Tire Balancing

[Elver]

Hi guys,

I have installed my new 35's but after two balancing attempts by E-Mortal they're still unbalanced, shaking like hell in speeds over 90km/h.

For short distances it's ok, but after I drove for 5 hours straight last weekend I've decided to try to balance them in a different place so ... what's the best place in Calgary to do it? I heard about HarpersTire (http://www.harperstire.com/), are they good?

[WhiteOut]

Used them before with a set of 33s and an alignment. Good service, good pricing and they even drive you to the LRT if you want.

Have you thought about using Dyna Beads?

[Elver]

I've tried this kind of "balancing" a long time ago with no sucess. Do they really work?

[hps4evr]

Balancing beads if used properly can work. But if the wheels were balanced twice I'd be looking to see what else could be causing the issue.

[Elver]

I will try with a different store, let's see what happens. I read (after I bought the tires) that the Dynapros are trick to balance due its weight. Well, I will try to balance them again, if it doesn't work I will think about the balancing beads,

At first balancing attempt the result was really bad. After the second attempt it got better but the car is still shaking on speeds over 90km/h. Let's see after the third attempt...

[Bnine]

Steel rims?

[Elver]

Steel rims?

Nope

[Bnine]

If the rims are running true and tires shake that bad, they are either defective, or a garbage tire.

With a decent rim and decent tires balancing should be optional, and any vibration without balancing should be barely noticeable.

I would stop throwing money at senseless balancing. Even if you could get them to balance a bit better, to what end. First time you tear off some weights wheeling they would be thrown out and run like crap again.

[Elver]

Well, I need someone with knowledge in this subject to tell me if the tires or if the wheels are defective. The main reason why I would to try again is because nobody told me about any defect on tires and/or rims and I was dealing with experienced people... Both are under warranty and I can change them if necessary, but I need to know if they are the root of the problem.

BTW, those Dynapro are very heavy (90 lbs each +/-), should I try a HD steering stabilizer instead?

[WhiteOut]

Sounds like there is an issue with either the rim or the tire, they should be finding wheel runout and heavy spots on the tires when they mount and balance. An HD stabilizer won't fix this issue.

[Elver]

I will check the rims and the tires again and check if some of them is defective. I was reading about the use of stabilizers to reduce the bumper effects and the vibration on heavy/big tires. I will also check if my OEM stabilizer need to be replaced.

Sounds like there is an issue with either the rim or the tire, they should be finding wheel runout and heavy spots on the tires when they mount and balance. An HD stabilizer won't fix this issue.

[binare]

Stabilizers mask, not solve

[w squared]

BTW, those Dynapro are very heavy (90 lbs each +/-), should I try a HD steering stabilizer instead?

Nope. Solving a problem by adding a steering stabilizer is like dealing with a funky smell by putting a clothespin on your nose.

[Bnine]

It can also just be a QC issue. Like with super swampers. You know they will shake, but most guys just accept it because the rigs are primarily used for trail.

The considerations are entirely different when the rig is primarily for the road and sometimes for the trail. Obviously your focus is good road manners first.

Stabilizer reduces part wear, and lessons the impact transmitted through the front end to the steering wheel when you hit road imperfections, but it does nothing to combat balancing issues with you rubber.

Have you rotated the tires in an attempt to move the vibration around? That would be step one. You need to isolate if whether or not the problem is with one wheel, multiple, or all of them.

[Elver]

I rotated the tires and the rear tires seem to be balanced, I will check the front tires this week. I also noticed a metal noise when I drive over any road imperfection and when I was driving in a gravel road last weekend I noticed the same noise coming from the front axle (or something around that area) when I enter in a curve at 60-70km/h. The steering wheel shook a lot and I hear a noise of metal hitting metal.

If the tires are well balanced this problem could be my steering stabilizer? I mean, the steering stabilizer went down the drain?

In other hand, if everything is fine with the tires and the stabilizer, it could be only my impression after the changes? This is my first Wrangler and I really don't know how does it behave with bigger tires. If this kind of behaviour is normal, installing a HD stabilizer should reduce this effect, right?

Thanks for help guys!