What is the best tire/wheel balancing machine?
 

I have just installed Nitto Invo's on the front 265/35/18. I have had them balanced twice. However, when I hit about 65mph and higher I get a slight vibration. What IS the best, and or, newest balancing machine??

we hear/read the most about Hunter, and their newest is I think the 9700, but their older models, in the right hands, can do an excellent job, too. Coats, and lots of other companies make excellent balancers too.

I have heard hunter also. I would try another shop. It could be the tech.I just got my invos and I have no problems. Best bet try someone else.

Yes a Hunter Road Force 9700 balancer is the way to go. I had the same problem with a new tire on one of my Corvettes and had it re-balanced twice on a regular spin balancer. Then I did the research and took it to a shop that used the 9700 Road Force. The computer printout showed me that one of the tire/rim combination had failed the test. They spun the tire on the rim and it still did not pass but it was within 1 lb. I had a bad tire but it was too late to return it. A month had passed while sorting out the vibration problem. I had them road force balance the other 3 tires and took it out on the highway. It no longer vibrated at 65-70 MPH and was smooth as can be right up to 130 MPH. (I chose not to test it any higher!) Since then I always insist on using the Road Froce balancer even though it costs about $20 per tire.

:iagree:

As someone said, you can balance a square but it won't roll very smoothly.

Hunter Roadforce but the real key is the tech. Good Luck.

:iagree:

:iagree:

Someone else had posted a similiar problem as you and found they had a rotor that was out of balance or had some kind of problem.

Why did you install 265s? Do you have aftermarket wheels?

Agree that Hunter Roadforce is best. I have one at my shop, and also agree that the machine is only as good at the tech using it.

My recommendations:

Tire Mounting Equipment - Hunter TC3500

Tire Balancing Equipment - GSP9700 Road Force

The tire mounting equipment will not damage the finish on the wheels.

The tire balancing equipment is capable of checking lateral and radial wheel run-out on the inside and outside of the wheels as well as checking the road force value after the tire is mounted and balanced.

Drago's Automotive in Flint, MI provided me with a printout of the above mentioned checks of each wheel as well as complete documentation of the wheel weights used on each wheel.

It will be April sometime when my GS comes out of winter storage when I'am able to check out my new OEM GM Z06 Chrome Spyder wheel / General Exclaim (non run-flat) UHP series tire combo on my GS, however I have confidence I will have a vibration free ride.

Be prepared to pay a bit of a premium knowing the tire mounting and balancing process was performed carefully and correctly, however for me the confidence I gained seeing the job done properly was well worth the extra cost.

Best Regards,

GSRANDY

It's the tech. I had a problem with another car when I bought new tires. They tried to balance one wheel 3 times using new Hunter equipment before I went somewhere else. The second shop had 20 year old, who knows who made it, beat to crap machine. 15 minutes later the vibration was totally gone to well over the speed limit.

ask for a high speed balance..:cheers:

:iagree: Hunter Engineering makes the best wheel balance and alignment instrumentation.

A good verification is if you see more than one set of weights in the inside or outside diameter of the wheel, the balancer was not setup properly for balancing the tire or the wheel was not centered on the spindle.

Okay, I'm sorry; but, I have to ask... You have the best sports car made, why on earth would you put a $150.00 tire on it?

Well, first, the tires are $200. Which is high enough for me! A more expensive tire doesn't make it a better tire. I'm sure you are aware of the extremely poor performance of Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. Pretty much all run flat tires. Also, the reviews are very good on the Invo's. Thats why SEVERAL vette owners use them! Perhaps you should read some posts and some reviews.

:rolleyes: As opposed to a slow speed balance? :rolleyes:

lastcowboy, do you have any idea what you are talking about? :leaving:

Here's a video for the latest Hunter Road Force® GSP9700 Wheel Balancer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhgM2TcQpI

The hunter roadforce machine is the best when operated correctly. That said it is not often necessary and everything it does can be done without it. If the wheels vibrating after a "normal" balance and the shop is good they will essentially do the same thing that is done with the hunter machine, but they will be doing it by trial and error, rotating 180, 90 and 180, if there's a "roadforce match" possible this will get it done. Same thing for runout issues as you can see them then use a dial gauge to identify them. Obviously this take a whole lot more time though.

Best thing to do if you have a stubborn wheel vibration not getting solved on a regular machine is take it to a place with a hunter machine and try to get them to agree to only charge you the premium IF your roadforce needs correcting.

Cheaper tires definitely come with worse balance and runout new though. Something to consider.