I'll quibble...

(gasp, shock)

If it is out of round, then no amount of balancing fixes it- hunter or not.

A hunter RF will tell you precisely how round the wheel is- axial and lateral run out is measured to 0.01". And the balance of the bare rim is measured. You WILL know if the wheel is good.

Then you mount the tire. If it will not roadforce match, the tire is defective. The shop will return it to the vendor and replace it with a new tire. You should NEVER have a mounted wheel (tire plus rim) with an imbalance of vibration if each step was done correctly.

HOWEVER, if the wheel is bent, out of round- and you say 'do the best you can', then sure. Likewise, if the shop doesn't want to send tires back, they'll do their best but mount them up and give it to you... all depends on what you know, what the shop knows, and how you communicate your expectations to the shop.

Last set of PS2s I mounted (315/30 and 265/35) on new 18" rims were a PITA. The fat rears were pretty easy, one needed to be 'rotated' a bit to have the tire compliance cancel out the balance of the rim. However the front 265 never worked. Tirerack drop shipped without question. I pay $40 per tire for the service and tipped my guy $20. He busted his ass getting it right.

A