# Spare Tires and Balance

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-tires-and-balance/184150>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** tires\
**Created:** [May 15, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-tires-and-balance/184150 "2022-05-15T01:10:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 11:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-tires-and-balance/184150/21 "2022-05-22T11:17:38Z")

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> [@JimLowther](#):
>
> We had a set of test tires back in the '70s that were specified not to be balanced. I don’t know the back story was, but I have wondered at times. I just know any time this came up I was told not to get those tires balanced.

There is one thing I can think of where the instructions would be to NOT rebalance the tires - and that is if the test is to see if the balance changes over time - like a spray-in sealant was applied to the inside and there is a question of if it will flow over time and cause an imbalance.

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**Author:** ![JimLowther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JimLowther](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JimLowther)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-tires-and-balance/184150/22 "2022-05-22T21:50:01Z")

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That is one of the things I considered. I think these were the prototype tires designed to be built using bias construction machinery (flat belt radial?). I also considered that balancing might throw off something they were tracking. This was in the days of the dreaded 55 mph speed limit, and my memory (which is imprecise at this point) is that the tires were pretty stable up to that speed. I cannot promise you it was never driven past 55 by anyone’s son, but I didn’t drive that car very much.

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**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spare-tires-and-balance/184150/23 "2022-05-24T16:42:25Z")

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> [@Beancounter](#):
>
> After 5 years any tire is questionable so why would anyone drive on a spare of questioinable age?

We’re down to 5 years now? Anyway, the reason is driving slowly on an old spare is still better than driving on a flat tire or bare rim.

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