So I replaced my original 2008 xB stock rims with the Anniversary edition wheels. I had them powder coated as well. When I took them to Discount Tire for the swap, they couldn't get one of the 4 to balance within specs (the wheel may have been bent/warped just slightly, who knows -- I bought them 2nd hand). I nonetheless told them to do their best and they wound up mounting that wheel on the rear/right. I don't notice much (if any) shaking or a rough ride, or a wobble for that matter, even at freeway speeds. My question is, can I do any damage to the car in general if I continue to drive the car? I'm tempted to find another "good" wheel, and just start over with that one, powder coat, etc... Any thoughts or ideas on the matter?

 

I see the balance weights they put on opposite the valve stem. That is quite a few, but I've seen wheels from the factory with lots of weights on a cast alloy wheel.
Were the GT tires taken off the old rims and put on the new? If so, that may explain why there are no colored dots on the sidewall. They could have put the tires heavy spot at the same location as the wheel heavy spot to need so many balance weights. I suspect if they pop the beads off the rims (both sides, rotate the tire 180° and reinflate, it would balance with less weights.

If they did that and this is the best result they came up with, then it's likely that the cast wheel you have, has a bit of porosity. Not enough to reject the wheel, but enough to require quite a few balancing weights.

My guess is, if you can't feel any vibration thru the car seat, it's OK.
If you move the wheel to the front, you may start feeling vibes thru the steering wheel, if not, you are OK.

 

The tires were still fairly new, so used the same ones. And thanks for the feedback -- I can feel more comfortable now as I go down the road. The tech did show me the wobble while the wheel was on the balancer and it was noticeable. But again, I don't notice it while driving. It actually feels like a nicer ride than before. I plan on keeping this box for a long time, so just making sure I don't do any permanent damage. This is probably one of the better (more utilitarian) vehicles I've owned. Thanks, Rich.

 

One way to get better balance with fewer weights is to balance wheel and tyre separately from each other. Don't assume that heavy spot of wheel is at valve-stem or that yellow/red dot is light spot on tyre. I've seen many, many tyres are improperly marked (over 50%).

If you've got good tyre shoppe that brings you back to show you things, have them try this next time on that lobsided wheel:

1. find heavy spot on bare rim. Mark this spot

2. balance bare wheel by itself. Now you know it's in perfect balance without tyre

3. mount tyre any which way and find its heavy spot. Mark this spot (most likely NOT opposite red/yellow dot on tyre).

4. remove tyre from wheel, remove weights from wheel (since they were for balancing only wheel by itself)

5. mount tyre on wheel with its marked heavy spot opposite marked heavy spot on wheel.

6. now balance assembled wheel+tyre and it will use fewer weights than traditonal methods. On many, it doesn't need any weights all


Unforunately in race to bottom to maximise profits, many manufacturers and shoppes are cutting corners. Leading to QA issues and hasty mounting & balancing procedures. One brand that really stands out is Michelin. They don't mark their tyres, claiming that their QA is so good, they're perfectly balanced when shipped. I've found this to be true, any one of their tyres I've mounted on my moto bikes or cars have needed very little weight to balance, often none at all.

Rich posted great DIY home-made wheel-balancer! You may want to try making one to double-check shoppe's work!