Wheel balancing question

[Albert]

Has anyone had their MSP's wheels rotated and balanced yet?

I've noticed that the weights used (on mine at least) are inside the wheel, not on the outer lip of the wheel. It's almost like they're glued on. Do the major places (Discount Tire, et al) use these kind of weights, or am I looking at having to have traditional wheel weights used?

 

[DistantTea]

I've had two sets of racing hearts where they put the wheel weight on the inside. My OEM harts came with something like 450lbs of little weights and my racing racing harts (not a typo) have a completely different kind of weight but they are also ballanced on the inside just like OEM.

Makes me question the quality level of the OEM wheels if they need that much weight to ballance correctly. But the good news is weight on the inside like that are far less likely to go flying off during autocross.

 

[Newf]

The ones on ths inside are "glued" on (it's not really glue) so to speak. And they are more expensive then standard weights.

They can come off with a simple screwdriver.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

I've been wondering that myself. What sort of place can balance these wheels? Is it dealer only? I got a shake at highway speeds and I want it gone!

 

[mazdaspeed Mike]

discount will do it. they did mine with those weights. but maybe your dealer will do it for free.

 

[cjstringer]

Take it to a discount tire or someone like that. The 'tape weights' are used to dynamic balance a wheel. This lets them get balanced both on the inner and outer balance points of the wheel.
Traditional weights that are tapped into the outer edge do an ok job, but don't balance the newer, larger wheels near as well. I make sure to request a dynamic balance when I get mine done. It's easier for the shop to static balance, but can be a problem for you.

 

[REMillers]

well cj beat me to it. Not to mention the inner weights look a heck of lot nicer looking that the lip weights.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

How often do you need to get the wheels balanced?

 

[laptopheaven]

How often do you need to get the wheels balanced?

Every 5,000 miles when I get my tires rotated.

 

[Jeph]

My OEM harts came with something like 450lbs of little weights and my racing racing harts (not a typo)

thats a hella lot of weights...

 

[Swerny]

Be glad the weights are on the inside.

When they're on the outside, not only do they look like crap, but they can damage the finish of the wheel as well.