Wheel weights on the outside after balancing

[btrotter]

My wife took the 05 Prius to Firestone today to get new tires. I just walked into the garage and looked down at them, and notied that the wheels have those tap-on wheel weights on them now (assuming they were balanced afterwards), but unfortunately now the hubcaps arent fully snapped back onto the wheels. Looking at where the hubcap edge meets the wheel, it is flush all the way around except where the wheel weight is attached, and it sticks out between a 1/4" and 1/2" on all the tires.
Can these weights be put on the inside lip of the wheel? If so, I think it is completely unacceptable that the tire guys pounded these weights on, put the hubcaps back on plainly seeing that the hubcaps wouldnt go on correctly.

Anyone have any ideas? Assuming you understand what I mean above?

Thanks.

[galaxee]

that was stupid of them. go back and complain.

[btrotter]

I figured it was some bozo tire mounter that probably realized what he had done when he was putting the hub caps back on, but didnt feel like spending 20 extra minutes taking the weights off and putting them on the other side. So instead, they will spend 3 times as much when I take the car back this weekend....assuming the weights are able to go on the inside of the tire, not the outside.

[Boo]

My tire guy did exactly the same thing about 22 months ago. But I didn't notice it until recently.

[Patrick Wong]

Unfortunately, another example of service staff who do not appear to give a rat's a-- about the work they do. They should be using weights with adhesive tape on one side, that adhere to the inside of the wheel.

[firepa63]

I had that happen to me on my 04. I took it back to the tire place and they corrected the problem.

[qbee42]

As PW points out, adhesive backed weights are used on alloy rims. It's not just the cosmetic issue, but the soft alloy can be scratched by the weight clamps.

Tom

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

Unfortunately, another example of service staff who do not appear to give a rat's a-- about the work they do. They should be using weights with adhesive tape on one side, that adhere to the inside of the wheel.

That depends on if you want as near perfect balance or a visually pleasing wheel.

You can't truly balance a wheel if you limit the weights to only the inside edge. That would only compensate for a wheel and tire that is out of round and will not correct for a wheel that isn't true.

Personally I care more about balance than the visual appearance.

[Fibb222]

Originally Posted by JSH

That depends on if you want as near perfect balance or a visually pleasing wheel.

You can't truly balance a wheel if you limit the weights to only the inside edge. That would only compensate for a wheel and tire that is out of round and will not correct for a wheel that isn't true.

Personally I care more about balance than the visual appearance.

I saw this on my car as soon as they were done and I said hey! and they said, can't be helped if you want a balanced tire.

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by JSH

That depends on if you want as near perfect balance or a visually pleasing wheel.

You can't truly balance a wheel if you limit the weights to only the inside edge. That would only compensate for a wheel and tire that is out of round and will not correct for a wheel that isn't true.

Personally I care more about balance than the visual appearance.

You are talking about dynamic balancing verses static balancing. Static balancing can be done with two dimensional placement of the weights. Dynamic balancing requires three dimensional placement.

Tom