abc99

Saved up my pennies and after 16 yrs and 19,000 miles, i finally got rid of the original Goodyear rf’s on my ‘03. Bit the bullet and had Michelin zp pilot sports as3+ put on.

So when I get to DT I ask the assistant manager to please be careful not to scratch up the rims as I show the car occasionally and those rims are like new, ( I even wax the inside barrel surfaces, I know, I know, some kind of OCD).

Anyway he does a great job installing them, I’m watching him from the waiting room, he puts them in the balancing machine, remounts them on the car, all is good and he pulls the car out and parks it by the waiting room.

Now here comes my issue, as I’m looking over each wheel I notice that the balancing weights are the stick on type, not the original oem clip on type. I guess it wouldn’t make a difference except the one front right tire has TWELVE - quarter ounce weights stacked up on the outer edge of the barrel and 3 on inside edge. Outside weights stick out like a sore thumb, LOOKS LIKE CRAP! imo (see photo)

So I bring it up to the manager and he said they did that so they wouldn’t scratch the wheels with the clip type. So, ok, i can see that, but TWELVE weights? The old gy’s only had one small weight on each.

I told him I’ve never seen that in 50 years that I’ve been driving. I told him that i thought that it may be bad. He said no, the balancing machine would have told him if it was bad. The other front tire only has 3 weights. The back tires also have a lot of weights too, but not Twelve.

right front - 3 inside 12 outside
left front - 4 inside 0 outside
right rear - 7 inside 7 outside
left rear - 9 inside 5 outside

So I know im kind of old school, but I ask, is this typical or normal now a days? I would think as much as these Michelins cost they shouldn’t be that out of balance, should they?

( i have an appointment next week, they are going to turn that tire 180 and rebalance to see it changes)

Mr. Black

A lot of the balance weights on a C5 are countering the HUGE TPMS sensors.

Aside from that what you have going is not uncommon at all.

Also you have to remember they don't use LEAD anymore because apparently kids eat them. Zinc or steel doesn't have the mass that lead did.

I get where discount is coming from in not wanting to do bead weights as far as asthetics and scratches. They also want you to be happy going down the road which is more important then showing the car.

FourG63 97GST

your problem is not a problem, just go ahead an take the weights off, you'll feel better, and it'll be easier for you to clean and shine the barrels

Forcedvert

That’s why I don’t like discount tire stores, mine are done at a corvette shop.....they should have already tried moving tires on rim to use the least amount of weight on a sports car imo......

neutron82

FYRARMS

16 years and only 19,000 miles on the original tires? I agree...you don't even need weights.

But, yeah, that many stick-on weights is normal.

1988redvette

I am a tire technician and would have used half ounce weights instead of quarters, but that is probably all they had. At least they dynamic balanced them (weights inboard and outboard) instead of being lazy and just static balancing them (weights just on the inside). They did it the right way. I wouldn't worry about it. I would just enjoy you car.

Vetteman Jack

I have seen that many weights required before. Not all that unusual IMO.

Evil-Twin

Unless a wheel is damaged, they are concentric Tire sensors will throw this concentricity off a little. This leaves only the tire itself to be out of round, or out of balance due to process. Most tires are marked for individual weight distribution with a yellow, or dark red dot. This dot should be aligned with the valve stem to counter balance the sensor.
So your heavily weighted wheel is either damaged , or the tire is mounted counter to the tire's own balance . When tires come out o f the mold they are never concentric, or perfectly balanced. There is always a sweet spot for the positioning of a tire on the rim. A real good tire tech focused on minimal counter weight can easily find that sweet spot, but few will go through the trouble.
Good luck
Bill aka ET

road pilot

Go to your car shows. You won't be penalized for "too many weights". Most judges won't even note the weights.
Good luck.

ALLEGRO

Said true !

Rob 02

ET's wheel and tire advice has been spot on in every post I can recall.
It looks like they slapped them on crooked and careless as well.

Evil-Twin

Thanks Rob, I'm not just another pretty face ya know. I know stuff too.

BlackHellcat

The things people complain about...

neutron82

fwiw I work on brand new cars right off the train and many of them have about the same amount of weight as what you listed... as long as it balances out and doesn't vibrate you're fine, personally I wouldn't waste my time making another trip to have them dismount and move it and possibly end up with the same results

Evil-Twin

The way I see it is if it bothers you, Fix it. Since the Op brought his concern here, it bothers him... do people live with 1/2 pound of counter weight..? sure they do.. a 1/2 pound of counter weight it a lot of weight and indicates a mis matched tire position.

Since every tire mold is slightly different, it will reproduce the same product,The specific mold its tested so that every tire that comes off that mold is identified with a dot to show where the tire is the lightest. Since many tire techs, ( tire techs are usually an entry level job ) they are not as dedicated to the finer points of tire mounting. Many tire techs do not even know what that Dot represents or has never been taught how to mount a tire.. since most think the final balance , no matter what the weight added, the tire and wheel will balance. I would rather have a 1/2 ounce of weight added then 1/2 pound.

runner140*

Could not agree more....they tend to hire ....what ever. Take it to a pro if you can't do it yourself. I just had a set of tires mounted. They gave the job to a
300 pound 6'2" guy who tried to get in but couldn't but still really tried.

ArtClassShank

I've got 8 C5 wheels in my shed, they're all balanced like your wheel there. They all have a bit of vibration in them, even after multiple balancing attempts.

My TSW's I bought from a forum member were mounted and balanced by Discount Tire direct when he ordered them online. They have a fraction of the weight as the other wheels. I think the one with the most weights has maybe 3 ounces? They're smooth as silk. I imagine the guys at Discount Tire Direct online are very very proficient at mounting and balancing tires, because I almost couldn't believe how well balanced they were, aesthetically and functionally.

Now I'm worried that no shop I have tried locally will be able to replicate the balance job when these TSW wheels need new tires....

I really got to a point where I didn't give a damn what the wheels looked like, just wanted them to rotate smoothly, and eventually, I got both looks and balance!

abc99

Thanks for the great input on this! I knew I’d get good solid replies back from you guys, along with some replies that put a smile on my face. I do want to say that I did have her 80+ on the interstate, no vibration and smooth as can be, so looks like DT did do their job. There is such a day and night difference from those GY’s, should have done it years ago!

Anyway, now with a much better understanding on all this, letting it soak in a day or two, and now the ride and handling is near perfect, I’m leaning toward just leaving things be. So thanks again to all.

Evil-Twin

Just as most of us thought...its only the end of the world for 24 hours. then you learn to live with it.

Bill aka ET