MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Tyres/ Wheel Balancing

I've picked up some second hand chrome rostyles for my mgb roadster. Not it perfect condition but should clean up OK. I need to buy some tyres and have them balanced, the tyres on the old wheels are too old to swap onto these wheels. The current tyres on my car are 165/70/14 would it be best to stick with this size? Also I read somewhere that rostyles are not able to be balanced using the centre hole as it is not necessarily in the centre! That would explain why when I got my wheels balanced on my midget last year they were worse afterwards! Does anyone know any tyre dealer near York or Leeds who could fit and balance these or indeed any National Chain which could.
Thanks in advance.
Paul.
Paul1970

The centre hole in Rostyles is only there to make space for the hub nut and was punched through, so balancing on that can be very hit and miss. It's the same on V8 alloys even though they are cast, I had terrible trouble with imbalance for a long tome until I discovered someone with a Road Force balancing machine near me. This mounts the wheels using the stud holes, using a set of hub adapters, one for each stud layout and spacing, and the difference was amazing. I did try someone with a universal adapter with arms that swung out to the correct spacing, but that was no better than the centre hole. Centre-lock wheels have a slightly different problem but with the same outcome, the standard cones used on balancing machines hold the wheels in the wrong places, and I've had a pair of adapters made that hold the wheel correctly on a standard balancing machine. I've also got an old stud hub which one day I'll get machined so that fits on a standard balancing machine for my V8 alloys.
PaulH Solihull

Rather than Bore-Centric Balancing, you require Bolt-Centric.
The balance Hub has either 4 or 5 bolts on a precision geared spiral backplate maintaining an accurate PCD.
I use (for the Sunbeam Stiletto) the local ProTyre Depot. for your nearest branch goto http://www.protyre.co.uk
Geoff F
Geoff Farthing

I would love to get my wheels balanced using the stud holes, but I've no idea if such a thing is possible in SW Scotland or the Glasgow area. The nearest ProTyre depot is in Lancashire, 195 miles from here...
Mike Howlett

Mike - For my WIRE wheels I have a pair of adaptors that fit the wheel and the shaft of the wheel balancing machine-effectively replicating the hub & spinner. Presumably, as Paul suggested, an old hub suitably modified by a machine shop could be used? (And rented out to the Scottish members!!!)
Michael Beswick

Well I have to admit that the wheels on both my roadster and GT have been balanced using the normal set of balancer cones and they are all perfect. But on the other hand I have to confess that in getting these 8 wheels correct I had to reject a further three for not having balanced correctly. So perhaps this does go to prove that the centre hole in Rostyles is in a random position.
Iain MacKintosh

Thanks for your your help and comments. I went for some 165/70/14's. There was a garage locally who had some part worns which were like new for £15 each fitted! their equipment could balance only using centre but they seem fine. Have driven up to 70mph and no virbations. Paul.
Paul1970

Has anyone used the system where the complete wheel is balanced ON THE CAR? The tyre Dealer was battling to get the wheels balanced to my satisfaction using the centre hole and cone method and suggested we try the On Car method.
Initially I was a bit sceptical as I thought the shocks would hide the "out of balance" and thus reduce the effectiveness of the sensors in the machine. I had 4 wheels balanced on my 1980 B roadster in this manner about 15000kms ago and they are still OK, no shakes etc up to 160kph. The only schlep is that you need to reference mark each wheel to it's mounting bolts to ensure they go back "in phase" else the balancing could be thrown out. Also rotating the wheels will require rebalancing, which may happen in the next 12 months or so!
R. E Bester

Was common here many years ago, but seems to be no longer used. Don't know why except the current machines may appear safer. New type also allows for moving the wheels as you point out.
Michael Beswick

If balancing off-car works, as it seems to on modern cars with wheels intended for mounting on a balancing machine, The hub would have to be significantly unbalanced to create a problem moving the wheels around or turning one on its hub. Having said that I did mark my V8 wheels and hubs because of the problems I was having. Also because the V8 wheel nuts are a cylinder that fits in a straight-sides hole in the wheel, with clearance, there is scope for a small amount of lateral movement of the wheel in relation to the hub each time you refit the wheel. Even though the balance problems were resolved I still use the marked studs, and also use Rostyle nuts which have the conical end to centralise two opposite studs in their holes, then fit V8 nuts on the other two studs, then replace the Rostyle nuts with the other two V8 nuts.

I'd say the modern machines are safer because they rotate the wheel much slower, because the electronics are much more sensitive at picking up any imbalance, and they should also be spun under a cover. Neither of which was the case with the on-car balancer. Having said that these people http://vibrationfree.co.uk/our-services/wheel-balancing/ still do on car - at a price!
P Hunt

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2013 and 26/04/2013

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.