So I just ordered a new SUV (brand new 4Runner) a few months ago.
Instead of keeping the OEM tires, I told them to take those off, put some Michelin X-Ice on the stock rims, then order me some of the TRD rims with Michelin AT2 tires for the warmer months. No problem.
I happened to be driving by the dealer yesterday (closed) and noticed a 4Runner just like what I ordered parked out back. So I pulled in to take a look. Sure enough it’s mine, they must have got it in last week and are prepping it for delivery. It already had the winter tires on and the other wheels were visible in the trunk.
Now I happened to look at the winter wheels and noticed something weird. 2 of the wheels had 2 separate sets of balancing weights stuck to the rim. For example one wheel had one set of weights marked 5 Fe (about 8 of these), then about 1/4 way around the wheel had 3 more marked 1/4oz. These were both at the “front” of the rim close to the spokes, I am not talking about dynamic balanced where one is at the front and ones at the back, I couldn’t see what they had at the back of the wheel.
What it looked like to me, is the ones marked 5fe were original on the wheel from the factory, and they mounted the new tire with those on and balanced it by adding even more weight (aka “counterbalanced”).
On the other 2 wheels you could see the residue where they actually took the original weights off.
From my basic understanding of wheel balancing the weights should always be stuck in one spot at the front and one spot at the rear, not in 2 groups around the same part of the wheel.
*** would they do that for? Just laziness? I don’t particularly care about the look of it since you can barely see them anyway. But what I’m wondering is would this be likely to cause vibration issues?
I’m trying to decide if I will point this out immediately when I go to pick the car up, or take it as is and at least see if it vibrates or runs smooth.
Instead of keeping the OEM tires, I told them to take those off, put some Michelin X-Ice on the stock rims, then order me some of the TRD rims with Michelin AT2 tires for the warmer months. No problem.
I happened to be driving by the dealer yesterday (closed) and noticed a 4Runner just like what I ordered parked out back. So I pulled in to take a look. Sure enough it’s mine, they must have got it in last week and are prepping it for delivery. It already had the winter tires on and the other wheels were visible in the trunk.
Now I happened to look at the winter wheels and noticed something weird. 2 of the wheels had 2 separate sets of balancing weights stuck to the rim. For example one wheel had one set of weights marked 5 Fe (about 8 of these), then about 1/4 way around the wheel had 3 more marked 1/4oz. These were both at the “front” of the rim close to the spokes, I am not talking about dynamic balanced where one is at the front and ones at the back, I couldn’t see what they had at the back of the wheel.
What it looked like to me, is the ones marked 5fe were original on the wheel from the factory, and they mounted the new tire with those on and balanced it by adding even more weight (aka “counterbalanced”).
On the other 2 wheels you could see the residue where they actually took the original weights off.
From my basic understanding of wheel balancing the weights should always be stuck in one spot at the front and one spot at the rear, not in 2 groups around the same part of the wheel.
*** would they do that for? Just laziness? I don’t particularly care about the look of it since you can barely see them anyway. But what I’m wondering is would this be likely to cause vibration issues?
I’m trying to decide if I will point this out immediately when I go to pick the car up, or take it as is and at least see if it vibrates or runs smooth.