Balance weights!
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Please include a picture. It's not clear what you mean by "close to the front".
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I was a little surprised at how visible the balance weights were when I got new tires at Costco this past summer but, quite honestly, I stopped noticing them pretty quickly. I don't know if Tesla used clip ons or flanges or the adhesive ones were better hidden when they balanced at the factory (or if they never bothered to balance - only ever had Tesla do rotations so SC may have skipped balancing as well).
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I think the OP means outboard on the wheel so they're visible at a casual glance. From what I understand, they need to be both inboard and outboard depending on the balance requirements.
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The use of balancing weights is minimized if the tire tech takes the time to line up the red or yellow dots to the wheel appropriately (What Does a Red or Yellow Dot on Your Tires Mean?). Most places will not do that at all because it takes a lot time and effort to do so.
I one mounted my own used winter tires onto new wheels on my own and didn't need to use weights. I linked up the yellow dots with the valve stems and used a simple bubble balancer to adjust the position of the tire on the wheels. I ended up not adding weights at all and the tires only shook a bit when I drove over 85 MPH (which only happened 3 times in the time it took me to wear out the tires).
I one mounted my own used winter tires onto new wheels on my own and didn't need to use weights. I linked up the yellow dots with the valve stems and used a simple bubble balancer to adjust the position of the tire on the wheels. I ended up not adding weights at all and the tires only shook a bit when I drove over 85 MPH (which only happened 3 times in the time it took me to wear out the tires).
I stopped using bubble balancers in the late 60's. Until then, they worked great (but we didn't yet have radial ply technology).
Unfortunately bubble balancers don't tell which side the weights need to be.
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Ok, let's try another approach.
Do you mean that the weights are kind of visible between the spokes, like this:
Or that they installed clip-on type weights, like this:
Or something else?
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Sounds like the first picture... which is what I have on my wheels when I replace my OEM tires with new tires. It's ugly but at least it matches the wheels' color.Ok, let's try another approach.
Do you mean that the weights are kind of visible between the spokes, like this:
![]()
Or that they installed clip-on type weights, like this:
![]()
Or something else?
A good balancing machine such as the Hunter Roadforce Elite, will tell the Techician where to place the weights for best results. That same machine also has the capability of weight placement more inboard. I think most Techs just keep it at the same setting though.
Just like the top picture!Ok, let's try another approach.
Do you mean that the weights are kind of visible between the spokes, like this:
![]()
Or that they installed clip-on type weights, like this:
![]()
Or something else?
I have the carbon wheels so the bright metal stick ons really stand out.
The Tire Rack recommended Firestone installer said he doesn’t have colored weights and the weights are attached the correct way.
Also, tell me how you uploaded those pictures?
Thank you!
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18,120 Posts
Modern balancing machines can instruct the operator on exactly where to place the weights, whether towards the inside, outside, or middle of the rim.
So unfortunately, this is normal. Ideally, the garage would install a weight that better matches the color of the rim - they're available in many colors.
But since that obviously wasn't done, I'd go with @Klaus-rf's suggestion and just paint the weights myself if they bothered me.
Road Force Elite GSP9700 Balancer Manual
I already ordered the paint!
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Sounds like you don't know too much about Dynamic balancing of wheels and tires. You have to have weights on both the inner and outer edges of the wheel. This works significantly better than static balancing.
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The weights should be on the inside of the rim, bad rookie move.
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A lot of people here who don't understand wheel balancing.
Standard balancing is dual plain. Inside edge and outside edge (well as close to outside as the wheel design allows). This is the most accurate balancing method and will give you the best possible balance. And that means visible weights most times.
Static single plain balancing can be done, but it's less accurate, and the overall wheel will be less balanced as the tire sheds rubber until your next balance session.
Some balancers are also capable of putting the outside weights behind the spokes of the wheel (like a 5 spoke wheel) to make them less noticeable. Not to many places do this, or even know how.
As mentioned, you can paint your weights black. Motorcycle shops also usually stock black sticky weights, if you need them in the future.
Standard balancing is dual plain. Inside edge and outside edge (well as close to outside as the wheel design allows). This is the most accurate balancing method and will give you the best possible balance. And that means visible weights most times.
Static single plain balancing can be done, but it's less accurate, and the overall wheel will be less balanced as the tire sheds rubber until your next balance session.
Some balancers are also capable of putting the outside weights behind the spokes of the wheel (like a 5 spoke wheel) to make them less noticeable. Not to many places do this, or even know how.
As mentioned, you can paint your weights black. Motorcycle shops also usually stock black sticky weights, if you need them in the future.
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