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Topic: Golf balls in tires? (Read 960 times) previous topic - next topic

Golf balls in tires?

I heard for the first time the recommendation to put three golf balls in each tire to keep the tires in balance. It doesn't make sense to me, but neither do the other odd methods of balancing tires. Perhaps there are some good explanations for methods other than attaching appropriate weights to the wheels. I'd like to benefit from the expertise or experience of other folk regarding the issue.

I found some brief comments from the Yahoo forum regarding the issue, but the comments were more about "status logos" on the concealed spheres and uh, ... cajones on board, than about the efficacy of golfs balls with respect to balance.

What say you experts?

We put tires on last year, and I hope not to have to make a decision regarding balancing for about five years.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #1 –
J D,

Not far from your home plate is Brown's Discount Truck Tires at exit 723 on I-10, the San Felipe exit.

I learned years ago from Jerry Brown that his primary customer, gravel haulers, use 4 golf balls to dynamically balance the entire rolling assembly of wheel, rotor and tire.  These folks wear their tires out and would return with tire worn uniformly across the tread, not cupped.

Equal, which I do not like at all, and Centramatic Balancers in Ft Worth are two other ways of dynamically balancing the tires but are more expensive.

Golf balls have worked for me for years.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #2 –
They will do a decent job of balancing your tires (4 or 5 will work better than 3).... BUT,

1.  Your warranty will be void as soon as they enter the tire

2.  They will completely eat up the inside of the tire over time

I will try to attach a picture of one of the golf ball's that rode around in a steer tire of my semi for 45,000 miles....it is as smooth as a spanked baby's bottom.
Ralph
96 U270

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #3 –
We all have had issues with balance of our tires, I have been through the Equal, golf balls, sand, strobe light and when I finally got it resolved was in Fl, found a shop that bragged they can balance any tire, so I gave em a try, sure enuff, they vacuumed out all the crap, washed the inside of tire, dried, remounted, put on a proper spin balance, it only took 14 oz to balance it, This was a front tire, the other front wheel only took 6 oz,  It never was so smooth, I drove up I-95 up to 95mph, smooth as the baby's butt, so next morning I had them move those to the tag axle, new front tires, also balance the drive axle 4 tires, and never had another issue with it. 
Now I know the experts will say that is all wrong, why I laugh so much. ;D

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #4 –
Dave,

The "experts" might not like this kind of tire balancing.  But millions upon millions of tires have been balanced with weights ever since I've been a kid. So, it has to have a lot of validity to it.  Discount Tire, regularly rotates and spin balances my car tires every 10K miles and they usually add or remove weights. Works for me.  Now, having said that we did follow Rudy's advice and put four golf balls in each MH tire. So far so good.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #5 –
George, I do not think the 3 or 4 golf balls would not make the 14 ox needed for one of my tires on the MCI, maybe.  The issue I have with such red neck engineering is simply, with the tires I had using the Equal etc, some times it was almost smooth, never real smooth, but then hit a bump and bingo way out of balance again for awhile.  That setup does not fit my mental picutre of a happy tire balance.  SO as I mention, everyone does what makes em happy, for awhile at least until they learn better. ;D

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #6 –
Dave,
I learn new stuff here almost on a daily basis. Sometimes the difficult part is to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: jd.4430 –

I will try to attach a picture of one of the golf ball's that rode around in a steer tire of my semi for 45,000 miles....it is as smooth as a spanked baby's bottom.

JD. so you have driven a golf ball 45,000 miles ??? Tell that one to Tiger Woods! How are you with the female side of his life?? can you beat him on that one too??
Sounds like a fishy tale to me, but then what do I know?
John, (tongue in cheek)
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #8 –
John, that was a long drive for sure, usually i do good to to reach 250 yards. lol  I did hit a drive once that went a good 700 yards....hit it off the side of a mountain, it went at least 200 yds out and a good 500 yds down!!

Fishy or not, i did the golf ball balancing routine once and will have to say was satisfied as far as the balancing went, but when i demounted this tire after picking up a nail and seeing the what they had did to the inside of that tire in only 5 months....no more of that for me. Ask any tire dealer about the warranty before using golf balls.

A spin balance from a competent shop is, and always has been, the only way to go. IMHO but we are all inclined try "new" things now and then.

JD
96 U270
Ralph
96 U270
 

Re: Golf balls in tires?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: jd.4430 –


. Ask any tire dealer about the warranty before using golf balls.


JD
96 U270

Most people would accept Les Schwab as "any tire dealer".  Les Schwab in Missoula, MT replaced a tire for me at no cost, no problem and put the same 4 golf balls back in for me.  So at least one good dealer did not hide behind the warranty when it came to replacing a defective tire.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.