Since I've had a tire machine and balancer for decades, I haven't been to a tire store or repair shop to balance tires in years. I don't like seeing the remains of old tape on the wheels so I remove it with a rubber wheel. It takes time but looks much better especially on open spoke wheels. Since I've heard the cost of balancing can be expensive, do they at least clean off the old residue?
Do tire stores remove stick on wheel weight residue when balancing?
- Thread starter atikovi
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How can you ask such a specific question when workmanship varies from one low paid tech to the next?
When I busted tires, I got most of it. The shop has a solvent "Varsol" we'd scrub the goo off with. Sometimes it left that little patch of rim cleaner than the rest of it. What was worse was peeling off a crimpy weight and the clearcoat behind it would come off too, leaving an ugly little whatever that we'd get blamed for.
What you pay for a service has little to do with what you get back for it. I myself am happy to have my own mounter and balancer as well. Anecotally, there are lots of headaches encountered at tire shops by people who otherwise do most of their work themselves.
When I busted tires, I got most of it. The shop has a solvent "Varsol" we'd scrub the goo off with. Sometimes it left that little patch of rim cleaner than the rest of it. What was worse was peeling off a crimpy weight and the clearcoat behind it would come off too, leaving an ugly little whatever that we'd get blamed for.
What you pay for a service has little to do with what you get back for it. I myself am happy to have my own mounter and balancer as well. Anecotally, there are lots of headaches encountered at tire shops by people who otherwise do most of their work themselves.
I'm detailing the wheels on my Tesla and there are plenty of those patches of residue that nobody even tried to remove. If I was spending $20 or $30 on balancing or $1000 for a set of new tires, I'd be pretty ticked off if I saw that on them.
They should, but not all do.
Getting all of those remnants off takes time. Most shops will not spend that time as they're in a rush to move onto the next customer.
Everyone wants that "discount tire" pricing yet they expect concierge service.
I'm really very peculiar about this. I have always in the past ordered from Discount Tire Direct and had tires sent to my house. Now they have a storefront in my hometown and I have them shipped there. I'll remove the wheels from the vehicle I purchased tires for and remove all the weight and glue and then bring them to DTD in my other truck to have the new tires mounted.
I'll really give the wheels a good cleaning and wax job after the new tires mounted. Extra work, but that's the kinda stuff I enjoy.
I'll really give the wheels a good cleaning and wax job after the new tires mounted. Extra work, but that's the kinda stuff I enjoy.
Cleaned up pretty good for a 10 year old car.
I always remove the weights and the residue before buying new tires.
I have worked at many dealers and the lube tecs are all the same. They hate there job and do the very least to stay employed. They also have the know it all attitude that is laughable.
I think discount tire has used brake cleaner but It's not recommended. That's what my boss used on racecar rims.
I just use a wax and grease remover like body shops use before painting.
I don’t know if they do or not, so I remove my wheels, carefully remove the weights, and thoroughly clean them, and finish off with alcohol for this very reason. 
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Last place I went to used a wire brush on a drill to remove the old tape.
On things I care about I remove everything and clean the wheels before getting new tires.
On things I care about I remove everything and clean the wheels before getting new tires.
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- Sep 2, 2016
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Nowadays we're paying concierge pricing for discount service
Only if I'm installing a weight in the affected area, to guarantee it will adhere. I'm not wasting my time cleaning residue left behind in an area that I'm not working on.
In my use case.....I've generally visiting the tire shop when getting new tires and or a patch.
In either scenario, either it's still winter and I'm bringing a full summer set to the shop or in the case of a patch, I will remove the wheel @ home and drive the wheel to the shop.
OCD here so I always aim to remove all weights off the wheel before bringing it to the shop. More often the wheel that needs weights is often the same or similar spot as the previous weights.....so my goal it to bring a clean wheel to avoid the issue being discussed if not a tire tech - using plastic scraper- away on a dirty wheel creating un-necessary marring.
In either scenario, either it's still winter and I'm bringing a full summer set to the shop or in the case of a patch, I will remove the wheel @ home and drive the wheel to the shop.
OCD here so I always aim to remove all weights off the wheel before bringing it to the shop. More often the wheel that needs weights is often the same or similar spot as the previous weights.....so my goal it to bring a clean wheel to avoid the issue being discussed if not a tire tech - using plastic scraper- away on a dirty wheel creating un-necessary marring.
