Wheel vibration and balancing - Hunter road force report

[Paul Kelley]

I have struggled with alloy wheel balance vibration since I have had my Stag, especially from around 55 mph upwards). The main issue seems to be, as others on here know, that modern wheel balancing machines use the centre hole but our original alloys were not always machined dead centre, as only the four wheel nut fixtures were machined to be correct.
Knowing this, I decided to spend out £120 on Hunter roadforce technology as it claims to use the wheel nuts and simulated roadforce (see link for more details and locations: www.balancemycar.co.uk).
Results: much improved. Smooth all the way up to 75 mph then vibration starts again, which I can live with. The owner and technician who carried out the work (Dave at Prestige Parkway and Rader in Manchester/Trafford) pointed out that results will be obviously be affected by defects in the wheels (rims etc) and tyres. He further pointed out that the higher the profile the more likely the tyre will vibrate even from new. So, maybe the ‘perfect answer’ is 15 inch minilites and lower profile tyres – but then it’s a different look.
Others experience with wheel vibration and any further solutions appreciated.
PK

[Staggard]

I personally found that the wheel stud drillings were out not the centre hole. whereas when the wheel was run up on the car the rim ran eccentric. Making a template of the centre hole and the stud holes on one wheel and matching it to others found the drillings varied.

[milothedog]

I personally found that the wheel stud drillings were out not the centre hole. whereas when the wheel was run up on the car the rim ran eccentric. Making a template of the centre hole and the stud holes on one wheel and matching it to others found the drillings varied.

Neil (Flying Farmer) did a bit of research in to this a while back. This is one of the main issues. you need to measure each of the studholes (distance) from the rim edge to make sure the wheels you have are good ones.

Ian.

[LAMBRETTLAD]

on the car wheel balancing ,works well but very difficult to find a tyre place doing it .

[Paul Kelley]

Thanks for the additional points re the stud-holes - I had understood they were accurate. If the stud-holes are machined way out then I'm doubtful if any balancing method is likely to correct them. I've since pushed the car 'some way over 70 mph' and, as is common with vibration issues, it has a rough patch - around 75-80 mph in my case - and then smooths again. As I mentioned before, I can more than live with this and would tentatively recommend the Hunter system to anyone with a similiar problem, but bearing in mind the points raised above by Ian, Flying farmer, et al.
PK