Balancing tires
 

Has anyone had problems balancing their slicks?
I was having an issue balancing a slick just recently, it
would not come around!
Talking to an old school tire guy, he told me about a
mark on a tire(s) that he always used to locate the valve
stem position.
After emailing a race tire company's tech guy, he told me that
the above mentioned mark is an inspection mark.
I may be the only one that does not know about "the mark",
but, once I re-positioned my slick and stem to the "mark",
the tire balanced up great!!
BTW I am using tubes & rim screws.
Terry K

Re: Balancing tires
 

I never balance slicks. And haven't used tubes in awhile.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Any way of posting a pic of said mark?
Thanks

Re: Balancing tires
 

Keith, I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.
Terry K

Re: Balancing tires
 

We do not run tubes

BUT

WE do balance slicks and Duct Tape over the Weights!

Re: Balancing tires
 

Just got the Cuda painted, White with Blue billboards, new front tires and wheels that the local tire shop mounted and balanced with hammer on weights. First trip down the track one of the weights escapes the wheel and hits the very top of the inter fender. It looked like it was hit with a ball pein hammer.

Use stick on weights and duct tape over them.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Been balancing tires OEM and race cars lining up the painted dot with the valve stem this way for over 40 years! It helps to give you a better balance job, using way less weight.

Re: Balancing tires
 

The Yellow or red dot on a tire are mainly on Street tires. It
s the light spot in the tire and should be lined up with the valve stem. I don't think Slicks have them though.

Re: Balancing tires
 

I bubble balance the slicks and spin balance the fronts.

Re: Balancing tires
 

^^^^^This^^^^^

Re: Balancing tires
 

I have a good picture of "the mark" on my new slick:
I can not post the pic for some reason.
If some one would PM me their email addy I would send them
the picture and maybe they could post it.
I would like some one to see the "mark" just to show
that I'm not going crazy!!!
Terry K

Re: Balancing tires
 

I've always balanced slicks & fronts. White mark across from the valve stem helps track any slippage on the rim (no tubes) and rotating the slicks from side to side after each race helps keep the tires near the original mounting location & balance.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Yes I would like to see this Mark I know about Street tires having the paint dots on them for this purpose but I’ve never noticed anything on a slick so a picture would be helpful also like most people, I use stick on wheel weights and tape except i use aluminum tape not duct tape if the duct tape gets brake fluid or any cleaners on it it seems to really make a mess the aluminum tape seems to work a lot better

Re: Balancing tires
 

The "mark" you mention? My slicks don't have one like that, but I try and line up the valve stem with the date code box...which may be the same idea. Bubble balance only, no tubes or screws used on Radial Slicks!

Re: Balancing tires
 

I am no tire guy but this is great info on mounting and balancing since I do my own. Ok here is a dumb observation, what is the purpose of the duct tape, because the adhesive on the stick on weight seems to be way stronger then duct tape. Duct tape rip’s right off and I usually have to spend about 10 minutes getting off the wheel weights and adhesive off and cleaned up. Am I the only one that has thought this, where did the duct tape thing come from?

Re: Balancing tires
 

Duct Tape helps to seal the tape on weight adhesive from the elements - dirt, water, etc. that will cause the adhesive to lose its grip. That's what I was told by Firestone 40 years ago.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Yes that’s exactly what it does, protects the adhesive on the weights. if you accidentally get some brake cleaner on it you will see why

Re: Balancing tires
 

In an earlier post, you mentioned that you prefer "aluminum tape" to duct tape. i admit that I don't know exactly what that is. Is it the tape that some HVAC guys use on duct joints? And why do you prefer it to duct tape? I'm looking for a better alternative to duct tape (have been looking for years), because it never completely conforms to the shape of the wheel weight, and ends up lifting, over time.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Kind of ironic that we put duct tape on an aluminum wheel and aluminum tape on an air conditioner duct.

Re: Balancing tires
 

I don't mount my own, but I'm pretty sure my Hoosier radials have a yellow dot that gets lined up with the valve stem.

Everything of mine gets spin-balanced.

Re: Balancing tires
 

Thanks "1720", for posting the "mark" dot on the slick.
See, I'm not that crazy?
Then again........
Terry K

Re: Balancing tires
 

I believe it is used in HVAC. We used it for masking aircraft windows before striping the paint. Anyway, yes it conforms to the shape bettter and wet stuff won't get through it . Pretty sure you can buy it in lowes/home depot. i use 2" wide rolls sticks very well and i have never lost a weight with it. i even put it over other "hammer on" weights for insurance.... try it, you will not go back to ducktape for this purpose
for a side note, i have changed from using generic duck tape to "gorilla tape" for general duck tape use, that is some strong stuff!!!
here is an example of the aluminum tape...


https://www.walmart.com/ip/JVCC-AF20...yABEgIluvD_BwE

Re: Balancing tires
 

There is a huge difference in strength of Duct tapes. T-Rex Brute Force is expensive but it really strong. Gaffers tape is another one that's really good. The Chinese stuff is worthless