Wheel balancing and hub caps

Ultrasonic

I'm pretty sure this is a dumb question but I want to make sure I'm right so I'm going to ask it anyway. Ridicule expected .

When steel wheels are balanced, this is with the hub caps off, right? And hubcaps are too light to throw the balancing off when they are put back on?

I'm asking as I'm going to buy some steel wheels online and then take them somewhere to get some winter wheels added, and I want to make sure I don't need to get the hub caps I want before getting the wheels fitted.

Thanks.

neilmcl

I doubt it'll make any difference but worth asking your fitter when he balances your wheels. TBH, I prefer the look of the "naked" steel wheels.

flashg67

You're right OP, shouldn't normally make any difference.

scheming_gypsy

they won't be able to balance with the hub cap on as they won't be able to attach it to the balancing do-dah.

Ultrasonic

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

they won't be able to balance with the hub cap on as they won't be able to attach it to the balancing do-dah.

I thought that might be the case, thanks.

paddedjohn

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

they won't be able to balance with the hub cap on as they won't be able to attach it to the balancing do-dah.

On alloy wheels the weights can be attached to the rear of the wheel so they aren't on show, might be possible to balance steel wheels the same way. Just to add I don't think hubcaps would make any difference anyway.

scheming_gypsy

I don't mean the weights, i mean the machine. The bar goes through the wheel and then they bolt it on with the big wing nut thing; a hub cap / wheel trim will stop that going through.

paddedjohn

It is possible to balance the wheels while they are still on the vehicle.

OddballJamie

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

I don't mean the weights, i mean the machine. The bar goes through the wheel and then they bolt it on with the big wing nut thing; a hub cap / wheel trim will stop that going through.

You can also balance them without going though the centre, some of the old Pug/Citroens alloys didn't have center holes and were balanced using the bolt holes.

gilbert_and_sullivan

paddedjohn wrote: »

It is possible to balance the wheels while they are still on the vehicle.

Haven't seen it being done for so many years i wasn't sure if anywhere still had the equipment.

mcdig

Yes you can balance them while they are still on the car, my local garage has the machine to do this. They call it the sledge that they have to sit on and push a rotating drum against your tyre to spin it. They hate using it but my mums Picasso has alloy wheels with no centre hole.