Sometimes little things can lead to big problems. Wheel weights serve a critical role in ensuring the optimal performance, safety and efficiency of vehicles. If just one of your wheels is slightly out of balance, the performance of your vehicle can suffer.

You’ll know it when you feel it. You’re accelerating easily without a care until you hit 60 or 70 mph, and then it hits…a bone-rattling vibration that shakes your hands, feet and seat from the steering wheel to the floorboard.

It’s the telltale sign that you have an unbalanced tire or tires and you’ll be needing wheel weights to solve the problem.

How Wheel Weights Work

Wheel weights are small weights of just a few ounces that are applied to wheels to keep them in balance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re driving a sports car or a big rig, all wheels require balancing and it’s done with wheel weights made of soft metals like lead or polymer-coated zinc and steel.

Shops regularly perform the precise work of applying weights using balancing machines. It’s all a matter of physics. Small weights are applied to the wheel in specific locations where they provide a counterbalance that distributes the wheel’s mass evenly around the axis of rotation.

Balanced wheels rotate without vibration, but no wheel is perfect. Even brand-new ones require balancing. And things happen along the road of life that knock them out of adjustment.

That makes balancing an important line item in preventative maintenance. Balanced tires support efficiency and protect equipment by eliminating vibration. Conversely, unbalanced tires bring inefficiency and increase the wear and tear on equipment, tires—and even drivers.

Two Main Types of Wheel Weights

The two main types of wheel weights that our fleet customers use are clip-on wheel weights and adhesive wheel weights. Clip-ons are the classic design applied directly to the rim flange. Adhesive styles tend to be less noticeable because they sveltely stick directly to the area inside the rim.

Clip-on wheel weights or knock-on wheel weights can be faster to attach and replace on the inside or outside of rims. You can often balance a tire with less clip-on weights than adhesives, too. Because they’re attached to the rim, they are out of the way of wheel components.

On the downside, some people don’t like the look of clip-ons. And because they are hammered into position, they can ding or scratch rims. They can also be more expensive than adhesive weights.

Adhesive wheel weights apply right to the inside of the wheel. They don’t scratch or stain rims. They have a low profile and tend to be less expensive than clip-ons. They’re easier to remove without dinging the rim, too. Negatives are that they can take longer to apply because you must clean off rims before sticking them on and their adhesive can also wear off over time.

Surface preparation and installation are crucial for ensuring proper adhesion performance when installing adhesive wheel weights. Here are some guidelines to follow to maximize the adhesion performance:

1. Cleanliness: The wheel weight mounting surface must be thoroughly clean and free from dust, dirt, oils and other contaminants. This is essential for achieving optimal adhesion. Avoid using petroleum-based cleaners and degreasers like brake cleaner or engine cleaners, as they tend to leave behind residue that hinders adhesion performance.
2. Suitable cleaning solution: It is best to use a cleaning solution specifically engineered for the intended application. There are products designed to effectively clean the wheel weight mounting area without compromising adhesion.
3. Isopropyl Alcohol and water mixture: A simple and effective cleaning solution can be made by mixing Isopropyl Alcohol and water in a 50/50 ratio. However, it is important to use Isopropyl Alcohol and not rubbing alcohol, as the latter can leave behind a residue after it evaporates, which can negatively impact adhesion performance.
4. Application temperature: It is recommended to install wheel weights within a temperature range of 50°F to 125°F (10°C to 52°C) for optimal adhesive performance. Higher temperatures generally enhance adhesion, while lower temperatures can reduce adhesion performance. Therefore, it is important to consider the temperature conditions during installation to ensure the best results.

When to Balance Tires

It’s a good idea to get tire-balancing done whenever a vibration is felt in the steering wheel, seat or floorboard. Tire balancing is also in order when you purchase new tires or get a flat and the tire is repaired. If you see that a weight has fallen off the rim or that a tire has uneven wear, you should balance the tires.

For convenience, tires are often balanced at the same time they’re rotated. Which brings us to an important point. Tire balancing is different than tire rotation which shifts the positions of the tires so they wear evenly. Balancing is also different than wheel alignment, which adjusts the angle of wheels.

Benefits for Heavy Trucks

For owners of semi-trucks, fleet managers and fleet owners, the benefits of keeping tires in balance add up.

1. Fuel efficiency - Balancing every wheel on an 18-wheeler can increase fuel efficiency compared to trucks with non-balanced wheel assemblies.
2. Tire Savings - Tire life can be extended 30% through consistent balancing, according to the Commercial Carrier Journal.
3. Less maintenance - With less vibration from out-of-balance wheels, there is less wear on suspension.
4. Better reliability - The wear that results from excess vibration can take tractors off the road unexpectedly and lead to expensive breakdowns.
5. Driver satisfaction - Keeping equipment running smoothly with no steering vibration supports drivers—and driver retention.  

Wheel Balancing Is a Good Investment

The solution is simple physics and the business benefits are there, so why do so many fleets and truck drivers not balance their wheels? The truth is that 18-wheelers have a lot of wheels to balance. Balancing one wheel can take 10-15 minutes, multiply that by 18 and you could be talking 4-1/2 hours. For a large fleet, balancing tires is a responsibility that taps into existing resources.  However, the investment will pay dividends in the literal long haul.

Our customers work with expert advisors on our team and know they can make solid gains on fuel economy, tire longevity and more.

Seeking a Balanced Solution

What’s your most effective and efficient tire strategy? Discuss your options with our experts at Imperial Supplies. With over 60 years of fleet maintenance experience and 567 wheel weights in stock, from trusted brands like Perfect Equipment, Hofmann, and 3M , we can help you find a balanced solution.