Lead-Free Wheel Weights

Wheel weights are the pieces of metal that are attached to the rims. These weights balance out the wheel to reduce vibration and potential vehicle damage. That smooth ride you get cruising on the highway is largely due to properly balanced wheels.

Wheel weights are typically made from lead. Approximately 4.5 ounces of lead is used on each rim of each car in the U.S.  That’s fifty million pounds annually worldwide.

The good news is that about 75 percent of that lead is recycled by secondary lead smelters. The bad news is that of the remaining 25 percent, about 1.6 million pounds ends up making it’s way into the surrounding environment. Once in the environment, it only takes about seven days for the lead to corrode and make its way into our waterways and drinking water. That’s a problem.

Lead is an extremely toxic metal that has been used in everything from batteries and paint, to heavy construction materials. Exposure to lead is harmful to everyone, but especially for young children. Long-term exposure can cause behavioral problems, decreased intelligence, reduced growth and impaired hearing. If the exposure is more extreme it can cause full blindness, deafness, coma, convulsions and even death.

Fortunately, there are now companies that have begun producing lead-free wheel weights. These lead-free weights are made with recyclable steel or zinc that does not harmful for children and does not pollute our environment. There is also a new product on the market made by 3M that is a flexible material made of a lead-free composite metal. This metal is easier to use and safer for our environment.

Only we as consumers can make a difference. Next time have your car in the shop, don’t forget to ask your mechanic to replace you traditional lead wheel weights for with new steel or composite metal ones. Also, make sure your old lead ones are properly recycled. Together we can help save our environment!