GTS OWNERS CLUB

Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

Just had new rear tyre fitted, how important is it to get it re balanced ?

Bigianscooter · Guvernor Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 700

Should be rebalanced when they fit the tyre surely Question

Big Ian

Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

Sorry Meant to say HAVING new rear tyre fitted doh ! Embarassed

Spoke to a main vespa dealer (in the Barnsley area Da Do Ron Ron !) They told me that they fitted tyes but they don't re balance coz you don't need to Shocked

When i asked why they told me that Piaggio fitted too many balancing weights anyway Exclamation

Maybe that coz they don't have a balancing machine Question

Maver · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

both wheels need balancing as it can have a dramatic effect on handling Embarassed

get your tyres from a "bike friendly" tyre shop, speak to bikers see who they use, go and have a chat and see if they can balance scooter wheels and if have a tyre in stock (Michelin pilot sport Cool

they may need to order it in)

take the wheel off yourself or they can charge an arm and a leg to do a rear wheel as they have to have exhaust etc off to get at it.

when you take the wheel in put a piece of masking tape on it with an arrow for direction of rotation and write "balance" on it so they don't forget Wink

i make a note of what weights are on the wheel when i take it in so i can compare with what's on it when i get it back Wink

some tyre places don't think scooters go over 30mph so tell them it does 90 and you need the tyre balanced!! Embarassed

can't believe a scooter shop told you they didn't need balancing, don't say alot for their understanding Rolling Eyes

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CheekyThomas · Guvernor Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 1374

Always balance them... little wheel doing 90mph is doing a lot of rotations, and when unbalanced not only is the vibrations not good for the handling or tyre wear, it kills gearbox bearings. Wink

jetex · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

When they fit the new tyre, they should take off all the balance weights from the wheel before balancing it again.

MikeHolland · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

I've just been reading a report on ModernVespa forum about some beads one inserts into the tyre that move around and balance it automatically. Sounds a bit like magic to me, but might be worth looking into.

Mike
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Vespa GTS250 Vintage Red

krull · Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 14

I replaced the last tyre myself, so couldn't balance it. I haven't noticed any difference.

Personally my thoughts are it is small diameter wheel so any forces from unbalanced wheels are proportionately reduced.

I also remember that not so long ago that bike wheels couldn't be balanced anyway, never seemed to be an issue then.

Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

Thanks for the advice Maver yeh you better believe it i bought my GTS from this dealer sounds like a good after care service NOT Exclamation

Mind you we have kinda got used to this in the Lammy world EH Sad

one dealer says one thing and the other says another.got the tyre already spoke to local bike shop were i get my Lammy MOT'd they are guna fit and balance it for me. Took wheel off last night typical vespa no sign of grease on the bolts Exclamation

copper slip i think on rebuild.

Blackpool Paul · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject:

My mate has a tyre business and Michelin car tyres sometimes dont even need any lead on the wheel to balance them, or a bad one needs next to nothing, cheaper tyres needs the most lead to balance, so maybe Michelin scooter tyres hardly need any too? shame he cant balance scooter wheels, bugger!
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GTS250 its the future!!! A club wi owt a name sc. Bamberbridge.

Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

Bike shop Fitted trye rear tyre on Sat but could'nt balance due to size !! so fitted it and thought i would suck it n see Rolling Eyes

Done 100 miles over the weekend with no probs at all the bike feels the same as before Laughing

The Guy at the bike shop said he fitted tyres to Fireblades ect and never balanced them and to date has never had any probs Shocked

Bigianscooter · Guvernor Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 700

Maver · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

both my wheels are going back to be re-balanced, had new tyres recently and they were balanced however going to france fully loaded noticed a terrible "death wobble" thru the handlebars whilst decelerating on things like motorway off ramps and this is with 16ounce bar ends!!!

so re-balance it is!!!

i'll let you know how things go.......

as for tyres not needing balancing........ getting a tyre moulded perfectly balanced out of the mould would be a tricky job, if anyone could do it then it would be someone like michelin but then they'd have the job of guessing accuratley where you're valve is going to be positioned because that will throw a perfect tyre out of balance Wink

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Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

well going up to Kelso Friday morning 200 miles so this will be a good test Smile

If i find any probs i will get the wheel re balanced Rolling Eyes

Will let you know.

Mizzy 225 · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 17

Kelso and back with no probs what fantastic roads realy enjoyed the ride and sunny too Cool