What is your opinion on getting your race wheel/tire balanced? I autocross and the speeds are not that great. Am I wasting my money for paying to get my wheels balanced? I pay $10.95 per wheel for a total of $43.80. I think this is a lot of money, especially when you compare it to the equivalent of six 4-packs of Guinness.

Talk to me.

 

Depends on how often you feel like replacing your wheel bearings.

 

Balance them. You drive a $30K car, what's $44 for balancing?

I paid $78 last week to have race tires mounted and balanced -- compared to $134 I paid last year for the same mounting/balancing service (on smaller wheels and tires!) at a different shop. Shop around.

If you don't balance the tires, you will have a vibration during competition, which might not bother you much, and might not impact your times much, but it most certainly will cover up other problems. What if you flat spot a tire, or have a wheel bearing problem, or a lug nut comes loose, etc? (A car actually did throw off a wheel at the DC National Tour event in June -- it can happen...) You'll be so used to the car vibrating and shaking that you won't notice when a real problem comes along that needs attention.

 

Get them balanced! I think all previous comments are very important. And the potential damage from not doing the right thing is magnitudes greater than $45.