Balancing Beads, general consensus/Experience? (6 Viewers)

[Jkny]

I'm getting a new set of Pitbull Rocker radials 37x12.5r17 and they are a heavy tire and so i've heard that they can be a little difficult to balance. Most recommend balancing bead so I think I'm going to give Dynabeads a try but i figured it wouldn't hurt to check here first and so if any one has had any first hand experience with them or any other balancing beads that may be better or recommendations ? From what i read on line it's seems to be pretty mixed reviews, either guys love them and have had great luck or they hate them and didn't work for them haha go figure.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

I have used Dynabeads, Equal, and air soft bb's on many sets of tires with less than desirable (tire shake) results. In theory it sounds like the perfect answer. On semi-trucks they are used with success maybe due to the weight they carry but IMHO NOTHING beats a good balance with wheel weights. If a tire shop tells you they are hard to balance and complains about balancing them, take your business somewhere else.

 

[2fpower]

I have used beads in two vehicles, actually air soft bb's, however, only when it was impossible to balance. Interco super swampers and some mud dog retreads.

I have been happy with them -- much better than unbalanced. At low speeds, under 5mph, you actually hear them rolling around, which takes a while to get used to.

I do like not worrying about losing a wheel weight when we are offroading.

My first choice would be to do a typical balance with weights inside the wheels, second, typical edge weights, and only then beads.

 

[midfat]

I balanced a set of 40's on a Super Duty exclusively using beads. Results were very positive for me. Just know that it takes a mile or two to redistribute the beads every time you come to a stop. Tires shook a bit, but then noticeably calmed down once everything found its place. I was driving in excess of 90mph on the freeway, on 40's, with OEM like smoothness. But again, that was after a lumpy mile or two at the start.

 

[Cruzilla]

I used them in my motorcycle (BMW GSA R1200) and they worked great! they were only unbalanced during deceleration at low speeds.
I am thinking of using them in my Duratracs.. the place where I bought them cant seem to get them balanced. (two tries..)

 

[JeepinPete]

My local mechanic used Equal tire balance media. For the most part I am happy with it. Certainly not street tire type ride or balance, but I don't expect a 37" tire to roll that well.

 

[Mattyboy]

I have used Equal in R22 truck tires with great success.

 

[FXR UPR]

I run beads in my 37" Toyo MTs. Used recommended amount for proper balance. Working pretty good so far.

 

[Cruzilla]

What is the recommended amount?

 

[2fpower]

several calculators and charts.

http://www.counteractbalancing.com/application-calculator/

Tire Balancing Charts for Light Truck, Commercial and Motorcycles

 

[White Stripe]

I tried them. About 5% of the time the beads would get stuck at speed and create a terrible vibration. I would have to come to a stop and start again for them to unstick and balance. Since then Ive gone to beadlocks that don't allow the tire to spin on the wheel when aired down as non beadlock wheels do and I use regular wheel weights.

 

[bug616]

Sounds like they work for some and not others. I used dynabeads and the results were non-existent. Followed their guidance in putting the correct amount for the specific tyre. Simply did not work. Even a hard to balance tyre can be balanced with enough weight.

 

[yotaman]

I just use copper plated BB's. Run them for years on SAS'd minis all the way up to 40" tires. They work like a charm.

 

[Jkny]

Thanks guys i appreciate all the feedback! I'm going to try to have them do a true balance first of course and hope that works well but worst case scenario i will try the beads. The tires that i'm getting are radials so hopefully they'll do ok. I have heard some negative feedback about the beads sticking in some cases but for the most part the more research I've done it's been more positive feedback then negative. If i can cruise smooth on the highway at 70mph i'll be happy!

Also on a side note, I currently have Hub centric balancers on my current set up from the previous owner but i'm not familiar with them at all. So i don't know if i should mount them back up and maybe they'll help to compensate for any mis balancing issues there may be or just take them off and run with out them?

 

[yotaman]

I ran those same tires on a SAS'd 4Runner for lots of miles with BB's in them. I just played around with how many to put in. If more are needed just hi-lift the bead off the rim and add a few more ounces. Some guys that have issues may not have enough weight in the tires. Pitbulls are awesome tires but are heavy.

 

[Jkny]

I ran those same tires on a SAS'd 4Runner for lots of miles with BB's in them. I just played around with how many to put in. If more are needed just hi-lift the bead off the rim and add a few more ounces. Some guys that have issues may not have enough weight in the tires. Pitbulls are awesome tires but are heavy.

Yeah kind of a trial and era thing. I've heard great things about the pitbulls so i'm excited to try them out! My LX is more my weekend toy/wheeler/camping expo rig so i'm not as worried since its not a DD or anything. But at the same time most of the places we go to wheel and camp require some good highway time that's the reason i want to get the best out of them on the highway!

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

@Jkny, I'm glad you are going the conventional way of balancing. Just a few more thoughts...
My son @SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr had 16 oz of air soft bb's last go around in his 35" mud tires. Vibrations and shakes at highway speeds were a common random thing. Repacked and tightened bearings, replaced control arm bushings, replaced shocks, to mention a few, then he had the BB's removed and had the tires balanced with stick-on weights. Smooth all the way to as fast as he can go. Then my other son @SUMMIT CRUISERS III had bb's in his 35" MUD tires which was relatively smooth most of the time. It really wasn't that bad at all. Then I had him recently remove them and balance them the old fashion way. What a difference in how smooth it runs above 70 mph now. I guess I'm a little hard headed in that I've tried about every combination of balancing beads in at least 5 sets of tires over the last 10 to 15 years and since we went back to standard balancing I'll NEVER install balancing beads of any kind in my tires.

 

[yotaman]

One issue with the conventional way is if you drive your truck to the trail and then wheel it the stick on weights get knocked off.

If the BB's (not plastic ones) get a little out of whack on the road a quick hit of the brakes usually gets them back into place. I also run hydro assist so that helps keep the wobbles down.

Either way good luck with your new tires. If you wheel your rig you'll love the pitbulls. You gotta air them down low as they have hard side walls.

 

[Jkny]

@Jkny, I'm glad you are going the conventional way of balancing. Just a few more thoughts...
My son @SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr had 16 oz of air soft bb's last go around in his 35" mud tires. Vibrations and shakes at highway speeds were a common random thing. Repacked and tightened bearings, replaced control arm bushings, replaced shocks, to mention a few, then he had the BB's removed and had the tires balanced with stick-on weights. Smooth all the way to as fast as he can go. Then my other son @SUMMIT CRUISERS III had bb's in his 35" MUD tires which was relatively smooth most of the time. It really wasn't that bad at all. Then I had him recently remove them and balance them the old fashion way. What a difference in how smooth it runs above 70 mph now. I guess I'm a little hard headed in that I've tried about every combination of balancing beads in at least 5 sets of tires over the last 10 to 15 years and since we went back to standard balancing I'll NEVER install balancing beads of any kind in my tires.

Thanks man all good info! Wow sounds like a whole family of Cruisers, Thats awesome, You must be a proud Father! I'm working out a few kinks/mods here and there as I'm doing some slight mods and changing a few things since I've got it the truck earlier this year. For the most part everything is pretty tight and up to date. We just ran thru the truck as i'm getting ready for a 6 day wheeling trip with the new wheels and tires being the last thing getting done before the trip in a couple of weeks. I also just did the part time kit which definitely helped improve the ride quality on the highway with out the front DS spinning,, but i'm still getting some slight vibes between 65-70mph So i'm narrowing it down to either bad rear pinion angle or Possible current tires out of balance? I'm definitely leaning more towards the pinion angle especially since i also just added 4" slee hd rear springs up from the 863 J's But i don't have adjustable links so thats the next thing on the list!

One issue with the conventional way is if you drive your truck to the trail and then wheel it the stick on weights get knocked off.

If the BB's (not plastic ones) get a little out of whack on the road a quick hit of the brakes usually gets them back into place. I also run hydro assist so that helps keep the wobbles down.

Either way good luck with your new tires. If you wheel your rig you'll love the pitbulls. You gotta air them down low as they have hard side walls.

Yes I've had this happen in the past as well or even just getting thick mud stuck on the inside of your wheels and tires can throw everything off!

Thanks man, Oh i definitely do and good to know!

 

[86tuning]

I had a bunch of rim weights on my 315 KM/2 tires that I took off, and then rebalanced the tires using a grooving knife. One of the tires is significantly trimmed, but the other four only have moderate grooving, opposite of where the weights would have been added. I aimed for a pattern that resembled the KO2 a/t tires. And siped the tires while I was at it. No worries about knocking weights off on the trail, or having a tire spin on the rim at low low pressures and require re-balance. Took about an hour and a half to balance 5 tires.