[esacfrank]

I have two Outbacks, well my wife has one and I nave one. Both are 2012 and her's is a few weeks old.
This morning I was checking the tire pressure on hers and noticed a LOT balance weight, like 19 segments. I checked then rest of the tires and found the other 3 had anywhere from 9 to 16 weights each.
Then I checked my car, the driver side had 6 to 10 weights per tire and the passenger side had none. Both have the same Continentals.
I do not notice any imbalance while driving. We have just returned from a 1,600 mile trip earlier this week in my car. The car ran and felt great.
I guess my question is does this sound 'normal'? Does Subaru have any maximum number or amount of balance weight? I've been mounting tires, truck, car and motorcycle, for a very long time and anything like this would not be acceptable to me.
Are the rims that far out of balance or are the stock tires junk.
I'm going to call the service manager Monday but don't have any high hopes.
TIA
Frank

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

In 'the old days' I was advised to reject any tire that required more than 4 ozs to balance.

interested to read others' take on this.

 

[esacfrank]

Well if each segment is 1/4 oz that would be 4 3/4 ounce on the wheel with 19 weight segments. Way too much but the wheel rim could be the culprit. On my bikes I find the heavy spot on the rim and put the light spot of the tire on it. Usually wind up with < 1/4 ounce
I'm going to ask for a rebalance of all the tires on her car and see how much weight is used.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

aren't tires marked with a red dot that is put opposite (or next to ????) the valve stem?

still, with TPMS units, it may be trickier to balance a wheel nowadays.

 

[esacfrank]

It used to be there was a yellow or reddish dot. Depending on the manufacturer it would indicated the light or heavy spot. The current Michelins I just mounted on one of the bikes have no dots on them.
I had not thought about the TPMS sensors but that would make the absence of weights on two of the four tires on my car confusing. When did TPMS become standard on the Outback? Anyone out there have a Subaru without the sensors?
I just looked at the tires and out of 6, three of them have the weights directly across ( 180 degrees ) from the stem and three have the weights 90 degrees from the stem. Of course that doesn't explain the absence of weights on two tires on my car

 

[Looby]

When did TPMS become standard on the Outback?

TPMS is required on all new US passenger automobiles as of 2007.
Google: NHTSA FMVSS No. 138

Will also required in the EU as of November 2012.

Looby