Thoughts on balancing beads

[hemi43]

I've had difficulty getting a proper balance on my wheels and would like to try balancing beads. Anyone have any experience with these?
I'm running factory rallies with 12.5X33X15 Goodyear Duratracs

[bnorth]

I used them a bit years ago when I worked in a tire shop. From my experience I would say they work ok in very large tires (38" plus, particularly bias plies) or semi truck steer tires. If you are having balance issues with just a 33/12.50 I think you have some other issue going on such as an out of round wheel or defect in the tire.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I used them a bit years ago when I worked in a tire shop. From my experience I would say they work ok in very large tires (38" plus, particularly bias plies) or semi truck steer tires. If you are having balance issues with just a 33/12.50 I think you have some other issue going on such as an out of round wheel or defect in the tire.

I have one rim that the center is a bit damaged, and we can't get the rim to run true on the balancing machine and that's why I'm having an issue. I found someone with a newer machine that uses the bolt holes for locatng the rim, so I will give that a shot. It's not a huge issue, but I'd like to have this thing run like a brand new truck.
Thanks for that info.

[bnorth]

yes if the hub is damaged I would recommend having it "pin balanced" where they use the bolt holes to spin it instead of a cone in the hub. Road force balancing can also be a big help in locating and/or correcting an issue.

[Mike C]

I have a set of Centerline forged wheels that have an odd shaped outer rim that won’t take clip on weights, and they are chrome so the stick on weights fly off. I used balance beads on the Goodyear Wrangler II’s ( the 16.5 humvee bias tire) because they desperately needed something to take the bounce out… And when I went to BFG AT’s i used beads again and they have worked out great. I used the name brand tiny ceramic beads. Can’t remember the name but a google search should find them for you.

[jjzepplin]

I have used them on Mickey Thompson 16" wheels with 36" Swampers. Worked very well. Got the tires mounted and beads added at 4Wheel Parts in California. Drove the truck to Florida and was smooth the whole way. As smooth as Swampers could be I guess. However, I would replace any damaged wheel for dang sure!. Unless you just look at your truck. I had steel wagon type wheels and at slight speeds they would flex at the hub when I hit bumps. SCARY! It was 1/2 ton running gear then. The one tons and better wheels was a major difference!

[truckster]

I used them on my RV and they worked OK. I've never used them on a daily driver.

[hemi43]

I finally got around to getting some balancing beads, but they were impossible to get into the tire through the valve stem. Anyone contemplating doing this , don't!
My tires take 8oz each, and after trying for at least 1 1/2 hours I was able to get about half that amount in in only one tire. I used the supplied bottle and tube to do this but would have been easier to use tweezers to drop each tinny ball in one by one.
When I get time I will pop the bead and install them that way.
I must say that even with only around 4oz in one front tire I noticed a huge improvement.

[jjzepplin]

I always wondered if I could just weigh some BBs and drop them in from an open bead. I would think it would work. I have a vibration in my 2014 at over 70 Mph. Maybe I will give it a shot. You see what I did there?

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

I always wondered if I could just weigh some BBs and drop them in from an open bead. I would think it would work. I have a vibration in my 2014 at over 70 Mph. Maybe I will give it a shot. You see what I did there?

From what I've learned, buy the proper beads. They are made from tempered glass or ceramics and won't turn into powder after a couple thousand miles. Steel BBs will eventually disintegrate and may rust and clump up.
In a perfect world I should have refilled my tires with nitrogen but my tank was empty.

[1972CST]

I just installed a set of 33x12.50-15 BFG AT's and used ceramic beads.
The manufacturer recommended 8oz per tire so that's what I went with.
After doing a 150 mile trip of mixed back roads and highway, I was not thrilled with the tire balance.
Under 50mph was generally fine, over 50mph was rolling the dice on what speed the vibrations would occur and severity of vibration.
At least with static balanced tires, if you have a vibration, you can predict it and avoid that speed.
With beads, the vibration seams to be dynamic, 75mph might be smooth one minute and vibrate the next.

Cant say that I would use them again.

[hemi43]

I guess we all have different results. I never removed my static weights even though it was recommended to and used the beads just to try and get a better balance. All I can say is a couple months later and a few thousand miles, I'm very happy.

[RunsWithScissors]

I have the glass beads in several cars. They work great. Don't skimp, buy the glass ones. Ensure the inside is clean and dry, even if you have to dismount the tire to do so. Any tire that used the ol fix-a-flat or slime will not work with beads. Patches and plugs are ok.

[patman3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47s4L1Wje4

TLDR: Works…but only under certain circumstances.

[jjzepplin]

So I am about to put some beads in a new set of Goodyears on my 2014 Sierra and I find that there are several weights of packages that I can buy. I guess it matters what size tire they are going in. I guess I could see how much weight is on there now and go with an average of all the tires.

[RunsWithScissors]

Same weight at the wheel radius vs at the tire radius will have different effects. Less weight is needed the further from center it is applied.

That being said, you would be better off erring on the side of too much.

[jjzepplin]

So I got ceramic beads and am going with 4 oz per tire. I think I am going to put these together today so let me know your thoughts.

[jjzepplin]

Well I did my best with my pancake compressor to seat the beads of the new tires, but in this case persistence did not help. After driving around my itsy bitsy town to find someone with a tire machine, I finally gave up as everyone was closed. I reinstalled My old tire. I ordered a bead seater air blaster and now the wait begins again. I will also borrow a bigger compressor. I am doing it my self as the rims need a little work and I may repaint them ETC.

[Mike C]

To get the beads to flow into the tire through the valve stem, use a DA sander to vibrate the filler tube. Runs in like water.

The big tire off-road guys use air soft BB’s. Since they are too large to put in through the valve stem, the wrap them in a Kleenex and then seat the bead. The Kleenex turns to dust pretty quick in the tire. Some of the really big tire guys probably run more than a pound and half of Airsofts.

[jjzepplin]

Well I finally got my tires on with help of a cheetah style air blaster. Still a lot of work as you are not supposed to use any type of lubricant in the tires except maybe a little Armor All which I didn’t have. So I placed the small bags of beads in the tires. The bags are supposed to break open after a few runs around the block. I still have to test it on the freeway but so far so good. I will update when I get on the highway.

[jjzepplin]

Well I hope the bags are still not broken open cause at about 65mph she shakes bad. I may have to take them apart and suck the beads out and get them rebalanced. BOO!