New tyres not properly balanced

**ArcherWC** · 16th January 2007, 12:48

Well after much humming and harring, i settled on Michelin Pilot Powers front and rear (got a good deal on price as well)

Had them fitted last thursday and whent for the usual ATNR to scrub them in.
Found that when i got a bit carried away with the throttle, things started to get a bit shakey. Bugger I though, balance is out.

Turned up to the supplier/fitter this morning, had a quick chat and asked (very politly) if they could check the balance as there was now a high speed shudder that wasnt there before.

His responce was that it was very unlikely that he had got it wrong, and they would be charging me workshop time if nothing was found. He was actually very aggresive with me, almost to the point of calling me a liar and that i didnt know what i was talking about.

Well i insisted that there was an issue and i would like him to check, which he did. And hey fuck the front was out of balance.

It was duly balanced and an apology made to me. However after spending many thousands of dollars in this store over the last six months (including three sets of tyres) this has left a sour taste in my mouth.

A good product at a good price, pity about the service

**Squeak the Rat** · 16th January 2007, 13:29

Good work for sticking to your guns, that could'a been dangererouromous.

If it's the shop that I think it is, have a word with the boss, he will probably be as annoyed as you are......

**mouldy** · 16th January 2007, 19:24

Was it sorted in the end though or does the bike still vibrate at speed

**FROSTY:Me** · 16th January 2007, 19:30

mouldy--mate you best show this to your big boss methinks--you know my feelings on this subject--Ive lost count of how much I spent at that store over the years

**ArcherWC** · 16th January 2007, 20:08

Originally Posted by mouldy

Was it sorted in the end though or does the bike still vibrate at speed

Not sure as it will require some "spirited" riding to pick it up.

I am still a bit concerned that it took 50gms to balance the rear wheel (its never needed that much before)

PS: I have had a much better experiance with other staff in the same shop

**F5 Dave** · 17th January 2007, 11:23

I was thinking yeah sure it's out, you spin it up & machine tells you how much to put where. Course it will be right.

But obviously it wasn't. 3 possibilities:

1. Forgot to do it totally & left the old weights on it (tsk tsk)
2. Read the machine & put the weight on the wrong place & never rechecked (complacent)
3. Weight fell off.

Selleys 'All Clear' makes a good belt-&-braces adhesive to wipe around the joins of the weights, clean edges with turps etc.

My Michies have taken a bit of weight to balance.

**Motu** · 17th January 2007, 11:58

It can happen,tyres are fabric,and like putting on your clothes in the morning,you have to shrug you shoulders a few times to settle things.4x4 tyres are the worst,they definatly need to be rebalanced after 1000km.

This same thing happened to me last week - a customer brought a car back in saying it had a shake after we fitted 4 Hankook K406's.I said I doubted it would be a tyre as they are a quality tyre and we've never had one come back yet.But I said I'd have a look - I checked the front suspension out and nothing was wrong....but one tyre was out of balance.No weight had been lost or shifted,but it was way out of balance...you can't really balance incorrectly on a machine,but sometimes gremlins get in the works.

**bungbung** · 17th January 2007, 12:36

Motu,

Should balancing machines checked/calibrated periodically?

**F5 Dave** · 17th January 2007, 13:14

kind of self calibrating, if the dial shows 20grams & you put 20 grams on & the dial doesn't go near enough to zero then you work out how much it's out by.

oh hold on -I'm not Motu, I keep forgetting. Is my name 'Matea? [cars movie]