stick-on vs clip-on weights

[BMW07]

The dealership told me to make sure that my tires were mounted with only tape weights (stick on)...whats the difference really? I can't find a website that shows me how you mount and balance...

[samger2]

Stick on weights are typically used for a couple reasons...

1) there is no lip either on the outside or the inside of the wheel to attach a clip on weight.

2) Even though there's a lip on the outside of the wheel, it's a very nice wheel and you don't want to damage the clear coat or chrome finish by pounding a clip on weight...plus visually the weight doesn't look good.

Honestly, if you have a lip on the inside portion of the wheel I...as well as the techs here at my dealer, recommend using a clip on. A clip on typically gives a bit of a more true balance in my experience and opinion.

Now some of the wheels don't have a lip and are simply flush on both the inside and the outside...in that case you have no option but to use stick ons.

Unless there's no lip to accomodate a clip on there's no reason whatsoever that I can think of to make sure you ONLY use stick ons.

[BMW07]

the dealership it was due to clip ons not providing proper balance (??)...i REALLY know jack crap about this subject

[mryakan]

Also I notice that clip on tend to show rust when mounted on the outside lip. Stick on may rust but you won't see the rust as it is inside and not visible.

[samger2]

Stick on's definitely do NOT provide a better balance. In the 8 years I've been in the tire industry we've ALWAYS tried our best NOT to use stick ons for the exact opposite reason of what your dealer said...clip ons provide a better balance.

[M62pwrdE38]

Hammer on weights when used on both the inner and outer lip provide the best balance possible. Stick on weights should only be used when its not possible to use hammer on (or clip on) weights or you don't want the weights showing or hammered on to the outer lip of the wheel. If your weights are rusting they've probably been on the wheel far too long and you should get them balanced!

[BMW07]

yeah, i JUST got it done. they said that the place i bought my tires from doesnt use mercedes weights (i got my w202's tires replaced) and that i should NOT use clip-ons.

[mryakan]

If your weights are rusting they've probably been on the wheel far too long and you should get them balanced!
Hahaha, you should move here for one winter season and you'll change your mind quickly. I put on my winter tires and got them balanced last October, not even 6 months ago and they already rusted. I am thinking of taking them off before storing the wheels during the summer.

[easymoney]

Stick on's definitely do NOT provide a better balance. In the 8 years I've been in the tire industry we've ALWAYS tried our best NOT to use stick ons for the exact opposite reason of what your dealer said...clip ons provide a better balance.

I have heard this before but wheel balancing equipments nowadays are digital meaning if you install the weights in the right place/places it should zero out and it should balance perfectly, am I correct on this?

[M62pwrdE38]

Hahaha, you should move here for one winter season and you'll change your mind quickly. I put on my winter tires and got them balanced last October, not even 6 months ago and they already rusted. I am thinking of taking them off before storing the wheels during the summer.

Damn, that's crazy!


I have heard this before but wheel balancing equipments nowadays are digital meaning if you install the weights in the right place/places it should zero out and it should balance perfectly, am I correct on this?

You can get wheels to balance out to zero using stick on weights, that's the whole idea behind wheel balancing. However, the absolute BEST balance you can get with wheel weights is by using hammer on weights on the inner and outer lip. Technically you can get wheels to zero out by doing a static balance, where weights are only applied to the inner lip (this is really only balancing most of the tire/wheel assembly, not the whole thing, but the machine will read 0). There are machines that even show you where to line up the tire on the wheel for the best balance.

[wingless]

The best balance is realized by proper usage of the Hunter GSP9700 (http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/balancer/4159T/index.htm). Some sites have advanced software that permits splitting weights to hide behind spokes.

The plombco (http://www.plombco.com/adhesive.html) CCS Series aerodynamic wheel weights are a much cleaner solution than the standard snap-off weights. These were purchased through Mohawk Rubber Sales of N.E. (800) 242-1446.

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=69523&d=1136687147

[SleepRM3]

Stick-on weights can provide a good balance so long as they're stuck on at the most outboard portion of the wheel rim. Many people don't like to see the wheel weights stuck on the rim lip, so the stick-on weights are stuck more inboard where they can't be seen--behind the spokes. Unfortunately this doesn't make for the best balance job. I have my wheels/tires road-force balanaced--the shop uses stick-on weights. I've not had any imbalance issues with the road-force balance and stick-on weights.

[BMW07]

these stick-ons certainly seem to do the trick. no wobble at high speed.