Considering taking off my wheel weights and doing beads. Any helpful advice welcome.

 

For the last 20 years, I've had good success (10+ year tire life) from using Centramatic balancing beads... not inside the tire, but inside an enclosed toroidal ring containing brake fluid that suspends the beads (actually BBs) that is connected to a galvanized disk that mounts between the wheel and hub... in order to keep the insides of the tires and wheels free from balancing media either clumping from condensation, clogging the valve stem, sandblasting the inner steel rim, which might then rust from the condensation, abrading the inside tire liner, or any other such worries, which probably need not be worries, given that thousands of truck tires use in tire balancing media inside the tires.

To survey the choices of balancing beads inside the tires, a list of options available would be a useful start. I've never used anything inside the tire (for the reasons stated above), but I am as curious as you about the differences in the various products, so I'll list a few names that a cursory search revealed.

First, the "big three" names in tire balancing media:

- Esco (packets and in bulk buckets, and alternatively, also offers a liquid balancing media)

- CounterAct (packets)

- Dyna Beads (packets)

Next, the also rans...

- Wurth (packets)

- Magnum+ (packets)

Finally, the unknown brands

- Checkered Flag (packets) (liquid) (despite unabashedly copying the Centramatics checkered flag logo, is unrelated to Centramatics)

- E-Z Tire Beads

Homegrown solutions...

- Air Soft Pellets

- AntiFreeze

- Daytona Beach Sand




The foregoing list is neither comprehensive, comparative, nor completed. It is merely a conversation starter.

It would be interesting to discuss the differences between the various brands of beads, what they are made of (ie, ceramic, sand, plastics,) how they perform (clump? pulverize?) and how they compare to liquid solutions like (anti-freeze?).

 

I was looking into centramatics and balance masters, I figured I would explore the beads first and see what people thought. Just looking at the different options, like you I started to wonder and thought I'd ask the forum. If people like them with success and there weren't any real pitfalls I would try them and save a little money. I think either way I'm dumping the wheel weights and doing one of these.

 

I’m running counteract balance beads in my 2020 Dually that has 35x12.50r20 Kenda Klever RT 12 plys plus on all 6 tires on my 5th wheel with 235/85r16 Sailun 14 plys and have no vibrations at all.

 

I never had any success w/ tire beads, tire shop using cheap beads, mechanic not using correct amount, etc.... Went to Centramatic balancers with no regrets.

 

I ran Dyna Beads in the past with great results.
I’ve also ran Centramatics with great results too.

 

I've not used anything but airsoft pellets in the last many years. My last 2018 JLU I had 37's and made numerous 1000 mile trips at full freeway speeds without issue.

 

I have the same tires, I like them but they don't seem to be popular. Love your truck BTW, one of the best looking I've seen.

 

Thank you. I knew what I wanted it to look like as soon as I picked it up and it took about a year to get it to this point. I absolutely love the tires and the way that they tow is great. They seem to be pretty quiet at speed also which is nice when towing for 13 hours straight.

 

.. register another vote for centramatics. A HUGE improvement. No more weird rear vibration at 72+ mph from the duals and the steering wheel is still (used to have a nearly imperceptible vibration).

 

Just ordered centramatics, my next set of tires will be bigger so I figure it won't be a bad thing. I will post my results like a good forum member does. Thanks for those who weighed-in, I appreciate it.

 

I added balance masters in August to the front wheels (2020 450)
I only noticed a slight issue when not towing and at 70-75 which I don't do to often. The balance masters seem to have taken care of that.

And I have no way of telling the effectiveness but i also added them to my 24K 5th wheel which is running heavy 235R17.5's

 

When u add the centramatics do u leave the wheel weights on and it fine tunes the balance or do u remove the wheel weights all together?

 

I'm taking mine off, but it doesn't hurt anything to leave them on. As long as there's not a defective rim or tire you don't need wheel weights.

 

Can you use centramatic on SRW?