Lead is a toxic metal that negatively impacts human health and the environment. Although lead has long been banned from paint and gasoline, it is still the predominant material used in wheel weights. An estimated 70,000 tons/year of lead is used worldwide in the manufacture of wheel weights - with about 2,000 tons falling from vehicle rims and onto roadways and parking areas every year. Vehicle wheel weights vary in size and weight, ranging between 0.2-6 inches in length and 0.25-4 ounces in weight. A typical vehicle contains between 7 and 9 ounces of lead in wheel weights. This amounts to about 10-12.5% of vehicle lead use, excluding the lead-acid battery.
Studies have shown that lead deposition from lead wheel weights is a significant and previously not quantified source of lead being released into the environment. Once lead wheel weights fall off, the individual weights break down into fine dust particles, which are susceptible to atmospheric corrosion, and may turn into lead oxides, hydroxides, and bicarbonates under regular environmental conditions. These conversions make lead more soluble in water, and increase the risk that lead will contaminate surface, groundwater, and drinking water supplies.
Studies conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Madison, Wisconsin, have shown that approximately 40% of the runoff from residential areas and 70% of the runoff from commercial areas had lead levels high enough to kill aquatic life.
The European Union banned the use of lead wheel weights in 2005, and U.S. states and counties, including Minnesota, are also taking steps to go lead-free. In 2008, the Environmental Council of States (ECOS), passed a resolution supporting the voluntary elimination of lead wheel weights from commerce.
Minnesota does not have any specific laws prohibiting the use of lead wheel weights. However, public entities are encouraged to reduce the toxicity of waste in Minnesota Statute 115A.02.
Lead-free wheel weights have been proven to perform similarly to conventional lead weights. They are available in both adhesive and clip-on forms.
| Manufacturer | Material | How attached |
| Perfect Equipment | Zinc, Steel | Clip-on (zinc) Adhesive (steel) |
| Bada-Hennessey | Steel | Clip-on, adhesive |
| Plombco | Zinc | Clip-on |
| 3M | Tungsten polymer | Adhesive |
Consider incorporating the following specifications into your next bid for wheel weights:
- Wheel weights must not contain lead.
- Bidders must provide samples of the wheel weights with their response to the bid request. The samples will be subjected to performance testing, including but not limited to, ease of application, effective balancing, and performance without failure during normal use.
If you contract out your vehicle maintenance services, consider incorporating the following specifications into your next bid for tire maintenance:
- The vendor must not apply any wheel weights containing lead to vehicles being serviced under this contract. All wheel weights applied to vehicles being serviced under this contract must be lead-free.
Hennessy Industries, Inc.
BADA Division
Bowling Green, KY
888/694-0759
www.steelwheelweights.com
Offers steel wheel weights appropriate for a variety of vehicles.
Perfect Equipment, Inc.
La Vergne, TN
800/251-1566
www.perfectequipment.com
The world's largest manufacturer of wheel balancing weights. Sells steel and zinc weights in clip-on and adhesive forms.
Hanco Corporation
Eagan, MN
800/328-7400
www.hancousa.com
Distributor of various lead-free wheel weight alternatives.
3M
St. Paul, MN
888/364-3577
For information on 3M wheel weights, click HERE
Manufactures the 3M adhesive Wheel Weight System.
Plombco, Inc.
Valleyfield, Qc, Canada
450/371-8800
www.plombco.com
The first manufacturer in North America to sell non-lead wheel weights to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket. Manufactures zinc wheel weights.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Toxicity Reduction Program
www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/p2/toxicity.cfm
Provides information and assistance on reducing the toxicity of products and preventing the release of toxics into the environment.
Ecology Center
www.leadfreewheels.org
A Michigan-based nonprofit environmental organization that works at local, state, and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, environmental justice, and a sustainable future. Lead Free Wheels is a project of the Ecology Center.
Responsible Purchasing Network
www.responsiblepurchasing.org
A national network of procurement-related professionals dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable purchasing. Produced a purchasing guide on light-duty tires and wheel weights.
King County, Washington
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
www.kingcounty.gov/operations/procurement/Services/
Environmental_Purchasing.aspx
King County produces fact sheets on a variety of environmentally preferable products, including lead-free wheel weights.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Lead Free Wheel Weight Initiative
www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastemin/nlfwwi.htm
To encourage the transition away from the use of lead for wheel weights, the US EPA created an opportunity for entities engaged in the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of wheel weights to participate in a voluntary effort to accelerate the transition.
Ecology Center
www.leadfreewheels.org
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Toxicity Reduction Program
www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/p2/toxicity.cfm
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised April 28, 2009 - 8:06am