Balance Beads experience?

Anyone use beads to balance their wheels/tires? Tire shop suggested it. He said they just kinda pour the beads in there and let them roll around and self-balance. It's witchcraft to me. Thoughts?

 

thank you!

 

Logic says it should shake like crazy until the beads settle it always sounded like snake oil to me

 

Im on the fence. I kind of trust the installer - but there will have to be a mandate that if they don't work he will not charge me to fix it.

 

Pretty much any tire co worth their salt can balance tires, the modern machines make it a no brainer. Shoot when I was working in a old garage decades ago we managed to balance them with a bubble balancer.

 

Worked great for me on my '68 Bronco.

 

Beads work great, been using them for years in street bike tires.

 

Yep, I have them in my motorcycle tires.

The trick is to install the correct amount of beads for the tire size.

 

Tried on my sport bike many moons ago. Total crap. Just balance the tire properly.

 

I think they make different sizes for truck tires too, because the small ones for motorcycles/car tires can get stuck in the ridges more easily.

 

We ran into too many issues. Plus feel terrible below 25mph, make sure they use nitrogen, moisture becomes a problem.

 

I just went through the Counteract Balance bead website.

For my truck on 265/65-17 tires......each tire needs 4 oz of beads.

 

Tried it once, did not work for me.

 

There is the kicker suppose it calls for 5 OZ on the balancer not unusual for a 16 inch truck tire also the weights maybe inches apart. There is a big difference between a static and dynamic balance.

 

Based on some research.....

The beads seem to be more functional on narrow tires. They are good for Vertical balance.

They can not compensate for the lateral (sideways) imbalance on wide tires.

 

Are 255's 'wide'?

 

Depends on what you are comparing the 255s against.

Suggest you run some research and decide for yourself.

Many sites have reviews or manufacturer sites.......

I have them in my motorcycle tires, but the widest tire is 4" wide and 16" diameter.

 

Tried beads on two sets of tires at the recommended amount and different amounts, and there always were intermittent shakes or vibrations at different speeds.

 

I am comparing them with the comment "They are okay for narrow tires" - the question is 'narrow compared to what? In your view, are 255/85/16s something you'd consider using them in?' This is the research - to seek experience from real people and then try to make the call.

Thanks Knute.

-d