Need expert advice on balancing beads

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Dec 13, 2012
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Meridian Idaho
I have Cooper 315/75R16R on my LX450 - every 1000 miles I am fighting tire balance - does any of you using balancing beads? How that works for you? Cons ? Pros? Plase experts only those who do have them in - no theory.
 
I am running dyna beads in my 87 4Runner wheeler with 36" irocs on bead locks, and I swear they run smoother now then they did on steel wheels with lead weights. Little spendy but worth it. My .02
 
I didn't find they worked as well as static weights, ran them in 285/75/16E Duratracs on my last truck. They would be a bit out of balance until you hit a certain speed and the beads stabilized in the tire, you would get the occasional off-balance symptom, but it wouldn't be there the next time, they made noise as you came to a stop. I had one bead jam in the valve stem when I was airing my tires down, which sucked. They were meh, I won't use them going forward.

Find someone with the Hunter tire balancing machine and get it done right. Factory wheels I assume?
 
I didn't find they worked as well as static weights, ran them in 285/75/16E Duratracs on my last truck. They would be a bit out of balance until you hit a certain speed and the beads stabilized in the tire, you would get the occasional off-balance symptom, but it wouldn't be there the next time, they made noise as you came to a stop. I had one bead jam in the valve stem when I was airing my tires down, which sucked. They were meh, I won't use them going forward.

Find someone with the Hunter tire balancing machine and get it done right. Factory wheels I assume?
ya factory LX450 rims
 
I've been using Dyna beads and airsoft BB's for many years. No bad experiences at all. Air soft BB's are way cheaper ($15 for 4 tires). Dyna Beads can be installed through the valve stem with a small funnel and the use of palm sander. They also recommend you install filtered valve stems. Installation of the air soft BB's require you to break the beads down.
 
LT345/75R16 BFG Mud Terrain KM2 The Truck Stop that mounted them for me reccomended Equal Powder. I have 5000 mi. since and I cannot believe for 12 bucks a tire how smooth the roll Is . I am old school and I was skeptical, I maybe noticed a slight vibration when cold until speed is achieved. I am very anal so most would not be aware of It and I am really scrutinizing this. Thumbs up on equal Powder..! I failed to mention that this was purchased in April of 14 so Its over a year of low mi. driving. Hope this helps, call a truck stop and ask what works best for large tires, they sure should have some knowledge of this, LOL Good Lock !
 
I've used them (now use airsoft pellets) for 3 different sets of tires, from SS SSR's (35 X 10.50), SS TrXus (255/85/16) and my current set of Michelin XL's (9R16's) with great success, have had the XL's over 80 mph in my FZJ80.

No magic to using them, just be sure to use enough (I use the Balance Bead chart and add 10% more for extra margin) Balance beads are expensive as compared to using airsoft pellets. Crack the bead, dump them in, re-inflate and away you go...
 
I'm running airsoft in mine so far so good. Ran them from south AL- St. Louis daily drove for a month and back to South AL for a week and then to Dallas Tx..... No issues yet.
 

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