Balancing drag slicks

buzzinhalfdozen · 04-10-2009, 10:13 AM

I've been told by a few people that you can "Dynamically or spin balance" radial drag slicks. Anyone know if this is true? 14-32-15 tires thanks Joe

Tom Goldman · 04-10-2009, 04:38 PM

Joe, I've been spin balancing both bias and radial slicks for years with no problems, for myself and my customers ......I usually balance on a single plane with the weight as close to the center of the wheel as possible. ....I've found no benefit in 2 plane balancing. .......This has worked for cars running 12 sec brackets, Stock and SS, up to Nostalga TF and Alcohol funny cars..........Tom

Mark Yacavone · 04-10-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Goldman

Joe, I've been spin balancing both bias and radial slicks for years with no problems, for myself and my customers ......I usually balance on a single plane with the weight as close to the center of the wheel as possible. ....I've found no benefit in 2 plane balancing. .......This has worked for cars running 12 sec brackets, Stock and SS, up to Nostalga TF and Alcohol funny cars..........Tom

Tom ,did you remove the safety cover from the balancer? That's a problem with alot of the "regular " shops.

greg fulk · 04-10-2009, 08:10 PM

I have mine spun too...stick-on weight NOT the beat on type either! Oh & yea the cover can't be used with a 14x32...

SmallBlockNova · 04-10-2009, 09:44 PM

I don't balance my rear wheels..My last wheels (Pro Stars and M/T drag radials) had no vibrations going low 11's, and my new wheels (Alumastars and M/T drag radials) have no vibrations going low 10's. No screws, no weights...Maybe I'm insane, but so far so good (knock on wood)

Tom Goldman · 04-11-2009, 11:48 AM

Mark, we have a John Bean balancer, which has enough room even for the 17x34x16 FC tires that roll out @111". .......Stick on weights only!! .....I've seen guys with holes and dents in their body from hammer on weights flying off !!! .....As to not balancing, I've seen a lot of smaller tires ,9x30 ,11x29 ect, that needed very little weight, if any,especially radials on newer high quality wheels. ...Not the wobblers from the past! ....Big tires usually are more likely to need weight ,as the mass is larger, and moves farther from the center of the rim. .....Tom

04-10-2009, 10:13 AM	#1
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Balancing drag slicks I've been told by a few people that you can "Dynamically or spin balance" radial drag slicks. Anyone know if this is true? 14-32-15 tires thanks Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

04-10-2009, 04:38 PM	#2
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 881 Liked 858 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Balancing drag slicks Joe, I've been spin balancing both bias and radial slicks for years with no problems, for myself and my customers ......I usually balance on a single plane with the weight as close to the center of the wheel as possible. ....I've found no benefit in 2 plane balancing. .......This has worked for cars running 12 sec brackets, Stock and SS, up to Nostalga TF and Alcohol funny cars..........Tom __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK

04-10-2009, 08:10 PM	#4
greg fulk VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: jackson Posts: 1,165 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Balancing drag slicks I have mine spun too...stick-on weight NOT the beat on type either! Oh & yea the cover can't be used with a 14x32... __________________ Greg Fulk 308 308X P/SA "ALL AMERICAN"

04-10-2009, 09:44 PM	#5
SmallBlockNova Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 47 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Balancing drag slicks I don't balance my rear wheels..My last wheels (Pro Stars and M/T drag radials) had no vibrations going low 11's, and my new wheels (Alumastars and M/T drag radials) have no vibrations going low 10's. No screws, no weights...Maybe I'm insane, but so far so good (knock on wood) Last edited by SmallBlockNova; 04-10-2009 at 09:51 PM.

04-11-2009, 11:48 AM	#6
Tom Goldman VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Allentown,PA Posts: 2,473 Likes: 881 Liked 858 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Balancing drag slicks Mark, we have a John Bean balancer, which has enough room even for the 17x34x16 FC tires that roll out @111". .......Stick on weights only!! .....I've seen guys with holes and dents in their body from hammer on weights flying off !!! .....As to not balancing, I've seen a lot of smaller tires ,9x30 ,11x29 ect, that needed very little weight, if any,especially radials on newer high quality wheels. ...Not the wobblers from the past! ....Big tires usually are more likely to need weight ,as the mass is larger, and moves farther from the center of the rim. .....Tom __________________ Tom Goldman 1500 SG , 1506 STK