Road Force Tire/Wheel Balance, some questions and advice needed

[FIREBALL]

Tomorrow Im getting a(first time for me) road force balance and its supposedly going to be done by an experienced guy, how effective has this been for you who have had this done? Also should it be automatic that they dismount and re-position all tires. From what I see the majority say it makes a big difference with vibration and shake. Any advice or thoughts on this?

These are my new Nitto 555 G2s that I reviewed in another thread

 

[FIREBALL]

Well I didnt get any replies but I got my wheels and tires--Road Forced Balanced--and I asked alot of question while it was being done and looked up a lot of info on the internet about exactly what it does and what to expect, so I understand it pretty good now.-------two of my new Nitto tires failed being out 35lb which is way over the limit of acceptable of 20lb. This would explain the mystery vibration that I kept feeling even though the wheels and tires were in balance. so now I have to go through Nitto and try and get replacements under warranty.

 

[SLOWBRA]

35 is a lot. NItto (or the tire place you purchased from) should take care of it easily. I run into similar issues nearly everytime with at least one tire. I’m guessing shipping is a factor.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

 

[Blkkbgt]

Well I didnt get any replies but I got my wheels and tires--Road Forced Balanced--and I asked alot of question while it was being done and looked up a lot of info on the internet about exactly what it does and what to expect, so I understand it pretty good now.-------two of my new Nitto tires failed being out 35lb which is way over the limit of acceptable of 20lb. This would explain the mystery vibration that I kept feeling even though the wheels and tires were in balance. so now I have to go through Nitto and try and get replacements under warranty.

I am interested to know how your return process goes if you are dealing directly with nitto.

 

[FIREBALL]

Nitto wants you to go through the dealer where you bought them, but being I bought them on line they are dealing with me directly and will be trying to work out something with Sullivan Tire Pros where I had the balance done, thats all I know for now but I can say Nittos customer service was awesome so far. I bought the tires from ON Line Tires and their customer service was awesome also.

 

[SLOWBRA]

I always purchase tires from Discount Tire Direct based on some amazing service they provided me 10yrs ago during a bad highway incident. For every tire that has experienced this issue they have shipped a new one out to me the same day I inform them of the issue over the phone. No back and forth, nothing. New tire arrives fast and they allow me to ship back the damaged one later. I'm sure you will be taken care of, but consider using Discount Tire Direct.

 

[FIREBALL]

Nitto sent me to Americas Tires for the warranty/replacement of the two Nitto 555 G2 tires. Americas tires said one that had originally failed at 35 pounds they got it to 13 pounds and said it was good and the other one they said it was worse at 50 pounds and way out of round so they replaced just that one and got it to 13 pounds also. I drove the car and now the vibration is worse. Maybe they just didnt get the balance right? Im taking them back to Sullivans tires and see what readings they now come up with.

In my review of these tires in another thread I complained about how rough riding these tires are and was then thinking I need to cut my losses-----well I think thats probably what Im going to do and replace them.

 

[01yellercobra]

Sounds like both should have been replaced. I'm on a second set of G2's and they're smooth for me. Granted my first set was for the rear and this set is for the front. I'm sure what we consider rough is relative.

Will they prorate you for the tires?

 

[FIREBALL]

Sounds like both should have been replaced. I'm on a second set of G2's and they're smooth for me. Granted my first set was for the rear and this set is for the front. I'm sure what we consider rough is relative.

Will they prorate you for the tires?

,

Right now Nitto says no because the warranty has to go through a dealer that I bought them from, but I bought them from online tires and for them to do warranty I would have to ship tires back to them at my expense. But I asked Nittos guy whom Im dealing with if he can go higher up to see if I can get any refund even if was just $100, so he said hes going to check into it-----In the mean time Ive already ordered a new set of Continentals from Sullivans-my local shop. No more Nittos for me and no more buying tires on line. Sullivans gave me the Tire Racks price.

 

[SID297]

I always purchase tires from Discount Tire Direct based on some amazing service they provided me 10yrs ago during a bad highway incident. For every tire that has experienced this issue they have shipped a new one out to me the same day I inform them of the issue over the phone. No back and forth, nothing. New tire arrives fast and they allow me to ship back the damaged one later. I'm sure you will be taken care of, but consider using Discount Tire Direct.

I've been using DTD for years as well. Always great service. I just made my first stop at a Discount Tire store for service and will be posting a story on it soon. They were also top notch.

 

[Discount Tire]

Thank you for your kind words SID297. We appreciate your support.

 

[Coz]

How does one differentiate between a bad tire and a bad wheel? Did they Roadforce the bare wheel?

 

[FIREBALL]

A wheel cant be road forced without a tire but Sullivans checks wheels for out of round or bent, Americas tires didnt check the wheels but I already knew the wheels were ok, When they road force a wheel/tire, the tire will be re-positioned on the wheel until the out of round spot on the tire matches a better spot on the wheel (dont know how machine knows that)) but if the tire is majorly out of round then no matter where the tire is re-positioned it will show up on the machine as failing the road force test, which is usually 20lb or more.----- When the wheel/tire is spinning the machine has a metal roller that presses on the tire, the out of round spot applies more pressure to the metal roller and that registers in pounds. A tire and wheel can be in balance but still goes over the acceptable limit of 20lb pressure. Like me once you see it done it makes more sense.