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Tire Balancing Info

To: land-speed@autox.team.net
Subject: Tire Balancing Info
From: Ken Bond <kmb2@humboldt.edu>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 11:21:31 -0700
Folks,

I recently got an e-mail from a friend that discussed a new tire balancing
machine from Hunter.  I DON'T KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL who sent the message to
my friend and have NO DIRECT information about the product so please read
with a bit of caution.  IF legit, it might be worth trying to find
one of these units in your area of the country

KEN

******************


Topic: Hunter GSP9700 Tire Balancer  
AutocroSSer  
Senior Member  
Member # 13  
posted 13 May 2001 01:48 PM                        

When I went to the Hunter Engineering Seminar last month in SoCal, one of
the machines that Dave Scribner showed to us was the Hunter GSP9700 Tire
Balancing machine. 

www.gsp9700.com  

This is the "Big Kahuna" of tire balancing machines. Not only does it do
static and dynamic balancing, but it ALSO does something they call "force"
balancing. Basically, it takes a weighted roller and pushes against the
tire while it is spinning on the tire balancing machine. Doing this, it can
detect variations in sidewall stiffness (i.e. "spring force" of the tire
sidewall) and compensate for them with the tire balance job. 

It is ALSO capable on nice spoked rims (i.e. my ROH ZR6s or stock SS rims,
for example) of knowing WHERE the spokes are and hides the weights (stick
on) that go on the "outer" part of the rim BEHIND the spokes. The "inner"
weights are hidden back where you can't see then, in the conventional spots
(lip of rim). 

Net result : NONE of the weights show AT ALL! I mean AT ALL.....can't even
see them looking straight-on at the wheel, not even on the rim that is
inside near the rotor! For you car show freaks who want the PERFECT looking
wheel with NO weights visible on the inner rims, this is the trick for you! 

So, my street tires had developed a vibration starting about 70-75 MPH or
so. I found a nearby shop that had a GSP9700 (Custom Alignment in Mountain
View CA) and decided I'd give it a shot.  Cost for 4 wheels was $57 out the
door, with me dropping off the tires/wheels and picking them up 
the next day. 

On the force variation, my tires varied from 4 lbs to 28 lbs (4, 17, 21,
and 28 lbs on the 4 tires). This means that (uncompensated) the worst tire
was essentially pushing back with 28 lbs MORE force at one spot on the
wheel rotation. While that sounds like a lot, most tires are within that
range. 

After AutoX yesterday, I bolted the rebalanced tires back up (had been on
my AutoX rubber for the last week or two). Took it for a test drive...... 

This is, BY FAR, the BEST balance job I've EVER had on a set of tires. The
car is SMOOTH AS GLASS at 90-100 MPH. So smooth it's almost eerie  . You
can release the steering wheel (quickly) at 90 MPH and it doesn't shimmy
whatsoever! (not even a mm!)  

Needless to say, I'm VERY impressed! I was a bit skeptical about spending
$60 on a balance job, but sure am not skeptical anymore! 


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Ken Bond,                                                 *
* Prof. of Bus. Admin.                                      *
* Humboldt State Univ.              ____________            *
* Arcata, CA 95521          _______| 58  85  99 |_________  *
*                          /     How much horsepower     /  *
*                         /      Can I have and still   /   *
* Wk.:707.826.4277       /_________ go to Heaven?______/    *
* Wk Fax:707.826.6666              |_61______61_|           *
* Hm.:707.826.7764           I Never Drive Faster than      *
* Hm Fax:707.826.0334        My Guardian Angel Can Fly      *
* Internet:                                                 *
* kmb2@humboldt.edu (office)                                *
* ragtops@humboldt1.com (home)                              *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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