Balancing wire wheels

[R TOY]

I fitted wire wheels to my Triumph some time ago and had them balanced at the tyre co’ who fitted the tyres for me .
Still not great and I believe balancing wires is a bit specialised.
Anyone have experience of this or recommend somewhere to get them re done? East Midlands area .
Ta . Dave

[bennno]

they are pretty simple, weights clip on rim. Just get somebody to check the balance and see if they are out.

[R TOY]

I don’t think it’s that simple , certainly the guy at Dexel hadn’t balanced wires before and struggled to get mine balanced, he ended up adding a lot of weights .
The wheel manufacturer provided an instruction sheet which I gave him, and they say the wheels are very well balanced from the factory and don’t require excessive weighting . Different cones are apparently needed and modern balancing machines aren’t great for wires ! ( so I’m told) !
I thought there would be somewhere more used to classic cars / wheels to have another go .

[bennno]

Perhaps i was just lucky.

Your comments about the wheels being well balanced from the factory is fine, its the tyres which the weights are generally balancing......

[geeman237]

Yes, I believe special conses are needed for wire wheel centres that I bet no high street tyre fitters have these days. You probably need to call some local restoration places in your area and see who they use or maybe they have the cones and a balancer and can do it for you.

[bennno]

geeman237 said:

Yes, I believe special conses are needed for wire wheel centres that I bet no high street tyre fitters have these days. You probably need to call some local restoration places in your area and see who they use or maybe they have the cones and a balancer and can do it for you.

That’s what I thought but not the case, note they balance conventional wheels via the centre hole also.

[R TOY]

Instructions that came with the wheels .

[healeyneil]

My mate Dave turned an old octagonal spinner on his lathe to give a 42mm ( from memory) hole in the centre and a flat on its outside. That fits on a balancing machine. They’ll already have a cone for the inside. Easy peasy !

[PositronicRay]

Not east mids but I've always had good service here.

https://www.silverlinewheels-tyres.com/car-tyres/

Plenty of classic and motorsports work.

[R TOY]

That would make a road trip ! Thanks but maybe a bit too far !
I see there are cones available on eBay for about £90 .
Maybe I’ll buy a set and try my local tyre guys again .

[GoodOlBoy]

bennno said:

geeman237 said:

Yes, I believe special conses are needed for wire wheel centres that I bet no high street tyre fitters have these days. You probably need to call some local restoration places in your area and see who they use or maybe they have the cones and a balancer and can do it for you.

That’s what I thought but not the case, note they balance conventional wheels via the centre hole also.

Generally speaking most tyre centres can't balance wire wheels as they don't have the correct mountings. My local classic car specialist has balanced several wire wheels for me - he has his own set of mountings which he "lends" to the local tyre place.

[friederich]

Longstone Tyres in Bawtry

[R TOY]

friederich said:

Longstone Tyres in Bawtry

That looks great thanks ! Surprised I didn’t know they were there.
Just gave them a call , wire wheels ! No problem.
Tenner a wheel seems good value and a nice run out from Lincoln .
Maybe wait for it to stop snowing tho’