Coats Wheel Balancer Accessories: What They Do & Why They Matter

In the world of wheel balancing, precision isn’t optional—it’s everything. If you can’t center the wheel, you can’t balance it. And if you can’t balance it, your customer won’t get the ride they paid for. That’s why having the right Coats wheel balancer accessories on hand isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. 

From wheel lifts that save your back to collets and pin plates that guarantee repeatable results, the right tools turn frustration into flawless performance. In this post, we’ll break down key Coats wheel balancer accessories—what they’re used for, and why every shop that takes balancing seriously needs them. 

 

Why Wheel Balancer Accessories Matter 

Let’s get straight to it: an uncentered wheel will never balance properly. If the wheel assembly isn’t perfectly aligned on the balancer shaft, you’ll be chasing weights, wasting time, and sending customers back on the road with problems that should’ve been solved in the bay. 

Symptoms of improper centering include: 

• Excessive weight requirements—especially 6 oz or more on the outer plane. 

• Poor ride quality even after balancing. 

• Inconsistent readings when remounting the same wheel. 

Coats accessories are engineered to eliminate these problems at the source—by getting the wheel centered right, every time. And they’re built with the durability and ease-of-use that shops like yours demand. 

 

The Auto-Down Wheel Lift: Your Tech’s Best Friend 

Coats 525 Auto-Down Wheel Lift does more than just lift—it helps center the wheel. 

What it does: 

• Lifts heavy truck tires up to balancer shaft level with zero strain. 

• Holds the wheel in position while you place accessories. 

• Retracts automatically when the hood is lowered to begin the spin. 

Why it matters: 

• Prevents back strain, pinched fingers, and shoulder fatigue. 

• Frees up both hands to install collets, back cones, and pin plates. 

• Improves workflow and consistency across multiple techs and shifts. 

If you’re dealing with 3/4-ton trucks, SUVs, or delivery vehicles, this is the kind of accessory that earns its keep fast—sometimes in one day’s worth of heavy wheel work. 

Takeaway: One worker’s comp claim avoided and this lift pays for itself. 

 

Low Taper Collets: The Foundation of a Proper Balance 

Forget the old-style cones. Today’s alloy wheels and tight hub bores demand something better. 

Coats low taper collets offer: 

• Two-sided fitment with reduced taper to better match modern hub geometry. 

• Consistent centering from inside the wheel—just like it mounts on the vehicle. 

• Better ride outcomes, especially for low-profile, high-performance, and truck tires. 

Used in combination with pin plates, these collets provide a level of repeatability that cone setups simply can’t touch. 

 

Adjustable Pin Plates: Accuracy That Mimics OEM Fitment 

Coats composite adjustable pin plates are a technician favorite for a reason. They center the wheel the same way lug nuts do—making them the best option for: 

• Avoiding scratches on custom wheels. 

• Ensuring uniform pressure as you torque the hub nut. 

• Getting a precise, repeatable fit every time. 

What sets them apart: 

• Quick-adjust handles let you dial in lug pattern diameter on the fly—no pre-setting needed. 

• Built-in spacers eliminate the need for separate hardware, saving shaft space. 

• Wave washers on each pin compress to compensate for imperfections in lug hole shape. 

Add in durability and field-repairable parts (yes, you can drop one and put it back together), and you’ve got a shop-friendly solution that saves time, avoids comebacks, and boosts accuracy. 

 

LCM Centering Kit: Your Go-To for Medium-Duty Work 

Balancing wheels on 2500–5500 series trucks used to be a nightmare. Not anymore. 

The Coats LCM (Light Commercial Medium-duty) Centering Kit is purpose-built for: 

• Ford F-350s, Dodge 2500s, Sprinter vans, and other 10-lug medium-duty wheels. 

• Dirty, heavy wheels weighing over 130 lbs. 

• Shops that need speed and precision to keep work moving. 

What’s included: 

• Three anodized low taper collets. 

• Medium-duty pin plate with built-in back spacer. 

• Application guide with QR code access for setup support. 

Why it matters: Balancing heavy wheels correctly the first time prevents wasted weights, long technician time, and the dreaded customer comeback from a rough ride. 

Bonus: Pair it with the Coats wheel lift and you’ll mount and balance a 195 wheel in under a minute. 

 

Specialty Accessories That Solve Tough Problems 

Every shop has that one wheel that just won’t center right. Coats has specialty solutions for those, too. 

F-150 Cone 

• Ultra low taper design. 

• Ideal for fleet F-150s, Expeditions, and even older Dodge trucks. 

• When paired with a pin plate, it eliminates runout and gets even tricky steel wheels riding smooth. 

Toyota Kit 

• Designed for hard-to-center Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, Sequoia, and older Tundra wheels. 

• Includes direct-fit collets and fixed pin plate for 5- and 6-lug bolt patterns. 

• Cuts down balance time and gets your techs off the struggle bus. 

 

Light Truck Cone Kit: A Budget-Friendly Backup 

Still running cones in your shop? The Coats Light Truck Cone Kit has earned its place over the years. 

While collets and pin plates are the gold standard for precision, the cone kit is still a good fallback option for: 

• Fleets with large hub centers. 

• Steel wheels with basic fitment needs. 

• Budget-conscious shops not ready to invest in premium centering systems. 

Just keep in mind: Cones are more likely to introduce mounting error, especially with modern aluminum wheels or customers who notice ride quality. If your shop’s reputation depends on smooth rides and minimal comebacks, step up to collets and pin plates. 

 

How to Know What Your Shop Needs 

With so many options, how do you know what’s right for your shop? 

Here’s a quick guide: 

• Do you see mostly half-ton and SUV wheels? Start with a full collet set and 3-5-6 lug pin plates. 

• See medium-duty trucks regularly? Add the LCM Centering Kit. 

• Work with F-150 fleets or Toyotas often? Pick up the specialty kits—they’ll pay for themselves quickly. 

• Want to save your techs’ backs and speed up workflow? Invest in the auto-down wheel lift. 

Still not sure? Your local Coats rep can walk your shop floor, look at your work mix, and help you match the right accessories to your needs. 

 

Why Coats Accessories Are Worth It 

Your shop moves fast. You don’t have time for do-overs, wasted weights, or rebalancing the same wheel three times. Coats accessories are designed for: 

• Durability: Built to withstand years of use, abuse, and shop drops. 

• Accuracy: Mimic OEM fitment for a true “new car” ride. 

• Serviceability: Replaceable parts, field-fixable plates, and backed by the Coats Connect Service Network. 

Whether you’re a high-volume independent shop or a national account balancing hundreds of wheels a week, Coats helps you get it done right the first time—with tools that keep your team moving and your customers coming back. 

 

Center It Right. Balance It Once. Keep It Rolling. 

Wheel balancing is a profit center—but only if you’re doing it efficiently and correctly. Coats wheel balancer accessories make the difference between wasted time and a perfect balance. 

If your goal is smoother rides, fewer comebacks, and more throughput, the right tools aren’t a luxury—they’re the foundation of a high-performing shop. 

Talk to Coats today about outfitting your balancer with the accessories your shop needs. Because when it comes to wheel balancing, close enough isn’t good enough.