Check out how Ford just hammers on the balancing lead on the outside lip of these babies. I have seen this on almost every car so far... :notnice:



Btw the scratches are just dirt from mounting the tire.

 

I like the way the 350Z has the weights mounted inside the rim.

 

Inside is definitely the way to go. Looks much nicer.

 

I used to work at a tire shop before mounting and balancing tires. Balancing weights placed on the inside of the rim is called "Static Balancing". Most balancing machines support this process. When you take your car in for rotation or new tires or what ever just ask for this. But keep in mind that this style balancing does not allow for a perfect or long lasting balance. At least that is what they taught me at the Michelin school that I had to go to for this job. I had to redo mine every couple of months.

 

you can use tape weights on the inside and clip-ons in the far inside, but you don't get the best ballance without balancing on the outside edges.... thus the clip-ons on the outside.... sombody at Ford thought that a better balance was more imprtant than the appearance

 

FWIW my Mazda6, which was built at AAI too as you all know, has the weights on the inside of the rim. However, the 17" wheels on the 6 do not have an exterior lip like the Mustang wheels which may have necessitated the interior weights.

Here's a pic (not of my car though):

http://www.fast-autos.net/mazda/611.html

 

When I had 17s put on my V6 stang, the did the static balancing with the wheel weights on the inside. It was the worst ride I had ever experienced. If I got my car up past 60 it vibrated like heck. I took it back to them and they ripped the weights off of the inside, dynamically balanced it with the weights like in the picture, and viola, problem solved.

 

You can get any rim perfectly balanced with just lead on the inside if you know what you're doing. I guess that's where the problem lies with some shops.

 

I have had many cars with stick on lead weights, the balance does not last nearly as long, because they dont have the 'authority' that ones mounted way out on rims lip does. I have 8,000 miles on mine now on its 3rd balance on some of the tires. They have all been like this for me. Low profile tires (these are 40 series on 17's) loose balance more frequently as well, I would think because the beating they take on potholes.

 

I still don't know why they insist on putting weights on the outside. Such a pain. I get them removed right away and then installed on the inside. The outside ones look like crap and ruin the clearcoat after a few years

 

Done many open track events topping 110+mph and never had a problem with "inside" weights or out of balance wheels. And I have 40 series tires on my '85 and 35 series on my '01. I don't think it would be a cause for concern to switch if you're THAT ****-retentive about it