Wheel/tire bubble balancers

[Rick D]

Just got 4 new tires, and at $15 a tire & #1.75 per weight to have them balanced, I figure the time's come to balance my own wheels. Those old bubble balancers from way back worked fine for me back then, and I was wondering if any of you knows who sells them these days, or if anybody out there has one they're happy with, maybe you could pass on the brand name, and where you got it? Thanks.

 

[Mark Beiser]

IMO, static ballancing is a very poor way to ballance. Dynamic ballancing is the only way to fly.

 

[aeronca65t]

I have one of these that I bought quite a while ago:

https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741

I consider it "so-so" and prefer to have things done dynamically, since it can fix "diagonal imbalance" (or whatever the correct term is). A buble balancer might be OK in pinch.
Oddly, when I go to the track, I see the Hoosier guys balancing race tires with a bubble balancer instead of dynamic. Maybe just because of portability.

 

[Dave Russell]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by aeronca65t:

Oddly, when I go to the track, I see the Hoosier guys balancing race tires with a bubble balancer instead of dynamic. Maybe just because of portability.<hr></blockquote>

I should think that there is a huge difference in portability.

The wider the tire the more important "diagonal imbalance" becomes. I like your term, very descriptive.
D

 

[Bugeye58]

Balancing race tires is a different ballgame than street rubber. I dynamically balance my race tires when they are initially mounted, but after a few hot laps, enough of the rubber is worn away or shifted around that the balance goes out the window. Then, the bubble balancer works just fine, as the balance is constantly changing on a race tire. My race tires only last 150 to 200 miles, if that.
For a tire that is going to see a lot of miles, dynamic balancing is the ticket.
Jeff

[ 03-21-2004: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]</p>

 

[aerog]

This doesn't even come close to approaching the question (sorry) but...the shops I go to usually charge the $15 (or so) that was mentioned, but that includes road-force analysis and remounting of the tires if necessary, which is vastly superior to just bubble balancing or even regular dynamic balancing. There's a thread on here somewhere on the subject, but Hunter's website on the balancing machine is a great source of information.

 

[lawguy]

Geez I pay $10 to $15 to balance all the tires with the weights thrown in. I guess that's just one of the little differences between SF and Indiana.

 

[Jim 67B]

I had some front end vibration and had the front tires bubble balanced at a local shop here in sunny Seattle. The front is smooth as glass at 70 now. Most shops don't have the right adaptors to spin balance a wire wheel. The best is to have the wheel spin balanced on the car. A good bubble balance will work if you have the correct adaptors.

 

[aeronca65t]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bugeye58:
My race tires only last 150 to 200 miles, if that.

[ ]<hr></blockquote>

Wow! Does that include the mileage you accumulate when all four wheels are off the ground? You need to post RG's picture again...some may have missed it!
For what it worth, I used 6 Kumhos (DOT V700s) last year, for about 20 hours of track time plus about 500 street miles......two of them are still decent.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by aeronca65t:


.....two of them are still decent.<hr></blockquote>


must be the front two

 

[Bugeye58]

Nial, I put on about 70 miles in a race weekend, counting practice, and race six or seven weekends. At the end of the season, I'm staring on my third set. At $600.00 a set.
You know what the stress of landings do to tires! I don't mind hearing that 'chirp' when I land an aircraft, but I hate hearing it when I'm in the racecar.
I'll dig around and see if those pictures are still up somewhere.
Jeff

[ 03-28-2004: Message edited by: Bugeye58 ]</p>

 

[Bugeye58]

https://www.menintools.com/shop/bubble.html

 

[Dave Russell]

It's only $49 at HF.
D

 

[Rick D]

Thanks to those who could address original query.

-Rick

 

[Dave Russell]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Rick D:
Thanks to those who could address original query.

-Rick<hr></blockquote>
Hi Rick,
Please forgive me.

Your original question was to the effect of "where can I get a bubble balancer?"

The discussion then strayed off onto why bubble balancers were no good, better ways to do it, & why balancing isn't always needed.

Since only one reply out of 10 actually told where to get a bubble balancer you might have wished for more sources.

Actually writing is seldom perceived in it's simplest terms.

In "those who could address" - "those" would imply that some didn't address it & "could" would imply that some could not. So how did you actually mean it. Leaving out the quoted phrase would have not altered your message.

Again, sorry I upset you. I just felt like being an AH that day.
D

[ 04-04-2004: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>

 

[lawguy]

Our old favorite- J.C. Whitney

https://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=453&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&storeId=10101

 

[Rick D]

Lawguy,
Of course, J.C. Whitney; I'd forgotten all about them...
Thanks.

-Rick