What's concidered passable as to rim out of roundness?

Bob Dunahugh

New member
Sep 17, 2012
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I noticed that when I got my America Eagles from Jim at Applied. The ride improve as to being smoother. This was in comparison to the fairly new tires on steel rims I took off. As to factory stock steel rims. GM has to have a go, no go limits. So anyone know those limits? Is it .010, .020, .030, or what? Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
 
Bob, that has been 30 years ago. My personal experience with steel wheels
is as follows: My longtime friend, Bob Campbell, who owns Bob's O.K.Tire &
Wheel in Salem, Or. rounded up 20 16" used steel wheels for me. Different
sources. I mounted them on his wheel balancing machine without tires, and
spun them both slow pattern and fast pattern. I managed to find 7 out of
the 20+ wheels that were true and straight enough that I would use them.
Some were bad enough that you didn't need eyes to tell they were bad.
Balance was not a criterion, just tramp and wobble. Based on my experience
with G.M. Steel wheels from that era, I would say the G.M. specifications
were quite loose. Nothing like a fully machined alloy wheel for sure. I
have Eagles on my coach with B.F. Goodrich T/A load range E radials on
them. Dishes no longer rattle in my cupboards, and doors and drawers do not
vibrate open either. When all was said and done with my steel wheel
project, I do not think there was enough cost savings to justify all the
work involved. It included media blasting, powder coating, tire stems,
wheel spacers on the front, along with grinding the calipers, disassembly
of the front hubs, replacing the short wheel studs with longer ones at
$3.50 a pop for 16 studs, etc. All for an inferior ride. I have made
several sets of wheel spacers for fellow GMCERS who insisted upon using the
16" steel wheels in spite of my best efforts to convince them otherwise. I
presently am unwilling to make any more spacers. Life is too short to spend
any of what I have left on fools errands. Your experiences will vary.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

I noticed that when I got my America Eagles from Jim at Applied. The ride
improve as to being smoother. This was in comparison to the fairly new
tires on steel rims I took off. As to factory stock steel rims. GM has to
have a go, no go limits. So anyone know those limits? Is it .010, .020,
.030, or what? Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
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A shop that works on rechroming restoring steel wheels said they get them to .030 or better. Most tires have that much tramp. If really bad try to
mount them 180 off to neutralize the errors. I don't think you will detect .030 at 65 MPH with balance to all zeros (1/2 oz tollerance for balancing
error) but might at say 100 MPH and above.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
That is why they make tire shavers. Most high quality tires when mounted do
not require shaving. We always ran our tires for a few miles to settle them
down before we shaved them. The old bias plies would morning thump no
matter what you you did to them.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> A shop that works on rechroming restoring steel wheels said they get them
> to .030 or better. Most tires have that much tramp. If really bad try to
> mount them 180 off to neutralize the errors. I don't think you will detect
> .030 at 65 MPH with balance to all zeros (1/2 oz tollerance for balancing
> error) but might at say 100 MPH and above.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
 
When I bought a 1950 Ford convertible in 1957 (my second car) for $150, the first thing I bought for it was 4 Gates 7.10 x 15 Nylon cord tires! Worried more for safety than thump for a few miles! I have NEVER scrimped on safety items.
..
Mac in OKC
'76 ex PB

Sent from my iPhone

That is why they make tire shavers. Most high quality tires when mounted do
not require shaving. We always ran our tires for a few miles to settle them
down before we shaved them. The old bias plies would morning thump no
matter what you you did to them.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

>
> A shop that works on rechroming restoring steel wheels said they get them
> to .030 or better. Most tires have that much tramp. If really bad try to
> mount them 180 off to neutralize the errors. I don't think you will detect
> .030 at 65 MPH with balance to all zeros (1/2 oz tollerance for balancing
> error) but might at say 100 MPH and above.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>
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I have been told by the tire dealers that the new tires are considerably
better in the last ten years so were finding the Runout to be acceptable.
I know Jim Bounds has had great results Trueing tires for his customers.
There are not many dealers who have them now, as I mentioned the tire
quality has improved.
You'll notice majority of new cars run Alloy wheels

> That is why they make tire shavers. Most high quality tires when mounted do
> not require shaving. We always ran our tires for a few miles to settle them
> down before we shaved them. The old bias plies would morning thump no
> matter what you you did to them.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
> On Mar 5, 2017 10:14 AM, "John R. Lebetski"

>
> > A shop that works on rechroming restoring steel wheels said they get them
> > to .030 or better. Most tires have that much tramp. If really bad try to
> > mount them 180 off to neutralize the errors. I don't think you will
> detect
> > .030 at 65 MPH with balance to all zeros (1/2 oz tollerance for balancing
> > error) but might at say 100 MPH and above.
> > --
> > John Lebetski
> > Woodstock, IL
> > 77 Eleganza II
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
This is why I asked. When I bought one of my Yenkos back in 2001. It came with a set of genuine 13" magnesium Mini Lites rims. I had some new Z rated computation tires mounted. And balanced for speeds to 155MPH. At about 135 MPH I got a vibration starting. So I just ran up to the vibration. Then backed off a little. I had only brought 8 new tires for the two day event. And each set of four only last for a day. About 140 miles at best. Came home, and put that set aside, thinking I had a rim problem. So last weekend I decided that I'd pull the tires off. Then check the rims for run out. I put a dial indicator on for all 4 rims. Ran from .016" to .040". Seems strange for an alloy machined rim. And there not hub centered. Could this not being hub centered be my problem? And what about this on our 16" GMC rims. As some rims that aren't hub centered. Sure am glad I got a set of hub centered Eagle rims from Jim K at Applied for my GMC. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale Iowa

________________________________

I noticed that when I got my America Eagles from Jim at Applied. The ride improve as to being smoother. This was in comparison to the fairly new tires on steel rims I took off. As to factory stock steel rims. GM has to have a go, no go limits. So anyone know those limits? Jim K's at Applied are hub centered. Is it .010, .020, .030, or what? Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
 
At the time that our coaches were being introduced, I was involved in a discussion with an engineer in the wheel and tire group. We got into the
discussion at an SAE luncheon because a friends Cadillac had a wheel problem. When the friend (another engineer - of course) dug into the problem, he
found he had a wheel that was about 1/8 of an inch out of true....
It turns out that it was within tolerance. That tolerance was 0.090 radial and axial and there was not control on combined and this is what happened.

Well said wheel and tire guy said that early in the validation program GM found that they could not use the current truck production wheels without
sorting them for a minimum run-out. I might have said what the truck or coach spec was and I do not recall, but if Cadillac was near 1/8, I don't
what to know what truck was.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
I have had a 240v spin balancer for about 15 years. Just couldn't stand taking cars in to have the air gun taken to them (off and on) any
longer. The hardest thing is getting the wheel to sit true on the spindle cone. Very easy to get false data by not having it "homed" correctly. Once
I've got all zeros the machine saying it's good, I loosen the hold down and reseat the wheel at 180 deg and check for all zeros again. If good then I
spin it 90 and check the work one final time. These final steps are super easy and add less than 2 mins to the process and double checking your work
is always good. Some wheels are harder to home than others due to dirt or the way they are machined in the area where the cone seats. Even if you hand
spin the wheel while clamping down, similar to step one in setting a wheel bearing, some can need multiple redos before they are really home. This is
what they don't do at the tire stores due to time constrains, causing come backs complaints, and more shop time. Penny wise and dollar foolish as the
time soaker is getting the car in, jacked, wheel removed, reinstalled and cleared from the stall and paperwork done. Even a single step recheck is
less than 60 seconds or 4 min max per car. Of course at a tire store they don't even do a follow up road test, which you would do to comfirm work at
all speed ranges.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Last edited by a moderator:
After multiple attempts to get my daily driver tires balanced, I am seriously considering getting a Harbor freight tire change and just using balancing beads. How much worse could it be?

Has anyone used one of those things? the Utube vids look pretty simple

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of John R.Lebetski
Sent: Wednesday, March 8, 2017 8:38:42 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] What's concidered passable as to rim out of roundness?

I have had a 240v spin balancer for about 15 years. Just couldn't stand taking cars in to have the air gun taken to them (off and on) any
longer. The hardest thing is getting the wheel to sit true on the spindle cone. Very easy to get false data by not having it "homed" correctly. Once
I've got all zeros the machine saying it's good, I loosen the hold down and reseat the wheel at 180 deg and check for all zeros again. If good then I
spin it 90 and check the work one final time. These final steps are super easy and add less than 2 mins to the process and double checking your work
is always good. Some wheels are harder to home than others due to dirt or the way they are machined in the area where the cone seats. Even if you hand
spin the wheel while clamping down, similar to step one in setting a wheel bearing, some can need multiple redos before they are really home. This is
what they don't do at the tire stores due to time constrains, causing come backs complaints, and more shop time. Penny wise and dollar foolish as the
time soaker is getting the car in, jacked, wheel removed, reinstalled and cleared from the stall and paperwork done. Even a single step recheck is
less than 60 seconds or 4 min max per car. Of course at a tire store they don't even do a follow up road test, which you would do to comfirm work at
all speed ranges.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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PS they all have visible runout and tramp. Some wheels look great but the tires wobble or tramp, or the wheel has movement but overall is canceled by
tire error (lucky) or really noticable and additive (bad). But if you don't exceed 80 MPH I think .030 is pretty undetectable if balance is correct.
Most tires also have a dip point probably due to structure in manufacturing.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
Looks tempting but there must be a reason the real ones need big power and air. Looking for a shop having a going out of business sale
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
 
It is almost impossible to balance an Alcoa aluminum wheel using a cone. I had a wheel balanced by a Discount Tire shop some years ago. They then rotated the wheel on their machine and it showed very much off balance. They balanced it again and rotated it and it was again off balance. They then sent me to another shop that had an adapter that fit through the stud holes and it balanced properly.

I now ask any tire shop if they have that adapter before I have a wheel balanced.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> I have had a 240v spin balancer for about 15 years. Just couldn't stand taking cars in to have the air gun taken to them (off and on) any
> longer. The hardest thing is getting the wheel to sit true on the spindle cone. Very easy to get false data by not having it "homed" correctly. Once
> I've got all zeros the machine saying it's good, I loosen the hold down and reseat the wheel at 180 deg and check for all zeros again. If good then I
> spin it 90 and check the work one final time. These final steps are super easy and add less than 2 mins to the process and double checking your work
> is always good. Some wheels are harder to home than others due to dirt or the way they are machined in the area where the cone seats. Even if you hand
> spin the wheel while clamping down, similar to step one in setting a wheel bearing, some can need multiple redos before they are really home. This is
> what they don't do at the tire stores due to time constrains, causing come backs complaints, and more shop time. Penny wise and dollar foolish as the
> time soaker is getting the car in, jacked, wheel removed, reinstalled and cleared from the stall and paperwork done. Even a single step recheck is
> less than 60 seconds or 4 min max per car. Of course at a tire store they don't even do a follow up road test, which you would do to comfirm work at
> all speed ranges.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
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That's interesting Matt. So it seems I may have had a tire that needed more weights then what would be considered normal. Thus that larger weight may have come off. Be interesting to check more rims at some time. But time is something I'm generally short of. Bob Dunahugh

________________________________

This is why I asked. When I bought one of my Yenkos back in 2001. It came with a set of genuine 13" magnesium Mini Lites rims. I had some new Z rated computation tires mounted. And balanced for speeds to 155MPH. At about 135 MPH I got a vibration starting. So I just ran up to the vibration. Then backed off a little. I had only brought 8 new tires for the two day event. And each set of four only last for a day. About 140 miles at best. Came home, and put that set aside, thinking I had a rim problem. So last weekend I decided that I'd pull the tires off. Then check the rims for run out. I put a dial indicator on for all 4 rims. Ran from .016" to .040". Seems strange for an alloy machined rim. And there not hub centered. Could this not being hub centered be my problem? And what about this on our 16" GMC rims. As some rims that aren't hub centered. Sure am glad I got a set of hub centered Eagle rims from Jim K at Applied for my GMC. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale Iowa

________________________________

I noticed that when I got my America Eagles from Jim at Applied. The ride improve as to being smoother. This was in comparison to the fairly new tires on steel rims I took off. As to factory stock steel rims. GM has to have a go, no go limits. So anyone know those limits? Jim K's at Applied are hub centered. Is it .010, .020, .030, or what? Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale