Do you balance your drag tires?
07-29-2009, 02:59 PM
#1
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Do you balance your drag tires? Just curious if everyone gets their slicks balanced. I just had my et radials balanced and they took a ton of weight. The tire guy said they're tough to balance because of unever burnouts. Is balancing a waste of time?
07-29-2009, 03:06 PM
#2
On radials its still needed. Just because wear maybe un-even, the tire is still a radial and will benefit. I noticed how ever a M/T ET Street Radial tends to have a vibration at a given mph (for me was 70) and these tire do have less flex. If I went slower, (60-65 or faster 80-85) it went away.
As for a slick, you really can't since it deforms and grows. BUT I have seen people do a bubble balance which is the old way of doing it.
As for a slick, you really can't since it deforms and grows. BUT I have seen people do a bubble balance which is the old way of doing it.
07-29-2009, 03:20 PM
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We try to balance everything. On the Camaro 29 X 10, I've gone without many many times.
On the fast car, never go without balancing. 34.5 X 17 X 16 is a lot of rubber.
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We try to balance everything. On the Camaro 29 X 10, I've gone without many many times.
On the fast car, never go without balancing. 34.5 X 17 X 16 is a lot of rubber.
.
07-29-2009, 06:03 PM
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Balance absolutely effects the wear of a tire. An out of balance tire will suffer from what is called tramp vibration, and it can cause cupping of the tire, which is an uneven tread with high and low spots. This can also be caused by worn shock absorbers.
I balance mine too.
I balance mine too.
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07-29-2009, 06:08 PM
#8
If you don't secure the tire to the rim, balancing isn't going to do you any good if the tire slips on the rim. Something to consider... if they aren't screwed to the rim and you're not running a beadlock.. and the tire slips you're going to end up with tires that are farther out with no weight on the rims.
That being said, I tried balancing the et drags I run. We inflated them up to 20 psi and they did balance somewhat, about 1/2 an ounce on both tires. On a street car it would probably not be close enough, but at least it was an attempt. Problem is with the way the tires distort on the track it's hard to get the balance right.
That being said, I tried balancing the et drags I run. We inflated them up to 20 psi and they did balance somewhat, about 1/2 an ounce on both tires. On a street car it would probably not be close enough, but at least it was an attempt. Problem is with the way the tires distort on the track it's hard to get the balance right.
07-29-2009, 07:08 PM
#11
Please remember to always put duck tape over the weights on the inside of the rim when you get them balanced. You dont need they flying off in the burnout box or going down the track.
Coach
07-29-2009, 09:09 PM
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If I dont balance my slicks they will vibrate real bad at the top end of the 1/4 mile, however not to bad in the 1/8 mile.
Please remember to always put duck tape over the weights on the inside of the rim when you get them balanced. You dont need they flying off in the burnout box or going down the track.
Coach
Please remember to always put duck tape over the weights on the inside of the rim when you get them balanced. You dont need they flying off in the burnout box or going down the track.
Coach
Derek
07-29-2009, 09:22 PM
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Almost 35 years ago (oh my god) I watched a friend bubble balance another friends slicks. He put the wheel on first and marked where the heavy side was. He then mounted the tires and marked the heavy spot. Let the air out, slide the tire and try again. After a little trial and error there was very little weight being used for the final balance.
