Wheel True - Tolerance Specification

[CCURTISS]

I now have a Dial Indicator and before I restore my steel wheels I want to check them for being true. Can anyone tell me what the tolerance specification is for a wheel to be considered true?

Thanks,

 

[Steve_S]

That's a tough question to answer. It isn't just a matter of true, it's also the rim itself. On an older wheel, you may have bends and dings that make truing to perfection impossible. The main thing is that the centerline of the wheel is straight. Typically that goes hand in hand with how straight the edges are but not always.

I would suggest getting the wheels as straight as is reasonably achievable, then run them on the car and see how they feel. Sometimes a wheel can appear to wobble significantly but still ride as smooth as anything. Vertical true is more important anyway, and that should be as close as possible, keeping in mind again that the rim may have flat spots on the bead which make it appear out of round when in fact it is not. A dial gauge will be far more precise than the rim will ever be, so don't go crazy trying to get it prefect.

Another thing to consider is the trueness of the tire. More of then than not, tires are a little off. I have actually thrown wheels out of true in order to correct imprecise tires. Whatever your method, the idea is to make the rubber ride as straight as possible and have the wheel in balance. you sometimes have to sacrifice one for the other, but it's all good.