Balancing/Optimizing Wheels: General

Excessive wheel imbalance not only produces vibrations and causes the steering wheel to shake, but also results in increased wear on various parts of the running gear.

Even if the wheels are correctly balanced, excessive geometry errors (radial and axial runout) and misshapen tires, e.g. accumulation of material at one point in the tire structure (spring action of tire changes as the tire rolls), can cause rolling and steering imbalance.

Information 

• Achieving a good result requires utmost care, observance of the instructions and procedure, and attempting to eliminate even the very last gram of imbalance. 

Recommendations/requirements

• Wheel suspension elements must be in good technical order.
• The wheels must be clean with no foreign objects in the tire.
• Use a tire measuring gauge, e.g. measuring gauge Nr.136  to check radial and lateral runout values on wheels without flat spots. Values of less than 1 mm are desirable - around 0.5 mm would be better.
• To limit the number of radial runout errors and to optimize smoothness of rolling, it is a good idea --  and even necessary in individual cases --  to match the tire (i.e. to fit it in a favorable position with respect to the wheel). Follow tips and fitting instructions as well as information on tire mounting paste for tires.
• If the rims (wheels without tires) are perfect but the complete wheels have large axial and radial runout values (due to ply breakage or other damage), it may be necessary to replace the tire.
• Balance used wheels only after they have been warmed up by driving, otherwise flat spots will simulate imbalance. Never perform matching in the case of flat spots.
• Correct tire pressure is an important prerequisite.
• Place the balancing weights at the prescribed position.