It's been discussed before but I couldn't find the thread to resurrect. Just thought I'd share. After someone here mentioned marked improvement in his balancing using road force, I took the jag and went hunting. Found one machine in town at Crappy Tire no less (South end).
$12.50/tire. One tire had 4.5 oz on it and when rebalanced it took 1.5 in a different location. Took her up to 120k on the way home. FINALLY!!! smooth as silk. Happy dance!

 

I have heard many of the same comments for 'road force'. My experience was with a new set of Continentals after two road force balance efforts, at a shop 80 miles away, they were still not satisfactory. A local shop was able to do better with standard old spin balance equipment. Balance, like alignment, contains a measure of art.

 

I had mine road forced balanced, then put on the car and tweeked the balance with on car balancer. Smooth as silk now.

 

Never heard of road force balancing, had to look it up! Does it really make a difference?

 

Yes, it cost more.

 

I don't think it cost me any more. $12 is about the going rate around here for a balance anyways. I think it was waterboy who put me on to it. Tire/wheel still goes on the machine but the machine pushes down with a simulated force to mimic real use. Worked for me.

 

A roller put's pressure on the tire and the run out is measured with the force applied . This is supposed to compensate for out of round wheel tire assembly's. With this magnificant piece of machinery you can even balance a bent rim into feeling good at speed. The catch is you need to know how to use it, and have the correct adapter for our wheels.