Wheel balancing - Stick on VS clip on weights

[Fordo]

Just had a mobile fitter put a fresh set of shoes on my shed, and noticed he's used clip on weights. For this car, i'm not too fussed, as the alloys are quite tatty anyway and it's just a little old desiel hatchback.

But do clip on weights ruin alloys? They certainly look quite ugly on the wheel. If i had a newer car with nicer wheels, i'd be quite bothered, and concerned about the clip on weights might scratch the surface paint, causing eventual corrosion.

In the past, when i had a nicer car, the garage i used for tyres used stick on weights on the inside of the wheel. Seemed to make more sense to me- the weights are hidden, and the alloy paint finish isn't ruined by hammering on weights.


Are there any wheel fitters on here that can share some knowledge?

[y282]

Fordo said:

Just had a mobile fitter put a fresh set of shoes on my shed, and noticed he's used clip on weights. For this car, i'm not too fussed, as the alloys are quite tatty anyway and it's just a little old desiel hatchback.

But do clip on weights ruin alloys? They certainly look quite ugly on the wheel. If i had a newer car with nicer wheels, i'd be quite bothered, and concerned about the clip on weights might scratch the surface paint, causing eventual corrosion.

In the past, when i had a nicer car, the garage i used for tyres used stick on weights on the inside of the wheel. Seemed to make more sense to me- the weights are hidden, and the alloy paint finish isn't ruined by hammering on weights.


Are there any wheel fitters on here that can share some knowledge?

dunno about insider knowledge but i always make a big deal of mentioning, then repeating, then repeating AGAIN, every time i have a tyre fitted to use stick ons inside the wheel.

[EDLT]

They can take some of the paint off when fitting. Especially if they have been refurbed because the paint isn't as tough in my experience (could be down to the person refurbing the wheel being crap).

[Si_steve]

At college we are always told to use stick on weights with alloys, the clip on or 'tap on' weights can actually cause a flat spot on the rim of the alloy.