Wheel Balance Weight

Understanding the nuances of each wheel weight material in the market can help your technicians perform a better balance every time.

Understanding the nuances of each wheel weight material in the market can help your technicians perform a better balance every time.

Today, the three most common types of wheel weights in use are made from lead, steel or zinc, and are offered in adhesive or clip-on forms. When deciding which one to use, state regulations, environmental factors, material cost and product fitment are a few factors that play a role.

Lead
Lead wheel weights have been manufactured for decades and are known to be more malleable and denser than zinc and steel. With greater density, a lead weight allows technicians to install a smaller, yet heavier, weight.
But, depending on where you live, you might not legally be allowed to sell, distribute or service a vehicle with lead wheel weights. According to the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey, lead weights that fall off vehicles and are ground up on roadways can contaminate water sources. Lead is known to be highly toxic and has been linked to a variety of health hazards.

Zinc
Like lead wheel weights, zinc weights are cast and provide a more contoured appearance on the wheel. However, they are also less dense, making them larger on the wheel. In addition, they are harder to produce to tight weight tolerances and are currently under review for environmental impact. There are also no recycling programs available for zinc wheel weights.

Steel
Steel wheel weights are becoming an industry standard for health and safety. While they may be larger in size than lead weights, steel weights have the highest density of cost-effective alternatives with no known environmental or health issues. Lower density materials, such as zinc, produce longer weights, so much so that in higher weight increments, the center of gravity of these weights can be below the rim flange, resulting in weight chasing and balance accuracy issues. Wheel weights manufactured from higher density materials such as steel do not have this issue.

Steel adhesive wheel weights are becoming more attractive due to increased availability and quality, and various pricing levels. Steel adhesive wheel weights also offer an aesthetic advantage since they often come in colors to blend in with aftermarket wheels. For example, steel black adhesive wheel weights are available to use with black-painted wheels to blend in with the color.

Using the Right Material
Technicians should consider the following when choosing a wheel weight material:
Wheel weight material density, which can have an impact on size, and, therefore, wheel balance.
Product fit, form and function when compared to a traditional lead wheel weight.
Environmental friendliness, recyclability, and the impact of current state practices and future regulatory concerns.
When selecting wheel weight options for your shop, it's all about finding the right balance. Think about what material and application pairing will work best for your technicians, as well as your customers' wheels.

When adjusting the balance of a customer's tires, wheel weights are used to correct any imbalances. The right wheel weight placed in the right spot helps ensure proper tire performance.

It's all about physics.

By applying the weights to the wheel in a specific, precise location, that additional counterbalance weight causes the wheel's mass to be distributed more evenly around the axis of rotation.

This ensures the wheel will rotate without vibration. Weight placement location and amount of counterbalance required is made easy with modern wheel-balancing equipment.

Two main types of wheel weights are used: clip-on wheel weights; and adhesive wheel weights. The "right" wheel weight depends on both technician preference and wheel application.

Both clip-on and adhesive wheel weights are available in a variety of different materials. Most common are coated steel (to avoid rust), lead, zinc and even types of plastic.

By nature, technicians often prefer more malleable materials for clip-on weights so they're easier to install faster with less force. The variety of clip-on designs allow the technician to match them to the profile of the rim flange.

For adhesive weights, the material doesn't matter as much as the quality of the adhesive tape that secures it to the rim.

Prices often vary based on materials used. Local and state environmental ordinances also may impact the choice of wheel weights used, particularly where lead is concerned.

Clip-on wheel weights, an industry standard, are fastest to use in the balancing process. The design concept hasn't changed much since the 1930s when they first became popular. Knocking them into the right place on the wheel's rim flange is a fast process compared with steps necessary to apply adhesive weights.

It's important the profile of the clip-on weight used matches the profile of the rim flange. Failure to match the weight design to the rim properly can result in weights moving on the rim, coming off the wheel or scratching up the rim.

If the wheel does not have a flange, adhesive wheels weights -- also referred to as "stick-on" or "tape-on" weights –- are the best option. Adhesive wheel weights are a good choice for customers who want their wheels to have a certain aesthetics, as weights can be placed behind spokes or integrated into elements of the wheel design.

For adhesive weights, proper surface preparation takes more time, but helps to ensure quality balancing. Be sure the surface of the inside of the rim is clean. That includes properly removing any existing weights and remaining adhesive residue.

It's also important to clean the wheel before applying new wheel weights. Once the wheel surface is clean and the proper amount of weight is determined, remove the backing of the wheel-weight strip and place the weight in the center of the imbalance point. Apply pressure to make sure contact with the rim is secure.

Finally, re-spin the assembly to ensure proper balance has been achieved.