Balancing with Beads + Lead (1 Viewer)

[aktundra]

Looked through some related threads, and saw mixed results from balancing with Beads. Anybody know why some have great results (assuming professional truckers ), and some have bad results with Beads ? What causes some good and done bad results ?

I’ve got 44x18.5x15, and my shop was able to spin balance 2 tires, and the other 2 are within 2 oz. spent a couple of hours on these two, and just could not get ‘em to zero. I’ve had several people that have told me; whatever you do, you cannot mix Beads and lead. You have to go 100% one way or another.

Anybody been in a similar place, and slipped in some Beads, just to dail in the last little bit ?

 

[bug616]

Dynabead say that you can mix beads with balancing weights but that the wheel needs to be spun for a while longer than normal when on the balancing machine to allow them to settle before reading off where any additional weights need to go. I can’t vouch for whether this works or not, is just what Dynabead advised me when I put your query to them a few years back.

 

[Dindu Nuffin]

I've used Dynabeads for years on motorcycles, and use airsoft pellets in my trucks. I've found that 12 oz. in each tire on the trucks ensures a smooth ride. Some will say to use less, but an excess won't throw it out of balance and I'd rather err on the safe side in case a tire needs more than the usual amount to balance out.

 

[weigellj]

For what its worth I've had luck with the following over the years.

Wife's 100 series is running 285" tires. Shop could not get them to balance at all with lead. I think its due to them not having the correct adapter for a factory yota rim, but what do I know. Had them put the balancing beads in all 4 and its smooth with no issues compared to lead which you could not run it above 50 MPH. (they called these ceramic beads, no idea on brand or what. I am guessing like the dynabead)

Set of Aluminum pro comp rims with 315" mud tires - Again, put the beads in with no issues at the same place.

International scout with 38" gumbo monster mudders with no lead on them when I got them. Grooved to heck, about 20 year old tires I would guess. Followed the chart on Dynabead and they where smooth to 60MPH which shocked myself using airsoft BB's.

Final set - I bought and welded on the bead lock kit on procomp rims, 17x9 with 37" tires. First run with zero weights/beads, obvious bounce/shake. Then put around 12 oz per wheel, and it was pretty good except for around 45 MPH, had a little unbalance, steering wheel shake which I wasn't happy with. Then put 4 more oz in for about 18 oz of airsoft BB's in them total. They run smooth up to 70 (about the limit of my 80). I used the Dynabead chart online and I think that is where I got the 12 oz from.

I'd follow the chart and put in what they say and run it on the vehicle, provided everything else is in spec on it, Toe in, camber/caster ect....

 

[alia176]

Some of these numbers are mind boggling to me but I'm comparing apples and oranges. 12oz/18oz of beads/air soft pellets inside the tire vs less than 5 oz of lead on the rim perimeter. This is quite interesting.

 

[Tools R Us]

My understanding if attempting to mix beads and weights, it's best to do the weights first, then add beads. If/when re-balance is needed, remove the beads, redo the weights, then replace the beads. Kind of a pain, the best plan is to use one or the other.

Beads are effective for normal/vertical balance problems, the type that cause tire hop. They are ineffective for lateral balance problems, the type that cause steering oscillation/shake. Lateral balance problems are when the weight is needed at or near the sidewall, due to the shape of the inside of the tire, the beads can't get to where they are needed. The wider, bigger, heavier, the tire, the bigger the chance that beads will be ineffective. Overall, wide/big/heavy tires are a challenge to balance and tend to go square more than other tires, better suited for slow speeds.