterally (dynamic balance). True balance can only be achieved by placing the weight where it's needed, and the outside may be the proper location even though it's aesthetically not as desireable.

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

dotorg · 12-08-2003, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark sP

I had this done on my Audi, and the wheels look much nicer.

Yeah, on my Audi, I had to do that... in fact they had to balance the wheels with weights along the middle of the wheel. I don't have clearance between my calipers and wheel for a wheel weight in the outer two inches of so of the wheel behind the spokes. Its so close you could maybe wedge two layers of poster board in there or something!

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

The last time I took the P-car to get the tires ballanced (shortly after I bought the car) the guy at America's tire company said they have a new machine that will ballance the whell ON THE CAR. I.e. taking into account your rotor, hub etc. He said they really only do it on cars that will be reaching speeds in excess of 100 MPH. Now, why would they think I was going to be driving that fast??

BTW, yes, my weights are inside, too. I asked Al Reed to do that when he painted the wheels and mounted the new tires. He said "oh, of course."

Here's a pic of his work...

Ohh, and BTW, I lost a center cap last weekend. Errg! I removed the crests and had Al paint them for me and I had to go and lose one. What the hell?

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark sP
I also have weights all over the outside rims

FWIW, on mid 80's cars like yours and mine, I prefer the all black wheel centres. I agree that polished paddles look awesome on early cars.

Ohh, and I agree with Mark. Here's a better pic, although it's not a mid 80's car.

Mark sP · 12-08-2003, 12:18 PM

Now all I have to do is get my rims polished like yours CHILI. Beautiful!

Plus, your paintwork is fabulous. You lucky people who live where the Sun shines! If I put my car away for the Winter, I would only get to drive on two or three days a year!!!

(At least constantly wet roads provide some added excitement) ;o)

na2ub · 12-08-2003, 01:02 PM

I have heard that the "dot" (often yellow) on the sidewall of the tire is supposed to be lined up with the valve stem. The tire manufacturers take into account the weight of the stem, and weight the other side of the tire accordingly. I have no proof of this, however, I often notice that tires have weights added near the "dot", which would support that theory. Any takers???

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by na2ub
I have heard that the "dot" (often yellow) on the sidewall of the tire is supposed to be lined up with the valve stem. The tire manufacturers take into account the weight of the stem, and weight the other side of the tire accordingly. I have no proof of this, however, I often notice that tires have weights added near the "dot", which would support that theory. Any takers???

I have noticed that, too. I've also noticed that "nicer" places line-up the wheel lock with the valve stem.

Ohh, and Mark, my wheels are chromed, not polished. Much easier to maintain, but probably not a good idea for A/X or racing. Chrome holds the heat in and you can warp a wheel. But, the PO did it, so what the heck.

Ohh, and it's about 70 degrees outside right now. But, alass, I'm at work

hugo454 · 12-08-2003, 02:00 PM

static balancing places the weight near the center of the rim"s width and is not as accurrate as dynamic balancing which calls for weights on both the outer and inner ends of the rim and is not pretty but much more effective.
The dot on the tire is the "heavy spot" and should go opposite the valve stem.
A good tire guy should be able to reposition the tire in relation to the rim if too much weight is being called for and get the tire and wheel combination to require less weight to offset imbalance.
my $0.2

hugo454 · 12-08-2003, 02:12 PM

static balancing places the weight near the center of the rim"s width and is not as accurrate as dynamic balancing which calls for weights on both the outer and inner ends of the rim and is not pretty but much more effective.
The dot on the tire is the "heavy spot" and should go opposite the valve stem.
A good tire guy should be able to reposition the tire in relation to the rim if too much weight is being called for and get the tire and wheel combination to require less weight to offset imbalance.
my $0.2

89911 · 12-08-2003, 02:54 PM

Anyone putting an ugly weight on the rim of a beautiful set of polished fuchs should be ordered to forfeit their wheels to another owner. I'd rather run around with 4 out of balance wheels (which I've never had with inner taped on weights) then bear the atrocities of such a violation.

Rufblackbird · 12-08-2003, 09:34 PM

the dot, what ever color it is, should be lined up with the valve stem. However, the technician that services our machine said you don't really have to...doesn't make that much difference.

GeorgeK · 12-09-2003, 03:13 AM

The dot...is a little more complicated.
On the tire, the dot shows the heavier place of the tire.
The rims (at least Fuchs) when new, have a similar dot taped on (see this new 7X15) that shows also the heaviest spot on the rim.
Then it is a matter of puting these 2 in relation so that the weights "cancel" themselves (above my knowledge).