How much tire weight is too much?

Had to put nearly 3 ounces (85 grams) of weights on an Avon Storm tire to
get it to static balance. Seemed like a lot of weight for a premium tire.
Anyone had similar experience?

Dealer said I shouldn't have to balance it since most motorcycle tires are
pretty much balanced from the manufacturer. Not to doubt him, but that
seems a stretch.

B~

 

How well did the wheel balance by itself before the tire
was mounted ?

 

Ri-ight.

 

Did you put the splice opposite the valve stem? It's been a while
since I changed my own tyres, but ISTR that some manufacturers put the
paint dot at the splice and some put it opposite. I ended up ignoring
that and physically locating the splice myself. Maybe tyre technology has
changed a lot since, but if the tyre itself is perfectly balanced (e.g. no
splice) you still have to counter the valve stem. The other problem is if
you don't get the tyre seated properly all the way around -- the
circumferential marking should be equidistant from the rim all the way
around on both sides.

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Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
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KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

If I remember rightly, the Avons don't have a designated heavy spot. The
irony is if the tire doesn't have a heavy spot, you need more weight to
counter the valve.

For the record, was the added weight opposite the valve?

 

George, you're right. The weight is exactly 180 degrees from the valve.
The previous Avon on the bike had maybe 1-1/2 ounces, but it was maybe 110
degrees from the valve. The Avons did not have any mark or dot for
positioning next to the valve stem. They must overlap the rayon belt quite
a bit for 3 ounces. I would have liked to try and rotate the tire but after
the bead seals, it becomes a major pita to fuss with breaking it down again
by hand.

Fwiw, I haven't seen any tire balance out enough for a dealer to say
"They're good enough as is and don't require balancing." Probably just
don't want to balance them. The Metzelers balanced out with far less weight
but the ride was much harsher due to the steel belt and tendency to scallop
around the tread patterns.

I'll try the pair of Maxon's buried in the garage after I shred the Avons in
about 3K miles. My sportbike tires just don't last very long.

B~

 

Ding. Go to a proper tyre place.