Superbike Tires and Wheel-Balancing Thread

[gsferrari]

Superbike riders in the country will no doubt be aware of supply issues with Michelin/Bridgestone tires for their bikes. This is due to a mandatory ISI certification requirement passed by the relevant authorities. In the last 3-4 months it has become very difficult to source tires with a recent date of manufacture, if you are able to source tires at all!

I spoke to a Michelin representative at the Chennai Auto World Expo 2011 and they told me that they have cleared ISI certification and all products from across their range would be available through their dealer network within 30 days time.

I also met a Chennai Michelin dealer and he informed me that they have purchased and installed a Two-Wheeler wheel balancing machine at their premises and this would be fully operational from July 10th 2011. They have the necessary hardware to balance your superbike wheel+tire using a sophisticated machine.

CHENNAI dealer's details: Siremull Hirachand's Tyrestore - A Generation ahead in Tyre Service

If you are aware of other dealers who can do Superbike wheel balancing please post in this thread with contact details and location of this facility.

[Noor]

Thread approved and moved

[csgup1]

having changed lots and lots of superbike tyres at philip island, a tire balancing machine is not required. all you need is a stand and a bearing set to balance tyres and then go out and ride at 300 k's

[Ananth]

GS, I too had the same conversation with the guys in TyreStore , Chennai last month when i had gone there to get new set of tires. He pointed out that there is no private dealer in India who does the Wheel balancing for two wheelers and only the tire factories have the necessary equipment.

[aargee]

I don't know about SBK's, but when I took my delivery of C250R, the alloy wheels were balanced from HMSI. So, I assume, when HMSI sells C1000R, RR, they SHOULD be having such a balancing facility.

OT - While I was breaking in my C250R on 18-Jun, I noticed a MT01 in the afternoon at Vellore; GS, were you the one to ride?

[csgup1]

once again the following is all you need to balance a wheel and thats how top race teams do it

YouTube - ‪How to Balance a Motorcycle Wheel‬‏

[gsferrari]

Originally Posted by csgup1

having changed lots and lots of superbike tyres at philip island, a tire balancing machine is not required. all you need is a stand and a bearing set to balance tyres and then go out and ride at 300 k's

I tend to agree with this. I don't like to read too much into the science behind wheel balancing but the more sophisticated techniques simulate the real-world load on the tire while spinning them quickly and balancing at the same time. I am sure the simple solutions work great but, theoretically, the new machines might just do a better job.

This is sort of like how Nissan pre-stress their vehicle chassis and suspension components during assembly to that the road-loads are taken into account.

Originally Posted by Ananth

GS, I too had the same conversation with the guys in TyreStore , Chennai last month when i had gone there to get new set of tires. He pointed out that there is no private dealer in India who does the Wheel balancing for two wheelers and only the tire factories have the necessary equipment.

We will know on July 10th one way or the other. Otherwise we can always fall back on csgup1's technique or use the "ceramic beads" method which again makes theoretical sense.

Originally Posted by aargee

OT - While I was breaking in my C250R on 18-Jun, I noticed a MT01 in the afternoon at Vellore; GS, were you the one to ride?

Was that you on the Red CBR? I waved and slowed down but you still didn't catch up so I took off again

Originally Posted by csgup1

once again the following is all you need to balance a wheel and thats how top race teams do it

Thanks...this looks easy but doesn't someone have to first balance the balancing gear?

If nothing else works out I'll try this...

[princesirohi]

very nice video, the principle of wheel balancing is clearly explained. i always used to wonder about these things like wheel balancing and wheel alignment for bikes.

now i completely understood the method of wheel balancing.

now if someone can explain wheel alignment also. imagine if the person adjusting your chain tightness messes up with the nuts and tightens or loosens one side more than other, you will have a misaligned rear wheel. right now we only depend on the skill level of mechanic and the mechanic relies on his visual abilities only. ??

[csgup1]

Originally Posted by princesirohi

very nice video, the principle of wheel balancing is clearly explained. i always used to wonder about these things like wheel balancing and wheel alignment for bikes.

now i completely understood the method of wheel balancing.

now if someone can explain wheel alignment also. imagine if the person adjusting your chain tightness messes up with the nuts and tightens or loosens one side more than other, you will have a misaligned rear wheel. right now we only depend on the skill level of mechanic and the mechanic relies on his visual abilities only. ??

you dont need to worry about balancing the apparatus. i you think about it, as long as your bearings are good, your wheel will be loaded on a small shaft which will be at the centre of the wheel the weight, in the vicinity of 20 gms is placed on the edge of the wheel. as long as you have a straight shaft it is easy as.
.
about wheel alignment, there should be markings on the swingarm. specially for superbikes, i know there are there. ust use them or measure from the end of the swingarm. otherwise, there is a thread method that is pretty easy. ust google it.

[strider]

Originally Posted by gsferrari

Superbike riders in the country will no doubt be aware of supply issues with Michelin/Bridgestone tires for their bikes. This is due to a mandatory ISI certification requirement passed by the relevant authorities. In the last 3-4 months it has become very difficult to source tires with a recent date of manufacture, if you are able to source tires at all!

I spoke to a Michelin representative at the Chennai Auto World Expo 2011 and they told me that they have cleared ISI certification and all products from across their range would be available through their dealer network within 30 days time.

I also met a Chennai Michelin dealer and he informed me that they have purchased and installed a Two-Wheeler wheel balancing machine at their premises and this would be fully operational from July 10th 2011. They have the necessary hardware to balance your superbike wheel+tire using a sophisticated machine.

CHENNAI dealer's details: Siremull Hirachand's Tyrestore - A Generation ahead in Tyre Service

If you are aware of other dealers who can do Superbike wheel balancing please post in this thread with contact details and location of this facility.

Guru, I spoke to a couple of Michelin dealers in Bangalore(Hot Tracks and Sai Iyengar Sons) and they said that haven't yet received any official word from Michelin as to when the tyres will be available across the Bangalore dealerships...

FYI:
Saw a pair of Pilot Power 2CT(120/70-17 and 190/50-17) at Sai Iyengar & Sons Indiranagar Blore, so pick it guys before its late