Wheel Weights??

[Jaredtri589]

Hey Y'all,

I purchased my 2014 FR-S about 5 months ago. When I was washing my car today I noticed these wheel weights on 3 out of 4 of my stock rims. It looks like there was a fourth pair but then fell off. Not really sure of the purpose of these weights and I just wanted to get some insight as to why someone would have put them there. Thanks!

[chas3wba0]

Wheels need to be balanced when a tire gets put on, even if they're new...

[Spuds]

Wheels are not exactly symmetrical weight-wise. For example you have a valve and sensor on one side, as well as minor density differences.

Tires are not symmetrical weight-wise either.

When a tire gets mounted to a wheel, the assembly is balanced as one unit. When new tires are put on, they are rebalanced, so the amount and location of weights typically change.

[soundman98]

spin anything at a few hundred revolutions a minute, and any small manufacturing difference will throw a vibration into the mix really quickly.

[humfrz]

Congratulations on your new purchase -

I suggest you google "wheel balancing" for some background information.

The "missing" weight may have fallen off or it may have been removed because it was no longer needed to balance the wheel.

Back in the day, we used "bubble balancer" to balance wheels. Yep, slap a wheel on it and add wheel weights till the bubble in that center shaft was centered. Oh, yes, it worked great if you didn't drive your vehicle over 40 MPH.

The old lead weights that wouldn't stay on, we would melt down to make fishing sinkers for fishing for catfish.




humfrz

[Mr.ac]

Lol silly noobs you can't troll me.

I spotted this one a mile away.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Congratulations on your new purchase -

I suggest you google "wheel balancing" for some background information.

The "missing" weight may have fallen off or it may have been removed because it was no longer needed to balance the wheel.

Back in the day, we used "bubble balancer" to balance wheels. Yep, slap a wheel on it and add wheel weights till the bubble in that center shaft was centered. Oh, yes, it worked great if you didn't drive your vehicle over 40 MPH.

The old lead weights that wouldn't stay on, we would melt down to make fishing sinkers for fishing for catfish.





humfrz

the new weights are lead free. they're the weirdest thing ever to me yet. it's like a non-metal-metal.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Congratulations on your new purchase -

I suggest you google "wheel balancing" for some background information.

The "missing" weight may have fallen off or it may have been removed because it was no longer needed to balance the wheel.

Back in the day, we used "bubble balancer" to balance wheels. Yep, slap a wheel on it and add wheel weights till the bubble in that center shaft was centered. Oh, yes, it worked great if you didn't drive your vehicle over 40 MPH.

The old lead weights that wouldn't stay on, we would melt down to make fishing sinkers for fishing for catfish.




humfrz

That explains the brain damage.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

That explains the brain damage.

Ya reckon? I do remember going with my dad to my uncle's Chevrolet dealership and going into the shop area and picking up pockets full of old lead weights from around the bubble balancer machine. Yep, take them home and smash them up into fine pieces and melt them in an old iron pot heated with a blowtorch. Then pour the molten lead in molds and punch a hole in them.

The next day, after my father got the makings for paint from town, my job was to mix the powered lead (not the same lead) into the other stuff to make paint. That was a dusty job.

But I've told that story before - I think??

Now, who are you and what were we talking about??

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

Lol silly noobs you can't troll me.

I spotted this one a mile away.

now, you don't knooooowwwww.

Maybe the OP is just automotive challenged -


humfrz

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Ya reckon? I do remember going with my dad to my uncle's Chevrolet dealership and going into the shop area and picking up pockets full of old lead weights from around the bubble balancer machine. Yep, take them home and smash them up into fine pieces and melt them in an old iron pot heated with a blowtorch. Then pour the molten lead in molds and punch a hole in them.

The next day, after my father got the makings for paint from town, my job was to mix the powered lead (not the same lead) into the other stuff to make paint. That was a dusty job.

But I've told that story before - I think??

Now, who are you and what were we talking about??

It's amazing you can ask for help after you shit your pants.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Ya reckon? I do remember going with my dad to my uncle's Chevrolet dealership and going into the shop area and picking up pockets full of old lead weights from around the bubble balancer machine. Yep, take them home and smash them up into fine pieces and melt them in an old iron pot heated with a blowtorch. Then pour the molten lead in molds and punch a hole in them.

Occasionally I find fishing weight molds in antique malls. The kids forget that once upon a time people could actually make things like this themselves.

Originally Posted by soundman98

spin anything at a few hundred revolutions a minute, and any small manufacturing difference will throw a vibration into the mix really quickly.

That's what makes a few extra weights surreptitiously glued to an enemy's wheels such fun. These open spoke designs everybody loves make revenge that much easier.

[Erci]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

That's what makes a few extra weights surreptitiously glued to an enemy's wheels such fun. These open spoke designs everybody loves make revenge that much easier.

lmao! .. and your handle is "extrashaky", which makes me believe you're not kidding!

[jordan7831]

They are trackers used by the government to monitor your movement. The forces from the spinning wheels provides the necessary electric charge to power the gps units inside. Best to remove them if you don’t want the guv’ment knoing you whereabouts.