Balancing wheels/tires...should all the accessories be installed?

[GooseMan]

I'm in the process of removing my wheels to paint them black. To do this, I'll be removing the brake discs, cush drive and sprocket (rear wheel). I'll be getting new tires this week too, so I'll just be bringing my new wheels over to the shop to get the tires intalled.

Heres my question....should I reinstall all the other hardware to the wheels before taking them to the shop when they install my new tires? Do they balance the wheels with everything on (discs, sproket etc)? Or no?

Thanks!

[airborneXX]

I always balance with the rotors and cush drive (sprocket) installed.

That said, for shits and giggles I checked my rear tire/wheel balance without the sprocket and rotor installed and it was the same as having all the components.

[bomber]

+1 -- I've checked both ways, and found very little difference --

that said, I'd have everything instlled, just to be sure

[GooseMan]

K thanks guys. The shop just called me to tell my my tires were in, so I asked them whether or not I should have everything installed when I bring them the wheels. They said yeah, to install everything. Makes sense!

[stk0308]

Some people prefer to balance the wheel, without tire, then balance it again with tire on.  Supposidly, it means you start with a balanced wheel and only have to adjust for the tire, but it seems extra work to me.

[highside]

Some people prefer to balance the wheel, without tire, then balance it again with tire on.  Supposidly, it means you start with a balanced wheel and only have to adjust for the tire, but it seems extra work to me.

What I do is put the wheel on the balancer before I put the tire on to find the lightest spot on the wheel, which I then match up with the heavy spot on the tire. I have found that the old conventional wisdom that the valve stem is the heaviest part is actually wrong quite a bit.

[JoelCool]

What I do is put the wheel on the balancer before I put the tire on to find the lightest spot on the wheel, which I then match up with the heavy spot on the tire. I have found that the old conventional wisdom that the valve stem is the heaviest part is actually wrong quite a bit.

 

[Woodys Euphemisms]

Depends.  Are you gonna be riding with the discs, sprocket, etc. on it ?    

[Scratch33]

I used a Marc Parnes wheel balancer yesterday after mounting a couple tires.  His setup instructions specifically state that rubber-mounted sprocket carriers and any spacers that don't fit tightly against the wheel bearings should be removed prior to balancing.  

[def38]

Depends.  Are you gonna be riding with the discs, sprocket, etc. on it ?    

Wheel balance for most of us means in balance to about 2-3 grams. Accessories, which are not at the full radius of the wheel but instead at some minor radius, have reduced influence on overall balance or imbalance. A valve stem can become major weight at high wheel RPM. That same weight at say half the radius of the wheel is minor. When balancing wheels, be sure that you install the valve stem cap. Also, carefully remove any stones and dirt when balancing used tires.

Now for those of you who ride at speeds over 100 MPH, balance is important. Those of us who ride at or near posted speeds need not be concerned if our wheels are a bit out of balance.

[highside]

Wheel balance for most of us means in balance to about 2-3 grams. Accessories, which are not at the full radius of the wheel but instead at some minor radius, have reduced influence on overall balance or imbalance. A valve stem can become major weight at high wheel RPM. That same weight at say half the radius of the wheel is minor. When balancing wheels, be sure that you install the valve stem cap. Also, carefully remove any stones and dirt when balancing used tires.

Now for those of you who ride at speeds over 100 MPH, balance is important. Those of us who ride at or near posted speeds need not be concerned if our wheels are a bit out of balance.

So how do you know if they are a "bit" out of balance or a lot out of balance if you don't properly balance them?

[GooseMan]

When I brought my wheels in to the shop to get the new tires installed/balanced, I noticed that only the front rim had balancing weights on it, the rear had nothing. Is it possible that the rear wheel is perfeclty balanced?   I've been out on the highway up to 70mph, and didnt notice any weird vibrations...but it just seems odd that theres ZERO weights on the rear wheel.

[bomber]

Goose -- it IS possible -- I've had a similar experience with a number of wheel/tire combos --

[def38]

So how do you know if they are a "bit" out of balance or a lot out of balance if you don't properly balance them?

You don't...

[dinolee]

So how do you know if they are a "bit" out of balance or a lot out of balance if you don't properly balance them?

WFO throttle is always a good test.    A little shake, a little out of balance; a rodeo ride, a bit more out of balance.