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Author
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Topic: Slicks...Balance or Not???
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MAV
Gearhead Posts: 283
From: Macon,Georgia, U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-06-2006 11:06 PM
 
I just got my first set of slicks. They are M/T ET Drag 28x9 and are mounted with Tubes and screws on Weld Pro-star 15x8 wheels.
I got them off ebay from with .200 window depth (almost new!) from a guy who is now tubbing his car and going to a bigger engine. Everything is in Great shape but I noticed the wheels aren`t balanced. Would you guys suggest having them Balanced before going to the track with them? Or should I just run them unbalanced like the Previous owner was? I can`t wait to be able to LAUNCH my car instead of "feathering" the throttle off the line. My best 60` on the Pep boys Futura tires so far is 1.87 lets see what the slicks will do!  ------------------
http://maverickgrabber.iwarp.com
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Mark Ugrich
Gearhead Posts: 351
From: Waukesha, Wisconsin,U.S.A.
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-06-2006 11:36 PM
I think it was Don Garlits that said it best..."if it moves balance it!"
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-07-2006 01:38 AM
You would be surprised at the issues that arise from tire imbalance.
Balance them!------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First NHRA & IHRA 289 automatic Superstock Mustang in the TENS 06-99
First SS/MA in the TENS 04-03
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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capri man
Gearhead Posts: 8777
From: doerun, ga.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-07-2006 09:06 AM
you wont believe how much off some of them are. i have had them that were 4-5 oz off!!
i will be up your way on feb 23 -24.------------------
mike r
racing is real
everything else is just a game.
81 capri-302-7.25 @93mph 1/8
1.54 60ft 50 % of the fun dragracing is meeting people who will give you the shirt off their back to wipe the grease off your hands.
M&M member #839 http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/mike470/adel2.jpg
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 3237
From: Stanton, Michigan, zip 48888
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-07-2006 09:09 AM
....However, don't take them to your favorite tire store and ask them to 'spin-balance' your new slicks! Because your new slicks have 'wrinkle-wall' side wall construction, spin-balancing doesn't work too well with them. You should have them static or 'bubble-balanced'. You may need to look or call around for someone that still has a bubble-balance stand as many tire stores have gotten rid of them. Good Luck!
Ryan
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F570rd
Gearhead Posts: 118
From: mpls.mn.hennipin
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 02-07-2006 03:22 PM
You should static balance only.Not dynamic.
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Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 1123
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 02-07-2006 06:52 PM
I have always had mine spin balanced. No problems It works well if you put plenty of air in them. (25 psi) I also use the stick on weights on the inside of the wheel only with a strip of duct tape over the weight as insurance. I have them done like this on the advice of the guys I buy mine from. They sell and install more slicks than other tire store in my state. They are also my racing buddies. Pit with them every weekend. Been doing it this way 15+ years. David Cole ------------------
557 BBF Powered, alcohol injected rear engine dragster. 4.88 @ 143 1/8 mile. 1.09 60'. I've got to be crazy to drive this thing.
SC/ET #2729
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 7251
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-07-2006 07:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Dave_C:
I also use the stick on weights on the inside of the wheel only with a strip of duct tape over the weight as insurance.
Mine chucked the weights off when I tried that. It even tore the duct tape when they came off. And actually, I think it pitched the weights off on the first or second pass.
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Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 1123
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 02-07-2006 07:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kid vishus:
Mine chucked the weights off when I tried that. .
Perhaps we put the weights on in a different place? Mine are always on the flat, inner portion of the wheel. I would guess in that location the rotational force would make them stick even more. David Cole ------------------
557 BBF Powered, alcohol injected rear engine dragster. 4.88 @ 143 1/8 mile. 1.09 60'. I've got to be crazy to drive this thing.
SC/ET #2729
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 7251
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-07-2006 07:34 PM
Sounds like the same place to me. I finally got them to stick this last time by sticking about 4 layers of duct tape over them. I did find out something interesting this last time. The car had a SERIOUS, violent shake before the finish line (1/8 mile). It was bad enough I was afraid it was going to break something. It was bad enough I didn't want to drive the car anymore 'cuz I just ~knew~ something was going to come apart, and at 110+ mph that thought didn't appeal to me at all.
What I found is rather strange. I had the valve stems lined up so they would be in the same place to speed up checking tire pressure, not uncommon to do, lots of people do that. The weird thing is, that put the balance weights in the same place on both sides. I took one wheel off and rotated it 180* and the shake went away.
Anyone else ever hear of such a thing?
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Dad Vishus
Gearhead Posts: 1153
From: Moscow, Iowa, USA
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 02-07-2006 10:01 PM
My last pair of Goodyears had one that took 14 oz. of weight. The tire man turned it on the rim and it still took 14 oz.I called Jegs and they sent another tire. No way was I going to run that one.  ------------------
63 Falcon 377 Cleveland stroker Flying Toilet alchohol injection. 6.19 @ 110 MPH 1/8 mile
2002 Ranger FX4 daily driver
2000 F350 PSD Crew cab dually - Like commuting in a B52!!
98 US Cargo Phantom II 28'
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kid vishus
Gearhead Posts: 7251
From: middle of NC
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-07-2006 10:16 PM
I had a Goodyear tire about 8 years ago that needed over 16 ounces. They also turned it, and it still needed over 16 ounces. That was the last Goodyear I bought until this past year. It wasn't so much the fact the tire was defective, it was due to they told me to send it back, and if they found it defective they would send me a new one. Weeks later when I still hadn't recieved a new tire, they told me they had a problem with that mold and had pallets of tires to check, and they would get to mine as soon as possible. What ticked me off was they knew they had a problem, yet I sent back a brand new tire and they still acted like I was trying to pull a fast one and wouldnt send me a tire till they checked it. At that point I was done. And honestly, if Hoosier would make a medium compound stiff sidewall tire in the size I use, I still wouldn't own any Goodyears.
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exlocal
Gearhead Posts: 1552
From: hacienda hts., CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
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posted 02-08-2006 11:52 AM
A little off the topic, but I always wondered why the diggers paint a white vertical stripe on the side of the slicks. Is it to see if the slicks moved on the rim or what?------------------
reliving youth
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Hans olsson
Gearhead Posts: 936
From: Sweden
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 02-08-2006 12:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by exlocal:
A little off the topic, but I always wondered why the diggers paint a white vertical stripe on the side of the slicks. Is it to see if the slicks moved on the rim or what?
It makes it easier to see if the tires spin or hook at the launch.
------------------
- VIN 1F05M139343
- 71 Mach 1 Ram-Air
- 351C 4V 285 HP
- E,F,G/SA
- Stockers are way cool!
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MAV
Gearhead Posts: 283
From: Macon,Georgia, U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-09-2006 08:12 AM
Thanks for all of the advice. My car weighs 3140 with me in it, what air pressure would you guys suggest I start out with?
I figure I should run as much air as I can get away with and still hook-up, for stability on the top end ...so maybe start with about 22psi and go down from there as needed??? ------------------
http://maverickgrabber.iwarp.com
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 3237
From: Stanton, Michigan, zip 48888
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-09-2006 09:50 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MAV:
My car weighs 3140 with me in it, what air pressure would you guys suggest I start out with?
Check out the related info here: http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.html That should help you decide where to start.  Good Luck!
Ryan D
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Scott (69Mach)
Gearhead Posts: 841
From: Walnut Creek, CA USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-09-2006 11:03 AM
For one of my cars, we started with 12 psi (10 psi and up was recommended for my combo). We spun the tires quite a bit and so we kept reducing pressure until we got full tread contact.Hooks up really nicely now - at 7 psi...
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Big D
Gearhead Posts: 6843
From: WELLS, NEVADA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-09-2006 03:50 PM
I changed out a couple of tires on my pickup at a friend shop in SLC.. Once we got them mounted on the rims,, he brought out an old bubble balancer.. It was at ATLAS like we used back in the 60's..Got the bubble centered and put the wheels & tires back on my truck and they ride great.. Most of the time when I have them spin balanced,, they are off a bit and only ride good at surtain speed,, and that is usually over the speed limit.. ------------------
Don
6T6 Fastback
331 STROKER, T-5
Metallic Royal Blue & Silver
Candy Orange-Red Flames by McGrafix
My Pics
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MAV
Gearhead Posts: 283
From: Macon,Georgia, U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02-09-2006 10:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ryan Wilke:
Check out the related info here: http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.html That should help you decide where to start. Good Luck!
Ryan D
Thanks for the link ,I had`nt thought about looking at the M/T site.
Looks like I should start with about 18 psi. ------------------
http://maverickgrabber.iwarp.com
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 3237
From: Stanton, Michigan, zip 48888
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 02-10-2006 09:10 AM
GLAD TO BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE, MAV!!! 
Please allow me to digress a bit...
Ya know, there are times when I hesitate to respond to a forum question with a link to somewhere; because I know that many times some 'chatters' posing questions DON'T want to be directed to some other site/link for a possible answer. Why? Here are the top five "reasons":
5) "I was just looking for an opinion on this, if I wanted to take a class on the subject I would of signed up at college!" 4) "Thanks for nothing -- If I wanted to filter through 8,976,534 pgs of remotely-related yadda-yadda-yadda, I would of simply 'Googled' my question rather than post a question here." 3) "I didn't want to build a watch, I just wanted to know what time it was!" 2) "I just simply wanted to discuss this subject with a live person rather than read some text book stuff on it." ...and the number one "reason" is: 1) "Why don't YOU read the 897 pgs of research data & manufacturer's test results, then take it out into the real world and test it for 6 months in the mountains then at sea level, then do another 6 months of comparison testing against 5 other similar products, then come back and JUST ANSWER MY SIMPLE QUESTION, OK?!!" .... I now return you to your regularly-scheduled surfin' break.... Ryan
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DidgeyTrucker
Gearhead Posts: 1813
From: Greenbrier, TN USA
Registered: Oct 99
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posted 02-10-2006 07:59 PM
But.....sometimes other readers might have a similar question and are eager to learn how and why a certan answer was formulated.Once I answered a question on another forum about what size tire should be used on a certain size wheel. I went off into the metric/english conversion in case another reader had a different size wheel. My information would allow him to answer his own question instead of starting another thread. And, I vote yes to balancing slicks. Tracy
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