Balance Beads vs Weights
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 318
Likes: 12
From: Long Beach
Balance Beads vs Weights
I am getting ready to pick up my new wheels and tires, they are 37/13.5R17. I have seen some tire shops say go with balance beads with large tires while others say use weights. My question is do they wear down the TPMS sensors or have any other issues? There is another thread on here but it is from 2018 so not sure if things have changed over the past few years. Thanks for the help!!
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 550
Likes: 262
From: Northwest CT
Balance beads can work, but I don't like them. I had them on my truck with 35's and what can happen is they can get stuck in the valve stem if the installer doesn't use the correct ones. I had that happen. Checked tire pressure and one of the beads got jammed up in the stem keeping it open so it slowly leaked. I managed to get it to stop, took it back and said rip that s*** out and do it with weights. I explained to them the valve stem issue, they looked it up and confirmed I was right. Dismounted, cleaned, remounted and balanced them on their dime, which was nice.
Agree with hog above, at low speed they're atrocious.
Do it with weights unless absolutely necessary. Now, with that all said, maybe things today are different. This was 5 years ago so the tech may have advanced to the point where they are a viable option. Others with more current knowledge I'm sure will be along.
Agree with hog above, at low speed they're atrocious.
Do it with weights unless absolutely necessary. Now, with that all said, maybe things today are different. This was 5 years ago so the tech may have advanced to the point where they are a viable option. Others with more current knowledge I'm sure will be along.
New User
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
I am getting ready to pick up my new wheels and tires, they are 37/13.5R17. I have seen some tire shops say go with balance beads with large tires while others say use weights. My question is do they wear down the TPMS sensors or have any other issues? There is another thread on here but it is from 2018 so not sure if things have changed over the past few years. Thanks for the help!!
The short answer: no. Stick to the weights.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 667
Likes: 156
My brother is an engineer who designed dynamic balancers which were successfully applied to many spinning things; turboprop aircraft propeller hubs, F1 racing car wheel hubs, washing machine tubs, etc., etc. He knows the principles and technology better than most. When I recently came across balance beads I asked him if I should get them instead of traditional weights. I was thinking he would enthusiastically recommend them.
The short answer: no. Stick to the weights.
The short answer: no. Stick to the weights.
Coming from a Jeep background I know a lot of shops aren't set up or lack the equipment to balance 37 - 40" tires so beads were used.
I've run 35" tires without issue using weights.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 318
Likes: 12
From: Long Beach
My brother is an engineer who designed dynamic balancers which were successfully applied to many spinning things; turboprop aircraft propeller hubs, F1 racing car wheel hubs, washing machine tubs, etc., etc. He knows the principles and technology better than most. When I recently came across balance beads I asked him if I should get them instead of traditional weights. I was thinking he would enthusiastically recommend them.
The short answer: no. Stick to the weights.
The short answer: no. Stick to the weights.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 122
Likes: 44
From: Weatherford
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,266
Likes: 2,187
I like the centramatic wheel balancer
instead of putting beads in your wheel or weights on your rim....you install a disc over the hub, then the wheel on top. the disc has a radius tube which has beads in it. you can moved this from truck to truck as long as its the same bolt pattern.
instead of putting beads in your wheel or weights on your rim....you install a disc over the hub, then the wheel on top. the disc has a radius tube which has beads in it. you can moved this from truck to truck as long as its the same bolt pattern.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,343
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From: SW VA
I never had a problem with the normal valve stems. I also installed my beads when I had new tires mounted, so the pack was dumped right in the tire and not fed through the valve stem after the fact. Not sure if that is the issue or not...
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Long Island, NY
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,226
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Centramatics - I wish their website was with a drop down vehicle pick
2020 F-450 It looks like these are the sizes.
#400-422 front balancers for Ford F450-550 2005 and newer, 10 bolt holes, 8.75 in bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
#400-417 10 bolt 19.5" Rear Dual Axle, 10 bolt, 7.25 Bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...F450-p/226.htm
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...Axle-p/233.htm
2020 F-450 It looks like these are the sizes.
#400-422 front balancers for Ford F450-550 2005 and newer, 10 bolt holes, 8.75 in bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
#400-417 10 bolt 19.5" Rear Dual Axle, 10 bolt, 7.25 Bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...F450-p/226.htm
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...Axle-p/233.htm
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
Centramatics - I wish their website was with a drop down vehicle pick
2020 F-450 It looks like these are the sizes.
#400-422 front balancers for Ford F450-550 2005 and newer, 10 bolt holes, 8.75 in bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
#400-417 10 bolt 19.5" Rear Dual Axle, 10 bolt, 7.25 Bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...F450-p/226.htm
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...Axle-p/233.htm
2020 F-450 It looks like these are the sizes.
#400-422 front balancers for Ford F450-550 2005 and newer, 10 bolt holes, 8.75 in bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
#400-417 10 bolt 19.5" Rear Dual Axle, 10 bolt, 7.25 Bolt circle, 19.5 in tires.
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...F450-p/226.htm
https://store.mrtruck.com/Centramati...Axle-p/233.htm