Balance beads work!

[PPettit]

I decided to try balance beads in my Toyo M55's when I put them on this winter and though I would share the experience with all on the list here. I had severely flat spotted 2 of these tires last winter and the local Les Schwab tire dealer basically said "tough luck".

After reading many post on the subject and visiting a few vendor websites I selected the beads from Inovative Balancing Solutions. I ordered 4 oz. per wheel as their website suggested along with the fill kit and filtered valve cores. Removing the lead weights was no problem with a pair of pliers. The first surprise I got was trying to get these into the tire thru the valve stem. I thought this would be the easy part. Wrong. It took about 20 min on each tire beating on the sidewall with my deadblow hammer.

Once I got the wheels and tires back on the truck, it did not feal any different at first. I still had major vibration at ~37 and ~75 mph. But wait! after about 10 miles the vibration is reduced almost to nothing. I ran the speed up and down thru these speeds and I can feel it but just barely. I am truely amazed.

I will repost again next week after my trip over the pass to Portland and back and let you know if I am still this impressed.



Phil

 

[JGK]

I put 285 M55's on my truck on Labor Day weekend. I did not allow Schwab to balance the tires. Like you, I put in 4oz of the same beads in each tire. This is the first time I've ever tried beads. They seem to work just as advertised. The tires are smooth as they can be at hiway speeds. No unusual wear noticed at this point. So far, seems like a good product.



-Jay

 

[DGStrate]

I will jump in here and add that I agree also!! Oo.



I am running BFG 315s on stock alloy rims, and I am VERY satisfied with the balancing beads...



Very good product, MUCH cheaper than conventional balancing...



BTW: Make sure you have an extra "dose" on hand in case you get a flat and they all spill out (I patch my flats from the inside).

 

[DGibbs]

Count me in as a believer! I put the same beads in the wife's ride, 99 Suburban. Made a huge difference in the BFGoodrich All-Terrains. Used to be the whole dash would shake violently above 63 MPH. Now smooth as glass. Now if I could just figure out how to get the old weights off without digging into the alloy wheels. Suggestions?

 

[DGStrate]

Count me in as a believer! I put the same beads in the wife's ride, 99 Suburban. Made a huge difference in the BFGoodrich All-Terrains. Used to be the whole dash would shake violently above 63 MPH. Now smooth as glass. Now if I could just figure out how to get the old weights off without digging into the alloy wheels. Suggestions?

Deflate the tire, use a channel locks (preferably new - read SHARP teeth)... press in on the sidewall of the tire with the top of the channel lock head. Grip the weight by the top of the clip and the bottom of the weight (surface opposite the clip)... Pry up towards outside of rim, pressing into the deflated tire sidewall.



Between the clip of the weight being flexing and the tire being deflated (no pressure on weight), it will bend right off...



Good luck!

 

[JGK]

Can the removal tool used by the tire shops pop them off with the tire inflated? If so, go in and ask to borrow theirs for a minute. Imagine the look on their face when you tell them the weights are throwing the balance off!



-Jay

 

[stick]

I'm a believer too! 32,000 miles on these tires, lots of tread left. I use to be real lucky to get 30,000 out of a set of tires.



Stick

 

[lil red cummins]

why do you want to remove the lead weights. wouldn't it be better to get the tire closer to its "ideal" balance and let the balancing beads finish the job?????



jim

 

[John - K5AWO]

I agree with you lil red cummins. .



Leave the weights on, it will take a lot less time for the beads to balance out the tire perfectly AND you won't have to put up with the out-of-balance condition as you speed up each time after a stop. Been there, done that.

 

[DGStrate]

I am running my wheels without the lead weights... maybe the extent of the out-of-balance condition depends on the brand of beads that you use? I use Counteract balancing beads and do not experience this condition...



Also, in reference to the weights getting the wheel "closer" to ideal balance... I respectfully disagree with this theory. I do not want to start a war, but here are my reasons:



1) If you have the correct amount of beads in the wheel, they will balance it out without assistance (for example, 4 oz. are balancing my 315s perfectly)



2) Weights on the rim may get the wheel closer to ideal balance INITIALLY, but as the tire wears, they will throw it OFF balance further. This is what happens when you run weights alone... eventually you have to rebalance the tire because the balancing requirements of the tire change as it wears down and the weights no longer meet the balancing needs of the tire (the placement of the weight or the amount of weight becomes ineffective). In this case, the weights will eventually be working AGAINST the beads, rather than complementing them.



3) (this one is subjective only) Weights trap dirt, sand, salt, etc in between themselves and your wheel. I did not want to have these elements marring my wheel finish any faster than it will degrade on its own.



Counterpoints are welcome... as I mentioned, not trying to start a war, but just to have productive discussion

 

[lil red cummins]

DG:



all very good points. that was the type of answer i was looking for. i definately agree with leaving the weights off so as to not mar the wheel. every aluminum rim i have ever had has been destroyed by the clip on weights



jim

 

[DGStrate]

DG:



all very good points. that was the type of answer i was looking for. i definately agree with leaving the weights off so as to not mar the wheel. every aluminum rim i have ever had has been destroyed by the clip on weights



jim

Thanks Jim...



Glad I could help!



In the past, to avoid marring wheels, I have used weights on the inside of the rim only (does not balance out as well with the larger truck tires), or used the stick-on weights that you place on from the back side of the wheel that have adhesive on them and stick to the inner diameter of the rim.



I prefer my balancing beads over anything this far!



Many Thanks to Counteract!! Saving me $$$ and sanity!

 

[velsberry]

I decided to try balance beads in my Toyo M55's when I put them on this winter and though I would share the experience with all on the list here. I had severely flat spotted 2 of these tires last winter and the local Les Schwab tire dealer basically said "tough luck".

After reading many post on the subject and visiting a few vendor websites I selected the beads from Inovative Balancing Solutions. I ordered 4 oz. per wheel as their website suggested along with the fill kit and filtered valve cores. Removing the lead weights was no problem with a pair of pliers. The first surprise I got was trying to get these into the tire thru the valve stem. I thought this would be the easy part. Wrong. It took about 20 min on each tire beating on the sidewall with my deadblow hammer.

Once I got the wheels and tires back on the truck, it did not feal any different at first. I still had major vibration at ~37 and ~75 mph. But wait! after about 10 miles the vibration is reduced almost to nothing. I ran the speed up and down thru these speeds and I can feel it but just barely. I am truely amazed.

I will repost again next week after my trip over the pass to Portland and back and let you know if I am still this impressed.



Phil

I can't find Innovative Balancing Solutions on the web. Do you have their url?



Thanks!

 

[DGStrate]

I can't find Innovative Balancing Solutions on the web. Do you have their url?



Thanks!

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/



-Derek

 

[velsberry]

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/



-Derek

Thanks for the quick reply. Don't know why Google didn't find their site. I just ordered beads for my '97 and for my 5er!



Thanks again,

 

[Willys]

I have a question for you bead gurus- Can these beads wear the inside of the tire? I've seen what a rock in a tumbling machine looks like when its done... is this happening inside the tire as we drive?

 

[Matt400]

I doubt trouble with that or these bead companies would have big time law suites to deal with. I may have to give these a try on my next set. Would be nice to not bother with a rebalance the life of the tire.

 

[The Adjuster]

Yup... these things certainly got my interest too ... heard of the steel beads a few years back but was just opposed to putting steel things in my tires but sounds like these are way to go, will be putting new boots on the truck before winter and will give these a try ... lifetime balance solution for the tire has got to save you money in the long haul . . as long as you dont get to many flats. Oo.



Kevin

 

[PPettit]

Wow, talk about a thread growing while you take a few days to go to work!

Anyhow, as I mentioned in my first post 2 of my tires (on the rear) are flat spotted pretty badly. Before the beads went in they would make the truck feel like the back end was hopping off the ground when I slowed through ~37 mph. After putting the beads in and driving about 400 miles, I am happy to report that the truck feels attached to the ground now. I still feel the flats at certain speeds but it is just a minor irritant. I'm sold on the beads now.

Phil

 

[John - K5AWO]

I have a question for you bead gurus- Can these beads wear the inside of the tire? I've seen what a rock in a tumbling machine looks like when its done... is this happening inside the tire as we drive?

There isn't going to be very much in the way of rotational movement in the tires. A little each time you start up of course, but they will begin to spread evenly around the tire and then just stay in position pretty much.