Out of balance tyre?

[RichB]

Anyone ever experienced a new tyre being so out of balance that it wouldn't balance on the rim? My garage just called to ask me to get a replacement tyre. Unfortunately I got the tyres from a well known internet tyre supplier (i.e. not the same garage that's fitting them) and I am already anticipating the problems I am going to have trying to convince them to replace the tyre! If anyone's heard of this before it may strengthen my resolve to get them to supply a fresh one.

[Trooper2]

When I was working at a dealership I had to reject 2 brand new tires (same brand, model, size) as they would not balance easily and so I did a "road force test" on them and they would not meet the spec.

Here is a webpage that explains road force testing.

http://www.sullivantire.com/xcessorize/hunter.aspx

[RichB]

thanks Derric that's very useful. Rich...

[devout gooner]

I am sure the guys fitting the tyre are professionals ,but it would be worth checking if the work experience yoof has done it and has not put the 'heavy' point of the tyre (marked with a dot) opposite the 'heavy' point on the rim or opposite the valve (whichever is greater).If both rim and tyre are manufactured to their upper tolerance on balance and both 'heavy' points are alligned it could make it very difficult to balance.

[IRM]

yes due to take their fitter out on monday morning to prove that they are not balanced

its like driving washing machine on full spin at the moment

[anonymous-user]

If the tyre is not perfectly round you can get a vibration which feels like a balance problem even though the wheel/tyre has been perfectly balanced. This is exactly what the road force balancer is able to detect and which other machines can't.

The first time I came across this was in connection with an older tyre which must have been damaged by a pot-hole or similar, causing a blister in the tread. My friend with the car was really struggling with the problem and eventually had the car looked at while driving through Germany. That tyre specialist had the right equipment and found the problem straight away whereas UK main dealer and UK tyre specialist had failed to diagnose it. With new tyres I guess it's simply a question of how well they've been made.

Personally I would never buy mail-order tyres. Better to find a real specialist and travel to them if necessary. Bit of a pain and may cost a bit more (not much) but at least you're getting the full service.