Anybody on here have any real-life experience? Does it actually quite down the ride or is it just hype. I live in a small town out in the boonies, so I need to investigate before I waste my time hunting out/driving to a place that can do it. Makes sense, but I'm a sucker for innovation. Enlighten me please. TIA

 

Its a truer balance with vehicle weight distribution or actual road feel, thus placing the weights at the precise location on the rim for a smoother ride.
I find I have to ask for this service when getting new tires, it takes a little longer which is why they dont offer it in some cases.

 

It's not meant to quiet the ride but helps to ensure a proper balance is done far exceeding what a standard balance does, as it applies pressure (via a special roller to the surface of the tire factoring in/compensating for any abnormalities). An important key to any balance is the machine must be recently and properly calibrated.

 

In addition to what has has been said above... One of the big differences I noticed is the machine will tell the operator how far or to what degree to rotate the tire on the rim before any weights are even added. I believe this results in less weights needed. It's great for wheels and tires that are difficult to get just right. I would not hesitate recommending it... assuming the operator is experienced.

 

It might be all marketing, but I only use shops that have road force balancers. Road Force is supposed to be the best balancing machine. I have no complaints and the shop doesn't charge any more than any other that doesn't use a road force balance machine.

 

From my experience on my 2017 Lexus LX 570, I had vibration at 65 mph, several regular balancing machines failed to correct the issue, I was advised to do a road force balancing which I was not familiar with at the time, took it to discount tire and they performed the service on it and it reduced the shimmy to a great extent only very slight vibration remained, they said that they did their best but one of the wheel is slightly defective and need to be replaced to get the issue resolved 100%, I have not done it yet because the vibration now is very minimal.

 

Do you have a vibration?

 

Discount tire shops have those machines but not at every location.
you can check using this link Discout tire

 

My advice, find an independent aftermarket performance wheel/Rim shop that does installs. I am lucky to have a great shop about 20 minutes away. He deals with high end cars often. His machinery is top notch and has balanced some difficult wheel/tire combos for me.

A long time ago... I had a new 2004 M3 with BBS CH wheels and tires that just would not balance from day 1. The dealership couldn't balance it any better and recommended Road Force. CWB in Fredericksburg balanced this set with no problem. Other difficult combos were my Jeeps. One with BFG 35" on 17" wheels and now 37" BFG on 17". While the jeep is not a performance car, I just wanted to point out that road force balancing was able to balance these wheel/tire combos with great precision. Most lifted jeeps with tires 35" and up use balance beads because the large tires "cannot" be balanced.

Since 2004 I have not balanced wheels and tires any other way.
In my experience I have always been treated better by an independent boutique type Performance shop than discount chains.
This is only a brief synopsis of my experience; others may vary and they could be perfectly fine with spin balancing.