My Fun New Tire Experience

 

My flat tire in Jackson, Michigan left my Honda Shadow in my parking spot
with a flat rear tire ...

This morning removed the rear wheel, showed up at the dealer in Kalamazoo
and had them mount a new rear tire.

Drove back to Marshall with the wheel and tire, installed the wheel, rode to
Kalamazoo to get the front done.

I did tell the dealer that the bike seemed to vibrate a bit and I had the
impression that the rear wheel was off balance.

They installed the new front tire and test rode the bike.  They agreed about
the vibration.

A little investigation revealed that the new rear tire was not truly round
(it was defective).  So, they mounted a new one.

They test rode it and were satisfied.  I test rode it and was satisfied.

I got out of there about 5 p.m.

It was a whole day affair.

I now have new tires.

Datesfat.

 


So, what you're saying is, they didn't balance the other tire after
mounting, or, if they did, they must have said, "Well, it isn't too bad, is
it?", or, "Hey, what does he know? Maybe he wont notice?"

Something like that?

 


It may have been perfectly balanced and caused no vibration just from
spinning.  If out of round the vibration when riding is from the
changing ride height as the wheel rotates.  The out of round condition
could easly be missed when bubble balancing.  When spin balancing the
is usually a hood over the wheel when it is spinning.

Then again, you could be right about their estimation of David ;)

 


You are correct.  Out of round and out of balance are two different
conditions.  This one was out of round.

I never even knew that such a thing was possible.

Datesfat

 

wrote:


How can a tire be manufactured "out of round" when the carcass is
forced evenly into the mold under a lot of air pressure before the
tread rubber is injected all around the periphery?

A third possibility is that one or both beads weren't centralized on
the rim. I've had this condition occur before.

If you look at the tire, you will see a narrow raised rubber ridge
about 1/8th of an inch from the edge of the rim.

This distance should the same all the way around the tire on both
sides, or the wheel will act as if the tire is out of round when you
ride on it.

Releasing the air, breaking the beads loose, and re-seating the bead
is the solution to uncentralized beads.