Balancing Bias Ply Tires

[Lynn]

Rick is exactly right. If the tire / wheel combo is too far out to balance, then you need to move the tire around on the wheel 180 degrees and check again. May take several tries to get it where it "belongs". There is nothing about the bias ply that makes it inherently hard to balance, except for nylon cord tires that have been sitting parked for a while - they will have a flat spot. Before balancing nylon tires back in the day, we always drove the car for a few minutes before balancing, regardless whether it was static or dynamic balancing.

I balanced hundreds of bias ply tires using a bubble balancer. The trick is to use four weights (two on the front and two on the back) all weights being the same size, varying the size of the weight and spacing according to the bubble position. Hard to explain without showing. Biggest draw back to the bubble balancer in my opinion, is that it doesn't give you a clue when a tire is out of round.

I have never used one of the newer small mini bubble balancers, but can't imagine that the result would be any different. However, there is no question that the modern computer balancers are superior. But... assuming your wheel is straight, and the tire round, a bubble balancer will do a good enough job that you would not be able to tell a difference when driving the car.

JMHO.