Bolt-On Unit Balances Wheels Automatically On-The-Go

Bolt-On Unit Balances Wheels Automatically On-The-Go TIRES/WHEELS Handling 21-6-13 Wheels will stay in perfect balance forever with a new bolt-on device that simply slips over the wheel hub, according to Tregor Automatic All-Purpose Balancing Systems (TAABS), manufacturer. The TAABS automatic "on-the-go" balancer solves a problem that has plagued tire manufacturers for years. "We've finally eliminated the need to balance wheels," says Peter McGale, who in-vented the new device along with his son, Pillip. It consists of a hollow 1-in. dia. aluminum tube, 19 1/4 in. in dia., that's filled with hardened chrome steel balls suspended in a lubricating fluid. To install, you simply re-move the wheel, slip the balancer over the lug nuts, and replace the wheel. The spinning balls then balance all uneven motion. On most vehicles, automatic balancing kicks in at 8 to 15 mph, the company says. This accomplishes at least three things, says McGale, Fort Macleod, Alberta. One, it can double the life of a truck tire. Two, a more even wear pattern means a tire can be recapped up to seven times, a 50 per-cent increase. Three, tire traction is increased up to 63 percent. The device fits virtually every semi on the road. Comes in two styles, one for dual axles (one unit bolts between duals) and the other for steering axles. Sells for $199 (Canadian) per pair plus $11 S&H. It will be available for light-duty trucks by the end of the year; automobiles next year. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, TAABS International Inc., P.O. Box 309, Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada T0L 0Z0 (ph 888 553-3005 or 403 553-4193; fax 4846).

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