• From: Darnestown, MD
  • Registered: 2009-05-17
  • Posts: 91

Topic: Tire Balance Weights

Our last Lemons race we lost some balance weights during the race. We have simply been taking the tires and wheels to Walmart to mount and balance. But it seems that the weights tend to fly off during the race. What, if anything, is everyone doing to make sure things stay in balance and not loose the counter weights?

'86 E30, '09 Stafford Aug, '10 CMP Feb, VIR Apr, Summit Jun,  CMP Sep
             '11 CMP Feb, Rock Mar, Charlotte Apr, Summit Jun
'68 MGB '11 NJMP Apr (winner IOE)
  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: Tire Balance Weights

They are probably using the wrong style of weights.  There are a lot of weight styles and if the wrong ones are used, they won't stay in place.  We use tape on weights and then cover them with aluminum foil tape.  It is the stuff used for sealing ductwork.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,640

Re: Tire Balance Weights

Aluminum tape probably would work well. Fwiw harbor freight sells stick on weights if you need more

The Homer: Powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a Nerf ball.
  • OMGuar
  • Ripened Lemon
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-09-01
  • Posts: 320

Re: Tire Balance Weights

scrowner wrote:

Our last Lemons race we lost some balance weights during the race. We have simply been taking the tires and wheels to Walmart to mount and balance. But it seems that the weights tend to fly off during the race. What, if anything, is everyone doing to make sure things stay in balance and not loose the counter weights?

Some tire places reuse weights. When the old weights are pried off the rims they are loosened up and often do not hold properly when reused..
I've noted that done at many tire places. 
Taping will hold the weight on and a few minutes of attention to that detail will ensure it doesn't happen to you..

  • FJ40Jim
  • FJ40Jim
  • Lemons Staff Stalker
  • Offline
  • From: Lancaster OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,657

Re: Tire Balance Weights

scrowner wrote:

It seems that the weights tend to fly off during the race. What, if anything, is everyone doing to make sure things stay in balance and not loose the counter weights?

Don't install them.

Straight wheels + modern tires = 10Gr of imbalance= insignificant, especially after the street tire has been abused for 16 straight hours.

Jim C.
If God meant for us to race, we'd all have baggy Nomex skin.
08TMS.09NL.10GM, SP, NL.11SP, NL.12SP, VIR, NL.13GM, NJ.14NJ, VIR, WGI.15AB.16GM.17NCM.18GM.19...
  • From: Charlotte N.C.
  • Registered: 2009-07-02
  • Posts: 70

Re: Tire Balance Weights

Wheel weights? Whats that?

Mello Kab
1996 Crown Vic
2 time  Least Horrible Yank Tank Award
  • From: Choctaw, Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2009-11-12
  • Posts: 2,145

Re: Tire Balance Weights

+1 This ain't high-dollar racing.