I've been reading threads here about the Centramatic wheel balancers, and finally purchased a set last month. I installed them on my OEM 20" wheels with Cooper studded snow tires and gave them a test drive before embarking on a 3000 mile trip. They seemed very smooth on the test. Throughout the trip, they had me constantly changing my mind as to whether I liked them or not. Some of the time they would be smooth as glass; a larger amount of the time, it felt like my tires were quite out of balance, despite never having balance issues with these tires/wheels before. It seemed to come and go constantly, so I attributed it to either the road surface or the U-haul trailer that I was towing.

I just got back from another trip, adding 1000 miles to my test of them. It seemed to be getting worse, so on the way home I did a lot of testing with them. It seems they were usually smooth under 65 mph and almost never smooth over 70 mph getting worse with more speed, yet it would still fluctuate between being very smooth and much more out of balance than I've ever felt it. Upon inspecting my tires, my fronts have developed a bad scalloped wear pattern on the outside edges, which they did not have prior to installing these balancers. By the time I got home the balance was getting significantly worse. I made note of a stretch of interstate highway near home that they acted very out of balance on, and this morning removed the Centramatics and drove that stretch of road at the same speeds and higher. The truck was smooth without them. At this point, I feel like they have caused the poor wear pattern on my tires that were previously wearing very evenly.

I called and spoke with Centramatic about this and the guy I spoke to told me to take my wheel weights off. I told him that I was aware that sometimes they suggest this, but how was starting off with a less balanced tire going to help? He said that sometimes with certain trucks and certain tires it just does. I have separate, mounted, summer and winter tires and wheels, so I was not interested in going down that road of trying to figure out the best combination on different sets. I really don't understand how these things seem to drift in and out of balance, but at this point do not want to use them on any more trips and possibly do even more damage to my tires, not to mention making it miserable to drive 75 mph.

I was excited about using these and really wanted them to work, but just sent them back to Centramatic for a refund. I'm wondering if anyone else had a similar experience?

 

Wonder if driving 70 on studded snow tires had anything to do with it. All the reviews I’ve seen say the centramatics are the best thing since sliced bread.

 

First set, took all my weights off when I put them on. Love them. I would trust what Centramatic says, they use these on aircraft even. After all it's physics and these laws under which they work don't change. How are your shocks?

 

Did you mention to Centramatic they were on studded tires? That has to add quite a bit of weight. Just curious what kind of road surface you are driving on? Snow covered?

 

I have them on my 450. I took the weights off and they work great.

 

Just for the sake of discussion, my studded tires drive the same as my OEM tires on bare pavement - completely smooth up to 90 MPH. Some people get a vision of a tire with huge protruding studs, but that's not how they are. They're barely above the surface of the rubber.

This is the first bad feedback I've heard about the Centramatic balancers and disappointing to hear as mine are due to be delivered tomorrow. I appreciate the feedback from the guys who took their balancing weights off without a problem.

 

I was on dry pavement. As Knaffie said, studded tires drive just as smooth as non studded.

 

@knaffie let us know how they work for you!

@JoeVH where are you located? I'm wondering if extreme cold affects the viscosity of the fluid in the balancer?

 

I'm in Spokane, WA, but it hasn't been very cold lately and the long trip I took was to SoCal. Honestly, I'm not sure they still use fluid in these, as they sound like they have sand in them, which is unlikely if the beads are in an oil type of fluid. Although I didn't notice the swooshing sound at low speeds, many people have commented on that, and it seems like the guys who've never heard it are those who've had their centramatics for quite a few years. I kind of wish I had tried them without the wheel weights on before I sent them back, but I was just tired of the in and out of balance situation.

 

I recently installed mine and all I can say is they solved a "phantom" vibration that would come and go without any level of predictability.

Highly recommended by this guy.

 

Did you have wheel weights on or not?

 

These things are modern day snake oil. If you have a vibration something is out of balance, warped or what not. Could be a wheel, drive shaft, lost a wheel weight. These magic rings are simply masking the issue. Not sure why others refuse to accept/acknowledge that. Suggesting that taking off balancing weights which helps balance the tire would make the magic rings work better isn't physics. It's horse dung. Per their marketing those magic rings overcome any imbalance at any speed whether it be snow, mud, or whatever. Until it doesn't.
Thanks for the real feedback. If more of these failures would be reported you would have less of them sold. If I spend my money on something that doesn't work I'm letting folks know so they don't make the same mistake I did. But many won't for fear of being bashed for being negative by fanboys.

 

I’m not saying whether they do, or don’t work. But you’re being quite dramatic over nothing more than a truck part.

Theres no snake oil or magic behind them. It’s just basic physics that make them achieve wheel balance. Now let’s put aside the physics behind them, that doesn’t mean there can’t be faulty parts. Maybe there’s a problem with this guys set making them defective or maybe his vibration is some other front end suspension part…..neither you or I could say for sure.

You seem oddly happy this guys wheel balancers failed whereas I’m more interested in WHY this set failed when so many others have them work. I’ve learned there’s only a few types of people in this world. Those that enjoy seeing other people have problems, those was wanna know why and solve problems and then finally those that don’t care (in which case they wouldn’t be in this thread to begin). I think it’s plain to see where you fall.

 

Dramatic? How about presumptuous and misinformed? That would define you in regards to trying to identify me. I never want to see anyone with failed parts. You totally missed the point of my post. I'm trying to help folks avoid making the same mistakes others have. The problem with reviews is those who have issues rarely report it. They just send them back or toss them in the garage/garbage, etc. I will say I've read enough reports of centramatics taking parts back that failed or didn't work so kudos to them for that.
It's not physics. It's marketing. I guess it helps to have a basic understanding of how wheel balancing is done. It appears many don't and that makes a captured market for the manufacturers.

 

You’re kidding right? People who have had a product fail them don’t post about it?

It’s the opposite most of the time. Those who have something work as expected arent inspired to take the time to post about it since that’s what they thought would happen when they bought the part.

those who get burned by a product, though, love to vent or look for a solution on the internet. So while I don’t believe centramatics suck I also don’t believe they won’t end up working for some. That’s how literally every aftermarket part works with some success rate and some rate of failure.

who knows what the actual numbers are though. And you seem like you’re being disingenuous because usually someone trying to solve wheel/tire imbalances has obviously tried the standard method of getting a tire shop to re balance. How many stories do we hear of “I have had them balanced, road force balanced, etc etc etc” and vibration won’t go away. Why not try centramatics if you’re having issues if you’ve checked the normal culprits of front end vibrations??

I’d think most people trying centramatics are doing so because of current or past issues. Would be an oddball choice to make if you had no existing balance issues IMO. But carry on saving people lol.