Recently Installed Counteract Balancing Beads

[RAMINSPEED]

I’ve been running 315’s for about 15,000 miles and thought it would be good to get them rebalanced as preventative maintenances. Well I was WRONG. After 4 rebalances in the last month with unsatisfactory results, I skeptically went ahead and ordered some counteract balancing beads. They recommend 6oz per tire for the 315’s and even for the 265’s. I decided to install them through the valve stem with a funnel to keep the cost down, boy what a pain in-the-but that was. I would recommend doing it some other way. Even after loosing some by spilling some on the ground, they actually do work. I was quite pleased. They aren’t 100% better but MUCH better than before. The truck overall ride is much better than before.



I spoke with Counteract in regards to it not being 100% and they recommended add a few more ounces per wheel, so I will give that a try. In the near future and let you know if it’s better.



I have no affiliation with Counteract, just a happy customer after too much frustration with old school balancing techniques that didn’t work. I’ll be hard pressed to ever go back to lead weights again.

 

[thejeepdude]

Good to see another good report on these things. I'd be curious to try them, but what gets me is that the way I go through tires (slicing sidewalls on rocks usually) the cost of them would be prohibitive. If they were somehow reusable then I would probably go for it, but I can picture it now "mr. tire guy, could you please pick up all those little balls that fell on the floor, clean them, and put them back into my new tire... purdy pleeeez". Oh well, maybe someday...

 

[yogibear]

Hey jeepdude, its still cheaper at 6. 00 for the beads. Around here its 9. 50+ for weight bal.

 

[thejeepdude]

Except that the mounting/balance is free when I trash a tire because of the lifetime balance I paid for up front. And I think the beads I need for big tires more than $6... but maybe I need to look into it again... I know I'm just a cheapskate sometimes

 

[AndyMan]

Except that the mounting/balance is free when I trash a tire because of the lifetime balance I paid for up front. And I think the beads I need for big tires more than $6... but maybe I need to look into it again... I know I'm just a cheapskate sometimes

My bro-in-law is into rockcrawling, and uses 3 golf balls per tire when the trailer queen (trail-rig) has to be driven on the highway. says it works well.

 

[bpenrod]

Centermatics are re-usable from vehicle to vehicle as long as the bolt pattern is the same. Planning on getting a set for my truck next month if all goes well.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

The beads are real small. If you get a hole in the tire and they all spill out, just use one of those car vacs to suck them up. :-laf

 

[jmadden]

Golf balls do seem to work. I use 4 in each tire (36x12. 50x15 swamper SX) on my Landcruiser... the guys running 38's bump the number of balls to 5. Cruiser only gets a few hundred road miles per year as it's really more of the off-road toy.



jm

 

[cummins_crewcab]

I run 8 mouse balls in each of my 42's on my trail rig. Oh, and they are computer mice balls, not actual mouse balls .

 

[jimk]

golf balls

My bro-in-law is into rockcrawling, and uses 3 golf balls per tire when the trailer queen (trail-rig) has to be driven on the highway. says it works well.

I have heard that also but have not tried it. I will have to add a few to my trailer . Is 3 balls the number on a trailer tires? thanks Jim

 

[jmadden]

I was always told not to balance trailer tires, although never heard why. Not sure how well the golf balls would work in a trailer tire just from the math end... 5 balls in a 38" tire, 4 balls in a 36" tire... if the series continues that would be 3 for a 34", 2 for a 32" and 1 in a 30"... my trailer tires seem smaller than that. also think by the time you get to less than 3 the balls may not allocate weight properly... maybe something lighter than a golf ball if balancing trailer tires is a good idea. I have heard of a guy using musket balls and one using bird shot... but both of those seemed like they would be harder on a tire carcass.



jm

 

[RAMINSPEED]

I wouldn’t use any lead based shot in my tires due to the lead dust that WILL develop over time and the hazards associated with that. Every time you let out some air it will be blowing lead dust at you and I’m sure the tire guy will love you when he gets dusted with lead while changing your tires. :-{} Stick with the media that’s designed for doing the job. The price isn’t that bad. The Counteract I used is smooth glass like beads that adhere to the tire via static electricity. The media is also inert and doesn’t have any health effects. I would recommend to anyone that has any balancing media in their tires to wear safety glasses when removing any air from the tires.

 

[fbaurley]

Where are you guys buying the counteract balancing beads at? I have a friend who is interested, but is having a hard time finding them

 

[DGStrate]

Where are you guys buying the counteract balancing beads at? I have a friend who is interested, but is having a hard time finding them

Bought mine at:

http://www.dugcosupply.com/



They ship, are pretty quick, and had a good transaction...



-Derek

 

[TFerrari]

I have mine on order. I am getting the ceramic ones from www.innovtivebanancing.com. My buddy used them for his 315's and had excellent results. I just installed my tires this week and left all weights off. Funny thing is they feel great with no weight at all right now. Can only get better.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

Well I injected another 3 oz into each wheel like Counteract said to do and it made it ride worse :{ I cant take it over 45 mph without serious shaking. I’m going to have to pop the bead and remove all the media and start over. I’m not happy. :{