Hunter Road Force Balancing

1989SixSpeed · 09-08-2005, 04:11 AM

Has anyone had experience with a shop using the Hunter road force balancer?

I just replaced the front tires on my ZR1 with 2 Sumitomo's (275-40R17). They both balanced with 1/2 ounce of weights or less but the road force number was 15 lbs for one and 19 lbs for the other. The shop people seemed a bit vague on what exactly it meant and said that big tires such as these might be out this much and be considered OK. They said a touring tire on a Taurus or a Caddy might be expected to be within 10 lbs.

Can anyone comment on this?

Thanks,

Doug Gifford

leadfoot4 · 09-08-2005, 07:07 AM

I've had tires balanced in two different shops that have the Hunter balancer. Based on what both shops have told me, a REALLY GOOD passenger car tire will show 6-8 pounds of road force, and 10 lbs. seems to be average. A good truck/SUV tire can be up around 18-20 lbs. of road force.

When I had my run-flats switched over to my CCW wheels 3 years ago, I had them done on a Hunter balancer, but I don't remember the exact roadforce numbers. I doubt, however, that it was as high as your Sumitomos. I replaced the tires on my wife's Jaguar last year with Firestone Firehawks (225/60-16). IIRC, the roadforce numbers were in the 9-12 lb. range.