Yep, Paul recalls correctly -- usually I balance my own with my own bubble
balancer.
However, the current set was bought and mounted at the track by Charlie
Clark, so I had him balance them too. $5/wheel. IMHO, worth it.
But 'tis true, I got the bubble balancer because of what seemed
exhorbitantly high balancing charges from local tire dealers. It's already
paid for itself.
Of course, it is true I road race them (as budget allows). But I balance
them even if budget does not allow for road racing. Personal preference,
maybe. It seems a silly economy not to.
--Rocky
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Zahornasky <p.zahornasky@att.net>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 3:57 PM
Subject: RE: Race tire questions
>The only reason to balance tires is to quell vibration. Tires usually
>vibrate to the point that you will really notice it at 65-70 MPH. You
>shouldn't be going that fast in a Stock or SP car at an autocross. Not to
>mention the fact that after the first small flat spot or after the first
few
>events have worn some rubber off, the tires will be out of balance anyway.
>
>I don't know where Rocky gets his tires balanced (although IIR, it is on a
>bubble balancer in his garage, but that could be someone else on the list),
>but balancing four tires will probably set someone back 25-40 dollars,
>depending on where it is done and what type of wheel it is.
>
>Balancing tires used for autocross ONLY is a complete waste of money. If
>they are to be used in Solo I, or Solo Trials, or on the street, then I
>would balance them.
>
>Paul Zahornasky
>Spent 7 years as a tire store manager.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-autox@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-autox@autox.team.net]On
>Behalf Of Rocky Entriken
>Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 4:21 PM
>To: Chris Eckles; autox@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Race tire questions
>
>
>It seems to me, do the job right and you are better off than taking
needless
>shortcuts.
>
>Balance the tires.
>
>If you don't, what have you gained?
>If you do, what have you lost (beyond a few bucks)?
>
>They might be okay unbalanced. They WILL be okay balanced. Peace of mind is
>worth a tenth. Or more.
>
>If you use stick-on weights, cover them with racer tape. It's that simple,
>that basic.
>
>I've been balancing mine for 30 years, never lost a stick-on weight when I
>taped over it.
>
>--Rocky Entriken
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chris Eckles <MRoadster@compuserve.com>
>To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
>Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 7:15 AM
>Subject: re: Race tire questions
>
>
>>Dean -
>>
>>It's your choice. Safety is not an issue. I have recently seen one or
two
>>cars with tape over the stick-on weights. And, in walking courses (half
>>the time between events) I typically find one or two of the more normal
>>press-in kind of wheel weights. But hurt someone? Tiny, tiny risk of a
>>worker being THAT close to the car at THAT exact moment. And since 98% of
>>the tires on the course ARE balanced, hard to change.
>>
>>As far as balancing race tires, it gets more interesting. Last year when
I
>>was stating on race tires, I mentioned to one of the best drivers around
>>hereabouts that I paid so much for dismounting ties, so much for mounting,
>>and so much for balancing. He reacted strongly, saying that balancing was
>>a waste of money for autocross. Few people would notice an out of balance
>>tire in the 40 second run, and it wouldn't be BOTHERING you. Unsaid was
>>the fact that the extra rotating weight, which is unsprung. . . (OK, that
>>was a very small joke).
>>
>>So I told my tire shop not to balance my race tires. They were so shocked
>>that they now balance them for free.
>>
>>Or perhaps my ex-shop. Got to an event Sunday, and one of the newly
>>mounted tires wouldn't hold air. The bead had not been seated. Yes, yes,
>>I darned well should have checked the tire pressure before then. But
quite
>>disappointing nonetheless. Free fix, but no apology.
>>
>>Chris Eckles
>>Estoril Blue M Coupe
>>Atlanta
>>
>>>
>>I just bought my first set of race tires and wanted to know if I should
>>have
>>the tires balanced (I have heard that the tire weights can come off on
>>course
>>and could hurt someone?) when I got them mounted and also is there
anything
>>that the installer needs to know that might be different about mounting a
>>race
>>tire as opposed to a regular tire (do I need to take it to a specialty
>>shop?).
>>And what is the best way to heat cycle the tires before using them to
race?
>>They are BFG g-force T/A R1's.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Dean
>><
>>
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