Altas WB11 Computerized Wheel Balancer
The WB11 is the entry point into Atlas computerized balancing, and the honest way to describe it is by what it does not have. There is no automatic measuring arm on this machine: every wheel dimension is entered by hand. Width, diameter and offset are read off the wheel and keyed into the console by the operator, and that single design decision is most of the difference in price between this balancer and the ones above it. Whether that is a bargain or a false economy depends entirely on how many wheels you do in a day and who is standing at the console.
What manual entry actually costs you
Per wheel, it costs perhaps twenty seconds and a habit. The risk is not the time, it is the discipline: the machine can only balance the wheel you describe to it, so a mis-keyed offset produces a confident, precise answer to the wrong question. In a one- or two-person shop where the same hands do every wheel, that is a non-issue. In a busy bay with rotating staff and seasonal help, an automatic-arm machine pays for itself in avoided comebacks. Larger rims are where the habit matters most, because the measurement is more awkward to take and the consequences of getting it wrong are more visible to the customer.
What it will handle
Rims from 10" to 32" in diameter and 1 1/2" to 20" in width mount on a 40mm shaft, taking assemblies up to 39" in overall tire diameter. Balancing runs at 150 RPM, weight position resolves to 1.4 degrees, and the readout is accurate to 1 gram, switchable between grams and ounces and between millimeters and inches. Four centering cones come with the machine and cover center bores from 1.75" up to 5.18"; the separately sold Light Truck Adapter Kit adds a larger cone and a spacer for bigger bores and heavily offset wheels.
Two figures we would rather you confirm with us
We would rather show you a disagreement in the published data than quietly pick the number that suits us.
| Maximum wheel weight |
The Atlas specification sheet for this model states 150 lbs. The marketing description that has run alongside it describes a capacity of over 130 lbs. Those are not the same claim. |
| Shipping weight |
The published crate weight is 355 lbs. The shipping weight held in our own store record for this item does not agree with that figure. |
If either number is load-bearing for your decision - you routinely balance assemblies near the ceiling, or you are booking freight and equipment to receive it - ask us to confirm the figure in writing before you order and we will get it from the manufacturer rather than repeating a spec sheet at you. Neither number is one we are willing to present as settled while our own sources disagree.
Fault-finding without a service call
The WB11 self-diagnoses and puts an error code on the display, and it self-calibrates. The electrical components are individually replaceable rather than potted into one sealed assembly, and Atlas keeps parts and wear items in stock for the line. The practical consequence is that a fault is normally a code, a phone call and a part, instead of a machine sitting dead in the corner of the bay waiting on an appointment. For a small shop with no service contract, that is worth more than most of the specification sheet.
Will it fit your shop?
It runs on a single 110 volt outlet, needs no compressed air and no three-phase, and requires no anchoring to the floor - it is not bolted down, so it can be repositioned as the bay changes and it does not commit you in a leased building. Give it flat, solid floor and enough space on the wheel side to swing an assembly on and off comfortably. Confirming the outlet, the floor space and the delivery route into the building is the customer's responsibility, and the doorway is the measurement people forget.
Perfect For
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The small independent shop adding balancing rather than building a tire department.
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Rural and mobile operators where the nearest service technician is a long drive and self-diagnosis matters more than speed.
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Motorcycle, powersports and trailer work - modest wheel counts, wide variety.
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The serious home shop - restorers and club racers balancing their own sets.
What's in the Box
- Plastic quick-release nut
- Four centering cones covering 1.75" to 5.18" center bores
- Wheel weight pliers
- Measuring calipers
The Light Truck Adapter Kit is not included. A manual and a brochure are published for this machine and are linked further down this page; if you need any other document from the manufacturer, ask and we will chase it.
Certification and consumer notices, stated honestly
Our data for this balancer records no independent North American safety listing, and we will not imply one by omission. It is rarely an issue - a balancer is not lifting equipment - but it becomes one where an insurer, a franchise or a municipal supply contract requires equipment carrying a recognised third-party listing. Get that requirement in writing and speak to us first. Separately, the manufacturer publishes a California Proposition 65 consumer warning for this product; California buyers who need the exact wording should ask us and we will send it as published.
Shipping and Delivery
The WB11 travels as freight in the lower 48 states. Plan for a forklift or a dock at your end, or choose terminal pickup - and warehouse collection is offered at the Atlas locations listed further down this page. Residential delivery is available for a fee, and the freight charge is quoted live at checkout because carrier rates move. Because the two shipping-weight figures we hold do not agree, confirm the crate weight with us before you arrange equipment or a lift-assist to receive it.
Inspect before signing. Count the pieces, look for crushing, punctures and disturbed banding, and note anything at all on the bill of lading while the driver waits. A clean signature closes the carrier's side of the argument.
Warranty
The WB11 carries a 1 Year Parts Only Warranty: covered components are supplied, fitting labor is not. Wear items are handled differently from the machine itself under the manufacturer's terms - if the coverage period on wear parts is material to your decision, ask us to confirm it in writing before you buy rather than after something wears out.
If a fault appears, contact us before disassembly. A machine that has been taken apart cannot be assessed, and that is the single most common way a sound claim becomes a dispute. Photograph the fault, write down the error code the machine displayed, and leave it as it stands.
