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Topic: Tire beads (Read 920 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire beads

So here I am talking about snake oil stuff again. When I got my coach the tire shop I used (COOP) didnt have a truck balance machine. Fourdayoff Jim had talked me into using tire balance beads. (Snake oil IMO) and I did. 16 ounces per tire. And it worked. And it worked really well? How could this be?
Today Jim and I installed 4 near new takeoff Michelin tires on my TOAD. 2006 Dodge Ram Mega cab diesel. Stripped the old tires and the factory balance weights off. I had added .010" ceramic balance beads to it several years ago to help with road hop on one of our local freeways I drive every day to work. Supposed to take 4 ounces and they came in 8 ounce bags so I had just thrown a bag in each wheel. Made a huge reduction in the harmonic hop. Well today removing the old worn out Firestone tires I was amazed at the amount of ground up rubber there was floating around inside the tire. I expected that the beads would have chewed up the inside of the tire somewhat. Absolutely spotless. Zero evidence of rubber. Ceramic beads were pristine clean and dust free. Vacuumed them out of the old tires and put them in the new.  Didn't see one damaged bead either. Put the new tires on and took off for some hi speed R and D. The new tires are as smooth as silk at 70MPH. Snake oil, im telling you, no possible way these can work
And yet they do!  :headwall:

Amazon.com: ESCO 20462C Truck Tire Balancing Beads, 8 oz., Case of 24 Bags :...

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Re: Tire beads

Reply #1 –
Take it your being facetious about the snake oil comment,if comparing the beads to the few hundred dollar centramic hula hoops
then for the price difference the centramica are snake oil,they both keep the tire balanced but one is a whole lot more money.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #2 –
My only issue with the beads is when I and turning and speed up without allowing the beads to level out they seem to get stuck to the sidewall and shake the tire
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
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transgendered

Re: Tire beads

Reply #3 –
Quote from: John44 –
Take it your being facetious about the snake oil comment,if comparing the beads to the few hundred dollar centramic hula hoops
then for the price difference the centramica are snake oil,they both keep the tire balanced but one is a whole lot more money.
John all I'm saying is that they work. I'm not smart enough to understand how they work, and after a bunch of miles the tires inside were spotlessly clean. The centramica are something else I dont understand, and am probably not going to purchase Thus a non issue to me.  I originally thought the beads were a joke, But they work. I even spent a 1/2 hour reading about them today and possible have a better understanding of something that doesn't make sense. Hope that clears this up for you, it hasn't helped me at all.
Scott

Re: Tire beads

Reply #4 –
Beads do the same thing those liquid filled harmarnic balancers do.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #5 –
I use plastic BBs . they work fine and are large enough so as not to get stuck in the valve or TPMS. stuff. 
16 oz seems to work well.  They may take a few miles for the tire to get round and all of the beeds to settle  for the first few runs in the morning.  After the initial 10 mile  shakes, everything gets smooth.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #6 –
I've used Counteract balancing beads for years, and recall seeing in the older instructions, that after changing speed and reaching a constant speed, it could take some small bumps/tar seams to distribute the beads correctly...i.e. a very smooth surface might not allow the beads to find "home".  If I feel a vibration, I aim for the shoulder/center rumble strips for a sec. and the ride instantly smooths out.  The sweet spot for my FT is 67mph, coincidently the ISM450's rpm happy place.  Here's a link to their info on harmonics that may provide some science to the snake oil.  Woody.

https://counteractbalancing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/How-to-Eliminate-vehicle-Vibrations-with-figures2023.pdf
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Tire beads

Reply #7 –
I used beads inside the tire on 19.5 rims on my previous coach and found that on the rough I5 every big bump caused steering wheel shake for a few seconds before smoothing out again. When smooth, it was so smooth it felt like the wheels were not turning, then another big bump. On normal highways beads work well. I now have balance weights on front and balance tubes on the rear. 
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Tire beads

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
I use plastic BBs . they work fine and are large enough so as not to get stuck in the valve or TPMS. stuff. 
16 oz seems to work well.  They may take a few miles for the tire to get round and all of the beeds to settle  for the first few runs in the morning.  After the initial 10 mile  shakes, everything gets smooth.
The ceramic beads im using are .010. They are too big for the stems also

Re: Tire beads

Reply #9 –
Ive been using them for over 20 years with excellent results. Started by using them on motorcycle tires as they often can be a bear to balance. I DIY all my own tires, 9 vehicles that need tires balanced. I own my own computer spin balancer. But tires the size and weight of the RV, using beads makes more sense and they work great. When both my wife and I worked, we both would go through a set of tires about every 16 months. Rural living, on average 120+ daily commutes = lots of tire stuff done around here. I have had many trailer tires over the years, that did not want to balance properly with weights, beads always worked for those. I have also had some tires that would need occasional re-balance over the life of the tire, before I did my own, I was always having to go back to the tire place to have them done. Even with my own machine a Nuisance. If I have such a tire I remove the weights and install the beads, beads constantly adjust to these situations and not more constant re-balance. Not sure about the bead size, I usually buy them in a bulk container as its lots cheaper than the drop in packs, and install while tire/rim is broken rather than through the stem. Dyna beads I know are incredibly small and claim through the valve stem is their approach, but they are also the most pricey of all them. Magic or snake oil, or just plain centrifugal physics, they work.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918

Re: Tire beads

Reply #10 –
I use them in the front wheels of my coach, which have been replaced.  I also use them in my motorcycles.  They work well.  Fourdayoff turned me on to them too.

Here's a decent graphical "how it works" page:  How It Works
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Tire beads

Reply #11 –
Sometimes I have a slight vibration.  I have had my front tires for a few years and checked to see if I lost a weight.  I was not able to find any weights on the front tires.  I am not sure if I paid, or requested that they be balanced when I got them.  I am trying to decided to either have the tires taken off and balanced, get the Centramatic Wheel Balancers, or beads.  I am told the odds are good of breaking down a Michelin 365 tire that is a few years old on having a torn bad bead.  If I was to go to the beads route can I put then in through the valve stem or does the tire need to be broken down to add them?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Tire beads

Reply #12 –
Quote from: turbojack –
Sometimes I have a slight vibration.  I have had my front tires for a few years and checked to see if I lost a weight.  I was not able to find any weights on the front tires.  I am not sure if I paid, or requested that they be balanced when I got them.  I am trying to decided to either have the tires taken off and balanced, get the Centramatic Wheel Balancers, or beads.  I am told the odds are good of breaking down a Michelin 365 tire that is a few years old on having a torn bad bead.  If I was to go to the beads route can I put then in through the valve stem or does the tire need to be broken down to add them?

I know the Dyna bead brand will fit through the stems as I used to use them on bikes.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918

Re: Tire beads

Reply #13 –
Quote from: turbojack –
I am told the odds are good of breaking down a Michelin 365 tire that is a few years old on having a torn bad bead. 
What? I don't understand that. These tire are not difficult to break down other than their weight to handle. On my coach once deflated they stepped on the sidewall and broke the bead loose. They had been installed since 2005 and changed in 2020. If what you're saying is true, I'd be changing them for that reason. They remove by hand.
Scott.
Mike I was looking at the bulk beads👍👍

Re: Tire beads

Reply #14 –
15 years seems a little long with or without beads.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #15 –
Quote from: John44 –
15 years seems a little long with or without beads.

Barn find, needed tires and ecm to move.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Tire beads

Reply #16 –
Quote from: John44 –
15 years seems a little long with or without beads.
I 100% agree.
Just stating that after all that time they came off Easily.
Filled those old tires and drove to tire shop to get them changed out. Never exceeded 25mph on back roads

Re: Tire beads

Reply #17 –
Quote from: mkc1962 –
I know the Dyna bead brand will fit through the stems as I used to use them on bikes.
They offer at least two different sized beads.  The motorcycle ones will fit through the stems.  The larger ones for big trucks will not.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Tire beads

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
I use plastic BBs . they work fine and are large enough so as not to get stuck in the valve or TPMS. stuff. 
16 oz seems to work well.  They may take a few miles for the tire to get round and all of the beeds to settle  for the first few runs in the morning.  After the initial 10 mile  shakes, everything gets smooth.
Beads require the use of special (longer) valve cores. If you don't use them, leakage can occur.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #19 –
Scott, up in mtns at moment but believe the bulk brand i use is called Magnum...figured you were talking about during breakdown vs stem.

I've been using them for over 20 years without any special length of stems. But, I've read of occasional leaks and dyna brand does offer a unique valve core that can be used if that happens.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918

Re: Tire beads

Reply #20 –
Quote from: mkc1962 –
Scott, up in mtns at moment but believe the bulk brand i use is called Magnum...figured you were talking about during breakdown vs stem.

I've been using them for over 20 years without any special length of stems. But, I've read of occasional leaks and dyna brand does offer a unique valve core that can be used if that happens.

Amazon.com: Esco 20466C Tire Balancing Beads, Bulk Bucket 282 oz, White :...

Thinking same thing only different. These are the ones ive got about 70k use
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Tire beads

Reply #21 –
I use the beads in our coach. I also used them in the steer tires of my macks and kenworth.

Never bothered to balance the twin screw drive tires at all and never had an issue with balance. And my drive tires generally went 250,000 before replacement. 

And the dynamics of beads or liquids self adjusting as they spin is certainly a head scratcher.
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr
 

Re: Tire beads

Reply #22 –
Quote from: dsd –
Amazon.com: Esco 20466C Tire Balancing Beads, Bulk Bucket 282 oz, White :...

Thinking same thing only different. These are the ones ive got about 70k use
These are the ones I use, comes with a scoop, chart mentions all sizes by weight. I weighed a scoop one time and have it written on it. Ive been using this brand for about 5 years, Before then there were not that many out there and used the pricey Dyna. Both have proven themselves. I often vacuum them out and re-use.

Amazon.com: Magnum+ Tire Balancing Beads Bulk Tub 17.6 lb. with Scoop for...
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Mike in AL
2001 U295
8.3 ISC 350
Build 5918