Just had my new wheels balanced; they had never been balanced since new from the factory. Now the wheels have black adhesive left on the inside of the rim where the old balancing weights were removed. Maybe I'm just OCD, but anyone tried to remove this stuff?

I've been successful using an adhesive remover (like Goo Gone) to get the adhesive off from weights put on before by local tire shops, but the stuff they use in the factory is impossible to come off - I hate leaving the black strips inside the wheel where the weights used to be. The sticky residue just collects dirt and looks worse over time. Any suggestions?

 

kerosene or lamp oil will do the trick. Soak it and, if necessary, agitate with an old toothbrush.

 

I use acetone, rub with fingers, and duct tape. Use the duct tape sticky side to tact it on to the black goop and it will pick it up from your wheels. Repeat steps until all gone.

 

3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover (comes in qt. can or spray can at auto or boat stores or Amazon);or Acetone (slower)

 

3M is great I have used it

 

I have used the 3M product before and it's great. Also, there's another product called Oil Flo which is basically a safety solvent - very effective and does not damage. I actually used it on some of stickers that were on the leather in my 360 - all the adhesive was removed and no indication anything was ever there...

 

Thanks for all the good ideas - the duct tape and toothbrush are especially creative supplements to the adhesive remover. Will give it a shot!

 

I am sure the above will work. I am wondering why the place that balanced your wheels did not do this for you.

I usually deal with Wheel Enhancement and they clean everything real nice.

 

When touching up the balance, that is, just fixing what was balanced to be balanced again... the tire stays on the wheel where it is....

is it customary to remove the existing weights and start fresh or just tweak the existing solution with a weight or two more?

 

Standard practice is to remove weights and start fresh. You don't want a lot of extra weights.

 

Fair enough. I'm more interested in the paint in my wheels vs another ounce or two added to the wheel. Oh well.