Mounted & balanced a set of tires for one of my kids' friends this weekend <https://i.postimg.cc/3N6h13VR/tire33.jpg>
On brand new steel wheels the kids bought (of unknown-to-me brand or size): <https://i.postimg.cc/FR4mwvyR/tire02.jpg>
Where I'd like to ask other adults for purposefully helpful advice so that
I can learn from your experience as this is my first ever mounting & statically balancing new tires on a brand new set of steel wheels at home.
o Laufenn "G Fit as tires: 215/65R15 95H, TW=500, TR=A, TMP=A
1. These tires had both red (shape) & yellow (weight) dots:
<https://i.postimg.cc/ZRMmnm8J/tire05.jpg>
Where, AFAIK:
o red = uniformity point of maximum radial force variation of the tire
(i.e., difference between the highest & lowest weight points)
(aka the tires' point of maximum radial force and runout)
(aka the tires' high point)
to be aligned to the steel rim's point of minimum radial run-out
(i.e., to be aligned to the steel wheels' low point)
o yellow = the point of lightest weight of the tire
to be aligned with the valve stem on the wheel assembly
which represents the heaviest weight point of the wheel assembly
2. We followed the "red rules over yellow" maxim by marking the rim in
front where this white paint mark was on the back of each rim:
<https://i.postimg.cc/0Qh9yxv7/tire08.jpg>
3. But since the steel wheels were new, is _this_ mere paint dot on
the inside of each rim the actual match mounting indicator?
<https://i.postimg.cc/RZJWBMHQ/tire03.jpg>
4. Other than that white paint dot, we couldn't find low-point dimples
or scratches, or other indications on the steel wheels:
<https://i.postimg.cc/G2f0d1YG/tire04.jpg>
5. So we simply matched the red tire mark to the steel rim white paint dot:
<https://i.postimg.cc/TPRhWnsQ/tire09.jpg>
6. In addition, the old wheels were quite different in size than the
new, where the new wheels were the stock size for this vehicle & the old
wheels were completely different in size, shape, & depth:
<https://i.postimg.cc/8zLtCV8M/tire16.jpg>
7. But what was strange about the front axle, was this aluminum spacer:
<https://i.postimg.cc/qRK81skn/tire14.jpg>
8. And what was even stranger about the rear axle was this steel and
aluminum spacer assembly:
<https://i.postimg.cc/7ZgrrcmQ/tire23.jpg>
9. The boys asked me if they should keep or ditch the spacer, but I
simply didn't have a clue since I have never encountered such things before.
<https://i.postimg.cc/Wz2wtDvk/tire22.jpg>
10. I suspect they were needed perhaps due to the depth of the old wheels:
<https://i.postimg.cc/0jM2YnPR/tire15.jpg>
11. Where the rear axle had a much thicker spacer than the front axle did:
<https://i.postimg.cc/d0Nb2T6G/tire34.jpg>
12. Where in the end, we opted to remove all the spacers on both axles:
<https://i.postimg.cc/zBn49P5F/tire35.jpg>
13. Where the original lug nuts on the front axle seemed to fit well on
the front lug bolts:
<https://i.postimg.cc/76pkST9f/tire31.jpg>
14. But for the rear axle, the lug nuts that were holding together the
two-piece rear spacer seemed to fit the lug bolts better.
<https://i.postimg.cc/mDg1zKDm/tire30.jpg>
In summary, what advice would you give if you have mounted and balanced
tires on new steel wheels at home?
NOTE: I've done SUV tires many times before, but on old steel wheels,
where, in the past, SUV tires were a pain to seal the bead as compared to sedan tires, but the SUV tires were relatively easy to mount onto the steel rims (as opposed to sedan tires on both steel & alloy wheels); whereas
these LT tires were the complete opposite of my prior SUV tire experience!
o These LT tires were a pain to get onto the rim, but, o They sealed so trivially that it took _zero_ force to pop in the bead.
The fit was so tight that I literally popped the bead without any holding
of the tire whatsoever to seat the bead. It was _that_ tight on the rim.
NOTE: Dynamic balance test is free, where the kid reported zero vibration
at speed, but where I told him Costco will balance any wheel for around
five bucks a wheel (an extra 50 cents per wheel if they're on the vehicle), so dynamic balance is assured due to two simple things:
a. The on-the-road dynamic balance test is always constant & free, and,
b. The Costco dynamic balance, if needed, is only five bucks per wheel.
We didn't need to dispose the old tires, but here in California, Costco
takes back worn carcasses for $1 each plus about 10% sales tax (why
there's a _second_ sales tax on tires is beyond my pay grade).
NOTE: I have a separate bead breaker, but we didn't need it for this job because the kid kept the old wheels and tires.
Note: We didn't put steel clipon weights because you can't get lead weights in California it seems, and besides, I couldn't find them when we needed them, so we were stuck with ounce and half ounce stickon California
non-lead alloy wheel weights.
Note: We used the snap in (rubber boot) brass shielded tire valves because the kids forgot to buy their own, so those were the only ones I have since
I used up all my bolt on 0.453" tire valves on the last mounting job.
Note: We used liquid dish detergent for lube, where these tires were super tight, like I've never seen tires be (where I've mounted, oh, about 40
tires in the last handful of years, give or take a few tires).
Note: It's about $20 per wheel (plus usually around 3 to 7 bucks each for disposal, plus around 3 to 4 bucks each for valves) for mounting and
dynamic balancing which we saved for this kid, in addition to taxes and shipping, all of which was free since we bought out of state.
And of course, the local tire shops _never_ bother to match mount.
If the spacers were fitted, they were fitted for a reason.
These days rims are much better manufactured than in the past and match mounting isn't generally necessary.
In response to what Xeno <xenolith@optusnet.com.au> wrote :
If the spacers were fitted, they were fitted for a reason.
Hi Xeno,
Thanks for taking the risk of responding as it's tough on Usenet to
converse when it's just text and a bunch of snapshots.
As you noted, I'm also absolutely sure the spacers were there for a good reason, whether for sheer looks or because the clearly non-stock alloy
wheels we took off were vastly different than the stock (aka factory spec) steel wheels we replaced them with.
I'm not too worried about not putting the spacers back because the new
stock steel wheels fit fine without those spacers, where I was just
wondering if a simple cheap Chevy pickup truck would ever have spacers in a stock situation in the first place.
These days rims are much better manufactured than in the past and
match mounting isn't generally necessary.
Hi Xeno,
I love to learn the details where I'm sure there's a reason for everything.
The main question, really, is whether that "white dot" was the match
mounting mark on the new steel rims, where I'm pretty sure if it is that
they didn't consider match mounting not necessary when they put that dot there in the first place.
Nobody does that stuff for no good reason. They just don't. :)
I'm an old man, where you don't want to know how many times I've heard
people say "oh, that bolt doesn't do anything", simply because they
couldn't be bothered to replace all the bolts they took out.
If they're gonna bother putting a match-mounting mark on the wheels, and another corresponding mounting mark on the tires, then I'm gonna use them.
If they're not needed, particularly on new wheels and new tires, then they wouldn't put them there, IMHO. Although I am very familiar with the Tire
Rack saying that nobody cares about match mounting anymore because they
have dynamic balance machines which will compensate for anything.
We had to static balance - so it would seem to me that it's important to
use as little weight as possible, where on one tire, we didn't need
anything (but that was the tire with the red and yellow does 180 degrees apart).
Interestingly, the tires that needed the most balance weight were those
where the red and yellow dots were off by about thirty to sixty degrees (or so).
Where it is most useful is for the OEMs at the factory when the car is assembled.
That mark will not be on a rim for long unless it is etched
or stamped in - and they often are.
Here's an idea. Mount up the rims on a wheel sans tyres, then get a dial indicator and check the vertical runout. That way you will *know* the
extent of the runout, if any, and the location. Then see where it is in relation to the rim mark.
Rims generally do not suffer from balance issues. If anything, the rim
will be in quite good balance *until* you mount the valve stem. The
yellow balance match mounting is to compensate for the extra *mass* of
the valve as it indicates the lightest point of the tyre.
OEMs will use
the red dot in preference as that is the radial force variation
indicator.
Since you have a new rim, you can use the red mark on the tyre and align
it with the rim marker. In fact, that is the preference when fitting a
new tyre on a new rim. Then proceed to balance and ignore the relative locations of each mark.
Focus on red. Of course, you may end up with
more balance weights this way but them's the breaks. Life is full of compromise and the auto industry is no exception.
I suggest you watch a video on how tyres are manufactured.
Very
enlightening. Years ago I did a study tour of the Goodyear tyre factory
and it explained a lot - especially how the tread was *rolled on*.
http://tinyurl.com/ur8rvy2
In response to what Xeno <xenolith@optusnet.com.au> wrote :
Where it is most useful is for the OEMs at the factory when the car is
assembled.
Hi Xeno,
I thank you for offering advice on Usenet because my goal is to learn.
Rest assured I know it's risky me asking (and you answering) this type of question on Usenet since a _lot_ of people have strongly held opinions, particularly on home & automotive repairs that they, themselves, _hate_ to do, where their opinions are then seemingly based on exactly zero (0) facts (since they themselves would never tackle even such a simple task as this is).
Hence I appreciate that you offered your advice, as I know both you and Clare, for example, have at least mounted and balanced tires yourselves.
Regarding factory tire mounting, I'm well aware that the Internet is rife with claims that the OEMs don't bother to dynamically balance brand new wheels and tires, although I don't really have that on a reliable source as yet.
That mark will not be on a rim for long unless it is etched or stamped
in - and they often are.
Yup. I've posted pictures in the past of a "notch" in old steel Toyota
rims, for example, where it's certainly obvious that this "white dot" in these brand new rims exists on all four wheels ... so I can only "assume" it's the match mounting mark to be aligned to the steel rim's point of minimum radial run-out (i.e., to be aligned to the steel wheels' low point)
Rest assured I had the kids scour the rims for any other marks though... <https://i.postimg.cc/CKvyDTgm/tire38.jpg>
Where the white paint dot was all we could find in _each_ of the rims. <https://i.postimg.cc/G2f0d1YG/tire04.jpg>
Here's an idea. Mount up the rims on a wheel sans tyres, then get a
dial indicator and check the vertical runout. That way you will *know*
the extent of the runout, if any, and the location. Then see where it
is in relation to the rim mark.
Thanks for that purposefully helpful suggestion Xeno.
I might try that on the next set of wheels, as I use a dial gauge all the time to check rotor runout (which some people incorrectly call 'warp');
where I have a bunch of dial gauges (e.g., to check piston TDC) which can
be screwed into a jig of some sort to check the wheel runout off the car.
Rims generally do not suffer from balance issues. If anything, the rim
will be in quite good balance *until* you mount the valve stem. The
yellow balance match mounting is to compensate for the extra *mass* of
the valve as it indicates the lightest point of the tyre.
Thanks for that advice Xeno on the yellow (lightest point of the tire)
mark, where almost all the past 60 or so tires I've had shipped to my house in the past few years (the first score of which I had others mount for me until I got sick of all the shortcuts I could clearly see they took) had _both_ the yellow and red mounting marks, where Clare apprised me long ago, as I recall, to mount the yellow mark to the heaviest point of the wheel assembly (which is presumed to be at the valve stem) if it's an old rim
which doesn't clearly indicate any match mounting marks. <https://i.postimg.cc/wT9zRVKf/tire13.jpg>
OEMs will use the red dot in preference as that is the radial force
variation indicator.
What I've always found interesting is that both the red and yellow mark
have been on almost all the consumer tires I've bought on the net, where I find it hard to believe they're all _also_ sold to OEMs.
So they must be putting these red marks on tires expecting them to be
placed on _new_ rims by consumers, even if not by the OEMs themselves.
Right?
Since you have a new rim, you can use the red mark on the tyre and
align it with the rim marker. In fact, that is the preference when
fitting a new tyre on a new rim. Then proceed to balance and ignore
the relative locations of each mark.
Yup. That's exactly our logic.
Red (maximum radial force variation) rules over yellow (lightest weight)
_if_ you have new steel wheels with point of minimum radial run-out (low point) match-mounting marks; otherwise, yellow rules over red where you can "assume" the valve stem is the heaviest spot on the steel wheel.
Focus on red. Of course, you may end up with more balance weights this
way but them's the breaks. Life is full of compromise and the auto
industry is no exception.
That's an interesting statement, Xeno!
At first I didn't understand why focusing on red (matching the maximum
radial force variation of the tire to the low point of the rim) would
result in more weight than if we focused on yellow (light point of the tire to the heavy point of the wheel), as, in the end, it's all based on F=ma & momentum, is it not?
Is it often the case, all other things being equal, that focusing on the
red (minimizing radial force variation) versus focusing on the yellow (minimizing weight variation) results in lesser weights added overall?
I wasn't aware of that, where, if I think in terms of just weight, it makes inherent sense, but if I think in terms of force & momentum, I'm not so
sure I comprehend the dynamics of why focusing on red (force variation)
would result in more weight than yellow (weight variation).
I suggest you watch a video on how tyres are manufactured.
I think I might have watched every "how things are made" video on the Internet, from Orange Juice to Tires. Rest assured I've seen how tires are made. :)
Very enlightening. Years ago I did a study tour of the Goodyear tyre
factory and it explained a lot - especially how the tread was *rolled
on*.
Yup. Seeing the steel belts being created and the rubber being vulcanized
in layers is interesting to say the least!
Not necessarily. As I stated above, they all go through the same line
and OEMs buy millions of tyres.
Is it often the case, all other things being equal, that focusing on the
red (minimizing radial force variation) versus focusing on the yellow
(minimizing weight variation) results in lesser weights added overall?
The two points are not necessarily the same since they relate to two different aspects. You could have more or less, it just depends.
But these are "Laufenn" tires, which we selected because they were the best >tire at the best price; but how many OEMs put "Laufenn" tires on at the >factory?
I don't know, but it could be zero (although maybe Laufenn is a big brand >somewhere; but personally I had never heard of Laufenn until these tires >showed up in the back of the kid's pickup).
Googling, apparently the Chinese company, Hancook, makes Laufenn tires: ><https://drivingpress.com/laufenn-tires-review/>
Apparently manufactured in Indonesia: ><https://tirereviewsandmore.com/laufenn-tire-reviews/>
A lot, they just mark them with house brands. Hankook OEMs for a whole lot of companies, just like most of the other big tire outfits do.
They are the name Hankook uses on their lower-end products.
Hankook is a Korean company that has been in the tire business for many years. They aren't as big as Kumho but they are very big in the racing market today. They are very much not Chinese.
In looking for a review that's not a shill, I found these, which "may" be reliable (but I'm not sure as it's always hard to find good tire reviews):
o Consumer Reports: Laufenn tire reviews <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/tires/laufenn>
o Laufenn S FIT AS earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 50 at $109
o Laufenn X FIT HT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 68 at $120
o Laufenn X FIT AT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 66 at $126
o Laufenn I FIT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 60 at $109
As is often the case with Consumer Reports, they didn't test the one tire
we installed, which was the Laufenn "G Fit AS". :(
In response to what Arlen Holder <arlenholder@anyexample.com> wrote :
In looking for a review that's not a shill, I found these, which "may" be
reliable (but I'm not sure as it's always hard to find good tire
reviews):
o Consumer Reports: Laufenn tire reviews
<https://www.consumerreports.org/products/tires/laufenn>
o Laufenn S FIT AS earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 50 at $109 >> o Laufenn X FIT HT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 68 at $120 >> o Laufenn X FIT AT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 66 at $126 >> o Laufenn I FIT earned a Consumer Reports overall score of 60 at $109
As is often the case with Consumer Reports, they didn't test the one tire
we installed, which was the Laufenn "G Fit AS". :(
Overall...
*Do you think $160 is a good deal that together we helped these kids
attain*?
<https://i.postimg.cc/CLwNHVKR/tire40.jpg>
Given the goal (always) is not only to learn for myself, but to also teach others, like these kids, how to select and buy their tires by the specifications and not by the marketing bullshit (in addition to teaching them how to do their own repairs, mounting & balancing at home)... <https://i.postimg.cc/9MWMg1wY/tire41.jpg>
Given I had never heard of Laufenn before, and given that I taught the kids how to purchase tires by specifications, & not by marketing bullshit... <https://i.postimg.cc/8PT2F9QH/tire42.jpg>
*Do you think these kids got a good deal with our help for these tires?*
o Laufenn G Fit AS, sized P215/65r15 96H & model LH41
This is what the kids paid out of their pockets for the total task:
o Tires = $160 (4 times $50 minus $40 VISA rebate card)
o Tax = out of state
o Shipping = free
o Mounting = free
o Valves = 'free' (they forgot to buy valves so I gave them mine)
o Static balancing = free (includes free dynamic balance test)
o Disposal = not needed as these tires were mounted on new rims
Do you think $160 total is a good deal that we helped these kids attain? <https://i.postimg.cc/sDBpJDrD/tire43.jpg>
You should be teaching them not to stick their head in the wheel well
like that. Now sure who is the dumbest fucker, the one with head in
there or the dumb fuck taking a picture of it.
In response to what Ed Pawlowski <esp@snet.xxx> wrote :
You should be teaching them not to stick their head in the wheel well
like that. Now sure who is the dumbest fucker, the one with head in
there or the dumb fuck taking a picture of it.
Hi Ed Pawlowski,
What do you think about the $160 price point for four of these tires?
o *Laufenn G Fit AS, sized P215/65r15 96H & model LH41*
<https://i.postimg.cc/3N6h13VR/tire33.jpg>
So I'm curious, Ed, what facts you know that CR & I don't seem to know?
To the point that they will last "maybe 10,000 miles", I simply ask for
what facts you used to base that "maybe 10,000 miles" assessment upon?
Up front sounds good. You won't really know for maybe 10,000 miles.
It's ~ the price of 1 mid-grade tire installed & balanced & taxes
here in southern Ontario Canada.
My 4 year old Kia OEM summer and dealership winter tires
were Nexen brand - I've had more tire problems in those 4 years
than the previous 20 years. .. random sidewall leaks ! with no
damage scrapes or anything ... on 2 of the OEM summer.
... with less than half tread wear ... geeeze.
John T.
In response to what Ed Pawlowski <esp@snet.xxx> wrote :
Up front sounds good. You won't really know for maybe 10,000 miles.
Hi Ed Pawlowski,
Thanks for that assessment, where all I ever care about are the facts.
o All our decisions are to be based on facts - never on marketing bullshit.
The first set of facts we started with are printed on the driver door jamb:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/dQL93brD/tire00.jpg>
I advised the kids to purchase nothing _less_ than those original specs!
o GVWR = 4600/02087 LB/KG
o GAWR FRT = 2500/01134 LB/KG
o GAWR RR = 2700/01225 LB/KG
o PAYLOAD = 1265/574 LB/KG
o SBPL FRT = P215/65R15, RTG = H, RIM = 15X7JJ, COLD = 35/240 PSI/KPA
o SBPL RR = P215/65R15, RTG = H, RIM = 15X7JJ, COLD = 35/240 PSI/KPA
o SPBP SPA = P215/65R15, RTG = H, RIM = 15X6JJ, COLD = 35/240 PSI/KPA
(Note the spare tire, underslung under the bed, is a different rim.)
The second set of facts we looked at for each tire to be considered:
o Laufenn "G FIT AS", P215/65R15 96H LH41 $40 each, mounted & balanced
o Load index = 96 (1,565 pounds, 710 kg)
o Speed rating = H (130 mph, 210 km/h)
o Treadwear = 500
o Traction = A
o Temperature = A
Where the lookups were based on well-known published tables such as:
<https://www.tiresplus.com/tires/tire-buying-guide/tire-load-index-chart/>
While the warranty never impacted our decision process (as that's just marketing positioning), Laufenn offers a treadlife warrnty on all their
tires (although we can discuss that marketing bullshit later if we must).
What I care about are facts - not marketing or other bullshit.
o I make decisions based on facts.
One other fact I have on treadlife is that Consumer Reports tested
"similar" Laufenn tires (but not this specific "G Fit AS" tire). <https://www.consumerreports.org/products/tires/laufenn/>
For example, CR tested treadwear & projected tread life as follows:
o Laufenn X Fit AT = Projected tread life 75,000 miles based on CR's tests
o Laufenn S Fit AS = Projected tread life 60,000 miles based on CR's tests
And, in fact, CR stated for all the tested Laufenn tires I could find:
o "tested tread life exceeds warranty"
So I'm curious, Ed, what facts you know that CR & I don't seem to know?
To the point that they will last "maybe 10,000 miles", I simply ask for
what facts you used to base that "maybe 10,000 miles" assessment upon?
In response to what Arlen Holder <arlenholder@anyexample.com> wrote :
So I'm curious, Ed, what facts you know that CR & I don't seem to know?
To the point that they will last "maybe 10,000 miles", I simply ask for
what facts you used to base that "maybe 10,000 miles" assessment upon?
Ooops. Allow me to _instantly_ apologize to Ed Pawlowski!
I sent the WRONG post, as I had reconsidered what I wrote and had NOT intended to send that post (nor one I had written to Clare of similar ilk).
The problem was I had _expected_ Ed to be cynical, so I read into what he wrote _more_ than what he actually said.
Which means I broke my own rule of making decisions based ONLY on facts.
I apologize.
Ed - correctly - said I won't know for sure until the kid has driven on the tires for about 10,000 miles!
I apologize, openly, publicly, and honestly to Ed for misinterpreting what
he said.
What Ed said was entirely apropos.
o What I said, was not!
I apologize.
It may take that
long to give a good assessment.
Like you, I deal with facts,
Tires lose air over time. How much? Materials and construction make a difference. Most will lose from 1 to 3 psi a month. Will these be in
that range? You don't know. No facts here yet
Will they be subject to blowing out more or less if you hit a pot hole.
Do you have a fact on that?
Traction on various road types and wet conditions. Do you have a fact
on that? You only have a number based on standardized testing that may
or may not be the same as your driving conditions.
Consumer Reports did tread life testing on similar tires. Good chance
these will be similar. I will agree there.
How durable are they compared to others if you rub a curb? No facts on
that either.
Are the quiet or noisy? Harsh or soft ride?
You may have the tire buy of the century or you may have a big turkey
egg. You made an educated guess on a series of standardized testing but
the result, like any tire, performance will vary depending on your
particular use. Like I said, it will take some miles to find if they
suit your needs well.
I'm betting the sidewalls are cracked within 18months and the wet
traction is terrible . The rubber is HARD. Not to mention the OEM
standard tire on that Chevy half ton club cab truck was borderline
undersized to start with .
Looked like quite robust jack stands as well.You should be teaching them not to stick their head in the wheelWell, at least he had it on jack stands. Likely just as safe as
well like that. Now sure who is the dumbest fucker, the one with
head in there or the dumb fuck taking a picture of it.
walking down the stairs carrying a sandwich.
Then there are the guys who wouldn't know a good tire from a flat oneAll my purchasing decisions are made by readingEven there, you have to actually read and assess them. I've seen one
the online reviews - the only source of truth ..
John T.
star reviews with "I ordered the wrong color and don't like it" or even >>"the delivery guy left in at the side instead of the front door"
-and write reviews.
Laufenn is an Indonesian tire company owned by Hankook of Korea. They
build "value line" tires. In other words they use lower quality
materials and a simpler design than the Hankook tires. They were
designed for the Indonesian market and 30% of their production is for
the local market. The rest goes to the middle east and North America.
They are quite possibly as good as or better than the other "cheap"
tires on the American market but they are "budget tires" and should
not be expected to be any more than that.
All is well, and interesting discussion about wheels and tires!
I found a Laufenn G Fit AS review here, but as you're well aware, tire >reviews are classic for being almost worthless in many respects:_______
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