General Procedures - Minimizing Wheel Runout to Tire

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NOTICE: Third-party balancers will not include the Ford-approved match mounting procedure in their software.

NOTICE: Other balancing procedures existing on other manufacturers' equipment are not approved by Ford and must not be used.

1. 1
   To confirm that the tire/wheel vibration is the cause of the customer concern,
   Refer to: Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) (100-04).
2. 2
   To eliminate any temporary tire flat spotting, drive the vehicle 20 or more miles (32 km) immediately before taking the Road Force® measurement.
3. 3
   Before submitting a warranty claim for a tire(s) with out-of-specification Road Force® or runout measurements, the Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization procedure (sometimes referred to as "re-indexing" or "Road Force® balancing") detailed below must be performed. This procedure is intended to optimize the mounting position of the tire on the wheel to reduce the overall Road Force® or runout value of the assembly. The procedure may be performed using either Road Force® measurements (preferred method). Road Force® measurements are taken with a Road Force® balancer. The method by which the Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization procedure is performed may vary depending on the model of equipment used. Use the information below to help identify the type of equipment used at your dealership, then follow the instructions provided for that equipment. If your equipment software does not include a Ford-approved procedure, it may be available through hardware/software updates. Contact your local Hunter representative for more information.
4. 4
   Identify the type of equipment used at the dealership for tire/wheel balancing. Refer to the Hunter Equipment Model Identification information for equipment type determination.

   

5. 5
   GEN I and GEN II
   

   • Gen I and Gen II balancer models do not include software consistent with the Ford Workshop Manual methodology.

   • Match mounting procedures in the software of these models must not be used. Instead, only the Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization procedure described above should be used.

   • Use these machines only to collect the required Road Force® measurements. Do not follow the prompts that appear for match mounting.

   

6. 6
   GEN III
   

   • Gen III balancer models may include a "Wheel Runout Match" procedure on the balancer display. If this procedure is not included, the Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization procedure above must be followed.

   • Another balancing procedure is likely present on Gen III equipment. Do not use this procedure; only Wheel Runout Match and the Ford WSM "Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization" are approved for use on Ford tire and wheel assemblies.

   • The "Wheel Runout Match" procedure should become the default setting for the machine after first use. If it does not become the default, you will need to select it each time.

   

7. 7
   GEN IV and GEN V
   

   • Gen IV and Gen V balancer models include a "180 Matching" procedure on the balancer display. This is the only Hunter procedure that corresponds to the Tire-to-Wheel Runout Minimization procedure.

   • A second balancing procedure (which may be the default) is likely present on your equipment. Do not use this procedure. If you cannot set your machine to default to the 180 Matching procedure, you will need to select it each time.

   • The 180 Matching procedure can be started by selecting the following buttons: Road Force® - Procedures - 180 Matching.

   

8. 8
   The 180 Matching procedure can be started by selecting the following buttons:
   

   1. Road Force®

   2. Procedures

   3. 180 Matching

   

9. 9
   1. Valve stem

   2. Reference mark

   

10. 10

    NOTICE: On vehicles equipped with TPMS, the sensor may be damaged by improper tire mounting or dismounting. Remove the tire from the wheel as described in the procedure. Failure to follow these instructions may result in damage to TPMS components.

    Using a suitable tire changer, break the tire beads away from the wheel.
11. 11
    Lubricate the tire beads with a suitable fast-drying, anti-corrosion tire bead lubricant. Rotate the tire 180 degrees (halfway) on the wheel so that the valve stem reference mark is now opposite the valve stem.
12. 12
    Re-inflate the wheel and tire to the specified air pressure and measure the assembly again using a suitable dial indicator or a Hunter Road Force® 9700 Series balancer. Mark the second high point on the tire.
13. 13
    If runout or Road Force® is reduced to within specification, the problem has been resolved. Balance the assembly and install it on the vehicle using the wheel-to-hub optimization procedure.
14. 14
    If the second runout or Road Force® measurement is still out of specification, and both high points are close together (within 101.6 mm [4 inches]), the primary cause is likely the tire (high point followed the tire).
15. 15
    1. First high point on tire

    2. Second high point on tire

    

16. 16
    To be CERTAIN that the cause of the high runout is the tire, there must be 2 runout or Road Force® measurements that are out of specification, and the high points must be located approximately in the same place on the tire sidewall. If the cause is the tire, install a new tire, balance the assembly, and install it on the vehicle using the wheel-to-hub optimization procedure. If the second high point is not within 101.6 mm (4 inches) of the first high point, proceed to the next step.
17. 17
    If the second high point is still above specification and is within 101.6 mm (4 inches) of the first high point on the wheel, the primary cause is likely the wheel (high point followed the wheel). Remove the tire from the wheel, install the wheel on the balancer, and check wheel runout. If wheel runout exceeds 1.14 mm (0.0449 in), install a new wheel, balance the assembly, and install it on the vehicle using the wheel-to-hub optimization procedure.
    Refer to: Tire-to-Hub Runout Minimization (204-04A Wheels and Tires, General Procedures).
18. 18
    1. First high point on tire

    2. Second high point on tire

    

19. 19
    Draw an arrow on the tire sidewall from the second maximum point to the first high point (in the shortest direction).
20. 20
    1. First high point on tire

    2. Second high point on tire

    

21. 21
    Separate the tire beads from the wheel and rotate the tire 90 degrees (one-quarter turn) in the direction indicated by the arrow.