Balancing beads anyone use them?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 489
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From: Plant City, FL
Balancing beads anyone use them?
I'm getting a set of Cooper stt pro tires put on the truck this week. Fella at the tire shop asked if I wanted to try running balancing beads. Never heard of them. Tires are 285/70/17 on new rims. What are your thoughts?
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 670
Likes: 6
As Hoss said, balance beads are usually only used on big tires or tires that require a lot of weight to balance. I'm running that same tire in a 37/13.50/18 and they balanced out fine with regular wheel weights. I don't think balance beads are gonna be necessary for yours.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
No way I would run beads on a tire that small. You can get a better balance with weights because you can add weight to the inner and outter if needed. A newer tire that size shouldn't use much weight. Beads do work, but don't really start working good until @45-50 mph. You can also hear them at low speeds inside your tire. I balanced my brothers tires on his jeep with air soft bb's from Walmart one time. They worked.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 133
From: Maryland
I run dynabeads in both of my Jeeps and they work great. The 89 has 35s and the 91 has 30s. It is true they don't really start working until you get above 35, but I never notice on the Jeeps.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: SW ON, Canada
They do work on smaller tires too. Not uncommon to have them installed on 14-16" maxi-scooter tires instead of regular weights.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 43
From: Land of Taxes
I believe you can not use the beads if you have TPS monitors in your valve stems. An experienced tire tech should be able to get them properly spin balanced by paying attention to the heavy spots in both the tire and rim. The heavy spots need to be positioned 180* from each other. Then spin balance the assembly while observing any rim or tire run out in the X and Y axis.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
Many many people run them no problems with tpms. The beads ride along the tire and the sensor of course is on the wheel. The beads are also way to big to effect the sensor.
I totally agree that there is no reason to not spin balance them.
I totally agree that there is no reason to not spin balance them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 43
From: Land of Taxes
I was told by at least two individuals not to run the beads with TPMS. TPS failure was the main theme. Ford did not honor their warranty in both cases because the beads were present. I do not know what the root cause of the sensor failure was...yet.
New User
Joined: Mar 2017
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I have been using balancing beads/powder stuff for many years on various vehicles and trailers. Everything from 235/85-17, on a one ton dually, to 225/60-16, on a Honda minivan, as well as various light to heavy 5th wheel and utility trailers. All run great and tires last longer.