Swamper balancing again? (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Threads
70
Messages
343
I've done the searching and gathered info.

Has there been a consensus on what balances Swampers best?

I have 36x12.50x16 TSL/SX's on the way, should be here this week.

Golf balls maybe? How many?

BB's rusting/clotting possibly doesn't sound good, nor do airballs disintegrating. As well, small, heavy stainless steel balls in rubber banging off aluminum wheels makes me wonder.

I never found the best method last time I ran Swampers several years ago, that I drove on the road often too.
 
I have some experience with running golf balls in Swampers (Swamper Balls?) and I was impressed. There is a thread on Pirate that goes thru how many balls for what tire size. It may not be as smooth as a well balanced Michelin, but what do you expect from a Swamper?

BTW- Mark @ MetalTech is running golf balls in his 37's. I'm sure that he would talk to you about them.
 
I use BBs in mine, and even if they rust and dissenegrate they still blanace the same, if not better. Use too much and you'll never have to rebalance again. BBs do better than golfballs. And your rims will be nice and smooth on the inside when you take the tire off.
 
Does one have to buy a membership for Pirate to search?
 
Golf balls work, but since yours are new, just take them and get them balanced. I've got 38x14.50's on a 15" rim that I took to get balanced. They are smooth as... well as smooth as a swamper is going to get. Actually they are pretty good.

Now I've bought used ones before that were just plane aweful. I tried the Big Truck sand packets. They won't work, as they get wet, and will clump.
 
Stainless ball bearings or Equal (product made for this purpose) are the only things I would use...

Airsoft disintegrates, golf balls don't balance as well as smaller, denser masses, and steel BB's rust.

You don't need to worry about anything damaging the rim. The only time they will ever hit the rim is when you stop, and that will only be a 10" or so fall, nothing that could damage it.

This chart tells you the weight for a given tire size. Anything over what you need is neutral.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/BigTirechart.htm

I use BBs in mine, and even if they rust and dissenegrate they still blanace the same, if not better. Use too much and you'll never have to rebalance again. BBs do better than golfballs. And your rims will be nice and smooth on the inside when you take the tire off.

What about when they rust into a big clump? That won't be a very smooth ride. This makes a big mess inside your tire. Spend a few more bucks for stainless...

article_18_rust.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone.

I've spent hours searching this. Last time I ran TSL's I did the masses of stick on weights inside the back of the rim, which did not appear to help much looking at wear, though I did not have to deal with any DW.

As UPS tracking indicates my SX's will be here today, I'm inclined to try golf balls first this time. I'm thinking 6 per wheel. I stopped by Target after work yesterday and found some nice bright yellow ones. Not that that matters. Regardless, I'm guessing about 10oz per tire, so 6 yellow balls.

If'n the yellow balls fail, I'll try stainless BB's or maybe even the innovative method next.

Though given how many lugs I tore off last time I was driving something with Swampers attached, I wonder how much it'll really matter, but worth a shot.
 
Did you check the link I posted above for the correct amount of weight?

The amount of weight is the same for any medium used to balance the tire...

I think you'll have good results, I managed to get a set of worn out 38.5 SX's to balance out at highway RPM's with this method.

Keep in mind that big tires need less toe in (sometimes even toe out is better), and that they need to be rotated more often than standard tires.

Good Luck !
 
Did you check the link I posted above for the correct amount of weight?

The amount of weight is the same for any medium used to balance the tire...

I think you'll have good results, I managed to get a set of worn out 38.5 SX's to balance out at highway RPM's with this method.

Keep in mind that big tires need less toe in (sometimes even toe out is better), and that they need to be rotated more often than standard tires.

Good Luck !


With the BFG Mud TA's that are on there now and almost gone I've stuck with good old fashioned lead weights and rotating every time I change the oil. I will say AWD seems to be harder on tires period comparing BFG Mud TA wear on three different Toyotas (72 FJ40, 96 Tacoma, 97 FZJ80) as well little BFG AT's I had on the little Outback I used to drive when gas was higher.

Yes I have checked the website out, plus a few others.

I still have a Slee 6" lift on the way replacing the OME J's to install, gears, ARB roof rack, snorkel, a second battery/tray and just installed the M12K. Then will be waiting for a rear bumper/tire carrier too.
 
Did you check the link I posted above for the correct amount of weight?

The amount of weight is the same for any medium used to balance the tire...

I think you'll have good results, I managed to get a set of worn out 38.5 SX's to balance out at highway RPM's with this method.

Keep in mind that big tires need less toe in (sometimes even toe out is better), and that they need to be rotated more often than standard tires.

Good Luck !


With the BFG Mud TA's that are on there now and almost gone I've stuck with good old fashioned lead weights and rotating every time I change the oil. I will say AWD seems to be harder on tires period comparing BFG Mud TA wear on three different Toyotas (72 FJ40, 96 Tacoma, 97 FZJ80) as well little BFG AT's I had on the little Outback I used to drive when gas was higher.

Yes I have checked the website out, plus a few others.

As well I still have a Slee 6" lift on the way replacing the OME J's to install, gears, ARB roof rack, snorkel, a second battery/tray and just installed the M12K. Then will be waiting for a rear bumper/tire carrier too. Plus whatever else.
 
CreeperSleeper is right, I just tossed 5 of the cheapest new golf balls I could find in the Iroks. My experience with swappers is you buy 3 round tires and get a fourth one square anyway. Seams to work fine, the run out smooth on bead locks at 70mph. If anything you get real weird looks buy passengers as you stop and you can hear the balls decelerating/bouncing around. Wrrrr wrrrr wrrr.

Mark
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom