Anyone Using Bead Balancing?

[BMERDOC]

I consider myself to be a master at diagnosis and maintenance when it comes to wheels and tires but this is a new one on me. Anyone doing this? Digging into it I saw BBs, golf balls, air soft pellets...enlighten on your experience please.

http://aircooledtech.com/tools-on-th...lancing_beads/

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.php

http://www.whitehorsegear.com/dyna-b...tive-balancing

[mbgmike]

two buddies of mine with bikes say they work great but they have only used them for 6 months or so

[kSStamp0182]

they use these for commercial tires mostly. and alot of 44+" tires

[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by kSStamp0182

they use these for commercial tires mostly. and alot of 44+" tires

I can understand that. As the tires get bigger so do the weights.

[kSStamp0182]

Originally Posted by BMERDOC

I can understand that. As the tires get bigger so do the weights.

exactly. i've dealt with them some,

most typical balancing machines can only fit up to 40-44" or so tires.

the ones i used were just in a plastic pack that you drop into the tire.

glad those days are behind me tho commercial tires SUCK to mount haha

[BMERDOC]

And I see the need to eliminate weight tossin. Come to think of it, we used an external bead weight system for a minute but they were stupid. Looked like sticker weights but were 3x longer than the equivalent zinc sticker weight. I couldn't bring myself to use them. I saw this and imagined a new way not to mar expensive rims with sticker adhesive. I'd love to find a rule of thumb for bead weight v. wheel/tire assembly weight or size.

[blime81]

Ask and you shall receive:
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/tirechartmap.htm

I use air soft bbs and have been running them in my DD for almost 4 years.
They are super cheap from wallymart 5k (enough for 2 35" tires) for like 8 bucks. Easy to install, simply break the bead on one side, pour them in and reseat the bead.

On my Jeep if mud gets packed into the rims off road there aren't balance issues once I hit the pavement again. If I'm running super low tire pressure no concern when a tire slips on the rim but doesn't unseat. If I tear a lug off or something off road no worries either. The tire will always be balanced.

The link gives the minimum weight. You really can't put to much (within reason) since the excess will always find a neutral spot once spinning so I run a couple ounces more than recommended.

Never have to worry about them coming off either (if you have ever lost a wheel weight at speed you know what I'm talking about).

[BMERDOC]

Thank you for the info. I looked at innovative.com quickly but didn't search around the site. The science does make sense and thats the reason I have asked my friends here. I'm the one everyone around me asks and if I dont know... I asked you guys first. You guys always seem to know!

[andrewmp6]

I have seen the metal bbs used in rc rock crawlers so you have extra weight on the wheels.

[gottattooz]

I've been using DynaBeads in my motorcycle tires for a few years now. They work great.

-Josh

[blime81]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

I have seen the metal bbs used in rc rock crawlers so you have extra weight on the wheels.

Yeah I've done that in my RC crawlers too....wrapping the inside of the wheels in lead tape or solder works better IMO.... lol

BUT just so we are clear this is not the same, since the idea with RC crawlers is to keep the weight at the bottom and the CG low. In full sized rock crawlers some people put water in the tires for the same reason but that's on rigs that don't see the hwy. http://www.trail-gear.com/pdf/170501.pdf

For those following along and wondering how you balance a tire from the inside, the idea with internal balancing is that once you are going about 20 mph the loose weights begin to spin with the tire not just roll in the bottom. Centrifugal force makes the weights inside the tire spin opposite the heavy spots in the tire and effectively counter balances those heavy spots. Since tire balance is only important at speed (above 20-25mph) this is fine.

Oh and BTW whatever you do don't use steel BBs in a full size tire. They are loud as heck when you slow down and the BBs are no longer held by centrifugal force causing them to drop and of course they rust with the water from compressed air turning into a rusty muck. Seen this first hand in a buddy's Jeep.

Many of the factory made internal weights are some sort of zinc and of course airsoft BBs are plastic. Many semi trucks have a zinc powder type internal balance that can be put in through the valve stem.

I figure if it's good enough for an over the road trucker to not have to worry about balance for the crazy miles they put on tires, it'll do for me! I noticed that it was very helpful in curing what many refer to as "death wobble" in a lifted Jeep and believe it has "somewhat" extended my tire life.