I was wondering how many of you 1/4 racers balance your wheels? If you do, what type of instrument(tool) are you using? Are you getting good results?

There use to be a bubble balancer available for 1/4 scale wheels for around $50.... is it still out there?

Thanks in advance.

Really no point in balancing them if you aren't gonna true them
Just my 2 cents

I have never balanced tires. I have alway ran them straight out of the box.

Not sure on the balancer.

i dont balance the reason is the tires now are alot truer than a few years ago i have some used old ones that looked like they had 1/2 lb of lead in them

And vise-versa....Really no point in balancing them if you aren't gonna true them
Just my 2 cents

I was wondering how many of you 1/4 racers balance your wheels? If you do, what type of instrument(tool) are you using? Are you getting good results?

There use to be a bubble balancer available for 1/4 scale wheels are $50.... is it still out there?

Thanks in advance.

There has been a couple of balancers on e-bay.In the last couple of months.I have one left.Ace sold them for me as well as Willmann Racing Products.I was told by a couple of guys they picked up a couple of tenths.

Now when the tires are being trued.How do the rims run.If they run out so will the tire.If anyone makes the center hole bigger.Then opens up the bolt holes.For a faster on off.You defeat the purpose of truing up the tire.

Just my 2 cents

ED

Have you ever driven a real car with an unbalanced tire? :confused:......My recommendation is, If you have a tire balancer use it. :thumbsup:

It's another area that I have been over looking. Why worry about the bearings and axles if I'm not going to pay attention to the tires?

I have never balanced tires. I have alway ran them straight out of the box.

Not sure on the balancer.

who's yer crew chief?......what'n the guy that was on day's of thunder movie?...... them there special tires ya got there cole.......i mean jeff! lol! lol!

try balance the entire axle assembly and the wheel and rim......

I have never balanced tires. I have alway ran them straight out of the box.

Not sure on the balancer.


Sure Jeff, we all believe you. You run them straight out of the box after Melissa takes care of them for you.:p

Nope, she mixes the fuel... get it right now:)Sure Jeff, we all believe you. You run them straight out of the box after Melissa takes care of them for you.:p

i like it better when she fuels the car ....LOL...right JEFF?

It's another area that I have been over looking. Why worry about the bearings and axles if I'm not going to pay attention to the tires?its a big diffrence between a little out of round tire and a bent axle or stuck/ wore out bearings

I glue and true all my tires. I also have found it is better to balance them. Todd and Ricks tires are great but I just like doing my own tires.

It's all relative...its a big diffrence between a little out of round tire and a bent axle or stuck/ wore out bearings

Fred,
I thought you glued your bearings and balanced your dog bone...lol

So far, this is the closest thing I have found to use on a 1/4 scale. I believe it can be modified to work.

LOL, You know the cup guys don't know what their crew cheifs are doing either. I'm just a driver. Well some what?:thumbsup:Sure Jeff, we all believe you. You run them straight out of the box after Melissa takes care of them for you.:p

Yeap, That right she mixed it and its the same as everyone buys straight out of the trailer. 1 gallon of C-16 with 2oz. of saber oil mixed with it.:p
Nope, she mixes the fuel... get it right now:)

Hey Guys.
I know every one makes excuses as to why they're not as good as the next guy but don't you think tires/fuel is getting a little old? If you're going to continue to make excuses for not being as good, as least come up with some new ones.
See you soon:wave:
Melyssa

I'm just slow... no excuses here. :rolleyes:Hey Guys.
I know every one makes excuses as to why they're not as good as the next guy but don't you think tires/fuel is getting a little old? If you're going to continue to make excuses for not being as good, as least come up with some new ones.
See you soon:wave:
Melyssa

This tool is used by go-kart racers. It retails for $45.00So far, this is the closest thing I have found to use on a 1/4 scale. I believe it can be modified to work.

OUCH!!!
Well back to tire and wheel balancing. I will say that it doesn't hurt to do all you can to get the most out of your car. But make sure it is legal! I learned a while back that its know fun to race with guys that run just about anything to win.

All of my cars are straight up anyone can look at them anytime before or after a race. Don't matter to me.:thumbsup:

Willy, if you are running with bad bearing and bent axles it just makes you try harder.:wave:

I don't think we have to worry about that anymore. LOLi like it better when she fuels the car ....LOL...right JEFF?

Tim, I may have a few made if they are a few that want them?This tool is used by go-kart racers. It retails for $45.00

jeff you have a pm

The idea is to get the most life out of your parts. I've had tires out of true or balance that lead me to believe I had a bent axle. The RF issues that I found last season lead me to think that balance just might be an issue? True or not, it's one area to eliminate from the equation.:thumbsup:

Come up with a price...I'm interested.:thumbsup:Tim, I may have a few made if they are a few that want them?

I can see it if you have problems but I have not had any tire problems other than leaning on the to much. The RF issues I also had at Alabama but the tire cleared up at Easley the next weekend. I don't think it was the tire as much as I was pushing the car too hard in the center of the corner and maybe sliding the tire some.
I have had a few RR tire go south on me but again it was me I think, not the tire.
Todd and Rick do a great job on the tires and I think all of us need to learn tire management before we blame the tire. Car setup is a lot of the tire problems out there.
I like my cars lose and thats not good on a RR tire after a 35 to 40 laps in on a GN car or truck. Its ok on a sportsman car for a while.

I will let you know. The hub and bearings is the money.Come up with a price...I'm interested.:thumbsup:

When I started I used the front axle with a set of clean bearings(no grease and no oil.) Used cut 1/4 oz. stick-on weights and lead tape from the golf store. Worked good, cost nothing, except for the lead.

I agree with Brent. I have a bubble balancer and have used a prop balancer modified to work with the 1/4 wheels and several other items I've tried. I have also run them right from the box.

Here is what I can tell you, it don't make much of a difference. The weight you put on the wheel reduces the amount of speed because of the rotating mass and added weight. On the other hand the handeling is better because the car does not vibrate as much with a balanced tire. It's also better for the shocks in the long run.

So with all that said, if I have time to balance a tire or two after I have run them in during the heat races, I'll do it using the left front (usualy the best running bearings) and go out for the mains. If I have to put more than a 1/4 ounce on any one tire, I would change it or leave it alone if the car is running good enough.

You can over think this kind of stuff so I try to work more on the shock/spring, BBSS, and stagger as well as toe. Those are the most important and way ahead of balancing tires.

So save your money.

yep jim you said it dont over think this stuff:thumbsup:my thoughts are the same,sometime when you think you are gona make something better you will actually be making it worse:wave:

I haven't put a great deal of thought into it. I thought I would see what the majority of everyone else is doing. I appreciate everyones input.

i build my shocks every race some dont but it is the part that i focus on its all about what you think is important and were you think you can make the most improvement on the car. shocks and tires are the most important items on the car thats what gets it around the track me personaly my only concern about tires is how new and how many laps are on them but thats me

Yeah, shocks are a gimme for sure.

I like what Jim said "if I have time to balance a tire or two after I have run them in during the heat races, I'll do it." Makes good sense to me :thumbsup:

Well, I'm off to take my daughter to softball practice....

i kept waiting for Tony Stewart to chime in.....then i remembered our tires are not good/year!

i kept waiting for Tony Stewart to chime in.....then i remembered our tires are not good/year!LOL LOL:thumbsup: they dont get there stuff any better they gona have to change there trademark shoe with wings in the middle for a blemished flip flop from walmart

i kept waiting for Tony Stewart to chime in.....then i remembered our tires are not good/year!

don't know ya........but, thats funny!!!! .......:thumbsup:

i build my shocks every race some dont but it is the part that i focus on its all about what you think is important and were you think you can make the most improvement on the car. shocks and tires are the most important items on the car thats what gets it around the track me personaly my only concern about tires is how new and how many laps are on them but thats me



and thats how you get to be QSAC'S most popular driver!!!:woohoo:

If I can balance the driver, maybe I don't need to balance the wheels? LOL

Since you are discussing tires I have a question. I was looking over my new set and they seem to have a Channel or a groove in the middle. Is that just the way they manufacture them or should they be level?
Thanks
Randy

That must be the RR and most likely a 410?

Lf 77039

That Is very interesting

to much air pressure lol

Since you are discussing tires I have a question. I was looking over my new set and they seem to have a Channel or a groove in the middle. Is that just the way they manufacture them or should they be level?
Thanks
Randy

When building tires you cu the cap about a 1/4 inch shy of wrapping all the way around. Thats to be sure the cap has a snug fit to the host. Sometimes it will cause the host to compress in the center. This is especially true on a softer host or one that has been trued at too high of speed causing the center to expand more than the edge of the host. Not to worry, it will wear in and be fine.

Man, You are running L-30's this time of year. :rolleyes:Cool you must live on the equator. LOL:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I have had a few tires do that and they are fine after a few short runs.

I have been running WCM leftside tires for some time now ZR's and ZF's. I like them and have had good luck with them. I also run the WCM A-Band RF tire at most tracks but they are a few tracks that the BRP 96 is a better tire. I like the BRP RR tire.

Just thought I would share some R&D with everyone. That what works for me.

Thats kinda like Goodyear on one side and Hoosier on the other...lol As long as it works and it seems to be doing well, sounds like a good move.:thumbsup:I have had a few tires do that and they are fine after a few short runs.

I have been running WCM leftside tires for some time now ZR's and ZF's. I like them and have had good luck with them. I also run the WCM A-Band RF tire at most tracks but they are a few tracks that the BRP 96 is a better tire. I like the BRP RR tire.

Just thought I would share some R&D with everyone. That what works for me.

Thanks for all of the input.
Jeff you are 100% correct, it is too cold to be running for my selection, but I could not wait any longer. This is my first attempt at ¼ scale and will need to add to my tire collection.
One more thing, I am having a hard time checking my air pressure. I can’t seem to find the valve stem??????

Randy
Fort Worth Texas:thumbsup: