986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post

jfmillr · 05-14-2003, 06:15 AM

I wanted to make a recommendation to all of you Boxster owners who like to drive at more then 55 mph on a fairly regular basis.
First off going anytime you go and have your tires balanced, you are most likely only having your tires balanced by a machine. The large majority of the Spin balancing machines out there only balance tires to 55mph since they dont spin any faster then that.

I suggest in your area you should seek out a shop or specialist who is familiar with "On the Car" High Speed tire balancing. Let me explain how this works incase some are not familiar. First all four tires are removed as normal and put on to a spin balancing machine with takes care of of any major issues to 55 mph and down to a 1/10-1/25 of an ounce which is about as far as these machines can calculate.
Once all four tires are back on the car the front end of your vehicle is raised in the air about a foot. A seperate machine which is then put under each of your front two tires, seperatly. This machine can spin your tires up to about 150 mph. The technician can then feel the steering wheel as well as the side of the vehicle, on the front fender, and detect for shimmy/vibration which can require additional weights on your wheels, by simply feeling the front end. A trained technician can then add an ounce here and there to your tire can respin the tires seperatly until a desired feel is acheived at speeds up to 150 mph.

I have this procedure done about every other month and what a difference it has made!!! I usually drive about 65-85 on the highway and the only feeling I get in my front end is the cracks in the road.

05-14-2003, 06:15 AM	#1
jfmillr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA (PCA Potomac Region) Posts: 384	High Speed Tire Balancing I wanted to make a recommendation to all of you Boxster owners who like to drive at more then 55 mph on a fairly regular basis. First off going anytime you go and have your tires balanced, you are most likely only having your tires balanced by a machine. The large majority of the Spin balancing machines out there only balance tires to 55mph since they dont spin any faster then that. I suggest in your area you should seek out a shop or specialist who is familiar with "On the Car" High Speed tire balancing. Let me explain how this works incase some are not familiar. First all four tires are removed as normal and put on to a spin balancing machine with takes care of of any major issues to 55 mph and down to a 1/10-1/25 of an ounce which is about as far as these machines can calculate. Once all four tires are back on the car the front end of your vehicle is raised in the air about a foot. A seperate machine which is then put under each of your front two tires, seperatly. This machine can spin your tires up to about 150 mph. The technician can then feel the steering wheel as well as the side of the vehicle, on the front fender, and detect for shimmy/vibration which can require additional weights on your wheels, by simply feeling the front end. A trained technician can then add an ounce here and there to your tire can respin the tires seperatly until a desired feel is acheived at speeds up to 150 mph. I have this procedure done about every other month and what a difference it has made!!! I usually drive about 65-85 on the highway and the only feeling I get in my front end is the cracks in the road.