Internal Tire Balancing beads.

[Toecutter]

I guess this Comment is a little late....Never again.

And pretty negative. I'm glad I'm not the guy who just bought 55 pounds of 'em.

FWIW, I just put the requisite amount of some of these, :clapping: to Metric , in my new tires, Avon Storm rear and Diablo Strada front. A short ride this morning yielded no perceivable balance issues. After struggling with how to get them into the mounted front (since I'm running 90 degree stems), we came up with the following procedure. After getting the first bead spooned onto the rim, with the rim laying or clamped flat, pull the tire up and pour 'em into the lowest area of the tire. Then, carefully mount the top bead and you can stand it up after that.

I'm also running a SmarTire setup, there haven't been any issues with that so far, and I don't expect any.

 

[Metric]

I guess this Comment is a little late....Never again.

After getting the first bead spooned onto the rim, with the rim laying or clamped flat, pull the tire up and pour 'em into the lowest area of the tire. Then, carefully mount the top bead and you can stand it up after that.

That is exactly how I do it also. That works the best reguardless of which valve stem you have. Of course I am doing it when I install customers new tires.

I'm glad to hear that its not affecting your tire monitor.

BobG, I have to ask, where you using the beads from Innovative Balancing or one of the other brands that are out there? I know that there is a product out there that uses a metal bead and another that uses a combination of products including a very fine dust. Both of those products are reported to have clumping issues with time. The beads that I have (same as the Innovative Balancing beads) should not have these issues. The only thing that would cause a problem like that is some sort of fix-a-flat installed in the tire. If you use the two together it won't be pretty.

 

[Toecutter]

After getting the first bead spooned onto the rim, with the rim laying or clamped flat, pull the tire up and pour 'em into the lowest area of the tire. Then, carefully mount the top bead and you can stand it up after that.

That is exactly how I do it also. That works the best regardless of which valve stem you have. Of course I am doing it when I install customers new tires.

I'm glad to hear that its not affecting your tire monitor.

It didn't affect the tire monitor, but there were issues when the damn thing broke free and went cruising around inside the tire after the sensor got broken when the tire was mounted. The guy who originally mounted the new tire (and broke the sensor) got shot in the face by a couple of beads upon removal of the valve core. Luckily, none in the eyes.

Now, I'm gonna need some more beads. We dismounted the tire part way, due to his machine taking a dump at the most inopportune time, and fished out the broken parts before re-mounting, losing several beads along the way, and maybe even getting some trapped between the bead and rim, possibly causing air leaks (haven't checked yet).

That, along with the discovery that the last people to mount a rear tire broke the air pressure sensor clamp and wired it back together, will require me to dismount and remount both tires, once I get new parts from SmarTire. :angry:

By then, I'll also have my own tire changing equipment, as I've finally learned my lesson, after three or four tire changes with damage every time.

 

[Metric]

It didn't affect the tire monitor, but there were issues when the damn thing broke free and went cruising around inside the tire after the sensor got broken when the tire was mounted. The guy who originally mounted the new tire (and broke the sensor) got shot in the face by a couple of beads upon removal of the valve core. Luckily, none in the eyes.
Now, I'm gonna need some more beads. We dismounted the tire part way, due to his machine taking a dump at the most inopportune time, and fished out the broken parts before re-mounting, losing several beads along the way, and maybe even getting some trapped between the bead and rim, possibly causing air leaks (haven't checked yet).

That, along with the discovery that the last people to mount a rear tire broke the air pressure sensor clamp and wired it back together, will require me to dismount and remount both tires, once I get new parts from SmarTire. :angry:

By then, I'll also have my own tire changing equipment, as I've finally learned my lesson, after three or four tire changes with damage every time.

If you are going to get into mounting your own tires, I think you'll like having the beads around.

As far as dismounting the tire, I think that it will be a waste of time to try and reuse the beads. They are just way to small to try and reclaim. If you want to buy enough beads to have for several tire changes, I'm selling them by the pound also, $20 per pound. Should be enough to do 5 sets of tires with a little left over. I've sold several pounds that way already.

Oh yeah, I also wanted to say that when its time to check your tire pressure, make sure the valve stem is not at the bottom. Also make sure to shoot a little air in the valve stem before you put your guage on it. If there is a bead sitting in there, it will cause your valve to stick open. The filtered valves are supposed to fix that issue, I just haven't put any in my valve stems yet.

 

[tophog]

I've been using the Innovative Balancing beads in my Duramax pickup for the last 4 years with great success. Prior the beads I couldn't seem to find a tire shop that could balance my freaking tires where the weights would stay on! I also grew tired of having to have tires rebalanced every few months. Since using the beads the tires are wearing great, no vibrations, etc. I did buy the special valve stems and filled thru the plastic bottle/tube which was kind of a pain but using an electric sander held up against the tube while filling makes it MUCH easier and faster to pour them in. I also use Nitrogen in all my tires to reduce the possibility of moisture. When it comes time for new tires on the FJR I will definately try the beads and learn how to mount/dismount my own tires as taking them to a shop to get them mounted is always a hassle and seems like they all figure out a way to scratch my rims.

 

[Toecutter]

I'm gonna need another set. The tire guy broke my SmarTire sensor, which I must now replace, along with the beads while the tire is off. I also had a puncture in the rear, so I may take it off and patch the inside while I'm at it. At any rate, I'm gonna need a new rear tire before long.

Please send payment info by pm or email, as your PM box is non-functional.

 

[Groo]

How'd he break your Smartire sensor?

 

[Toecutter]

How'd he break your Smartire sensor?

With his tire machine. I was standing right there, he knew where it was, and still got it. Broke off the tab on one end. I tried to run it that way, but it broke loose and disintegrated.

The last time I let another local dealer swap a rear tire, they broke the sensor strap and tie-wired it back togehter without telling me what they did. <_<

New strap and sensor, to get my system back to 100% - $91.00 :angry2: But I'm thinking the tire guy will gratis the labor necessary to repair the sensor.

The peace of mind having a working system - Priceless!

Now I just need a good tire pump, so I don't have to rely on those CO2 cartridges. Or hope for another 27,000 flat-free miles

 

[James]

I'm also looking to buy some beads- please PM w/details. Thanks,

James

 

[DCH]

Hey guys, There is something wrong with Metrics account here on this forum, and he cannot respond to you. He asked me to post this address so you can get your beads.

Contact Metric;

[email protected]

Thanks DCH

 

[Toecutter]

Hey guys, There is something wrong with Metrics account here on this forum, and he cannot respond to you. He asked me to post this address so you can get your beads.
Contact Metric;

[email protected]

Thanks DCH

Thanks, will do.

 

[Bounce]

I wonder how this would affect/mess with a system like SmarTire...

at first blush it would seem to be a no-no. after all, little ceramic balls, smashing into the sensor during spin up/down can't be good for it.

 

[Ignacio]

Hey guys, There is something wrong with Metrics account here on this forum, and he cannot respond to you. He asked me to post this address so you can get your beads.
Contact Metric;

[email protected]

Thanks DCH

Yeah, he's not validated his e-mail address and we don't have a valid one for him. Have him send an e-mail to [email protected] from his specific e-mail account and I'll try and help him out.

 

[Metric]

I'm up and running now! Big thanks to Ignacio.

Toecutter and James, the beads are $1.50 per ounce if you just want enough to do two tires (3 ounces is what you will need) plus shipping. Toecutter, if you are sold on these and want to buy a pound, its a bit cheaper ($21 per pound) and then you will have plenty for the next several tire changes.

Anyone that is interested should email me at [email protected] and we'll go from there.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[bernie1]

I guess this Comment is a little late....Never again.

And pretty negative. I'm glad I'm not the guy who just bought 55 pounds of 'em.

FWIW, I just put the requisite amount of some of these, :clapping: to Metric , in my new tires, Avon Storm rear and Diablo Strada front. A short ride this morning yielded no perceivable balance issues. After struggling with how to get them into the mounted front (since I'm running 90 degree stems), we came up with the following procedure. After getting the first bead spooned onto the rim, with the rim laying or clamped flat, pull the tire up and pour 'em into the lowest area of the tire. Then, carefully mount the top bead and you can stand it up after that.

I'm also running a SmarTire setup, there haven't been any issues with that so far, and I don't expect any.

Be very cautious. I was running a semi-truck about 3 years ago and at that time the dispatcher was insisting that we put golf balls in the steer tires( I did not get any yet). some time later we had three trucks blow out steer tires within 3 months. That scared me bad enough that I would not use them.

Did talk to one of the tech. and he thought that the tires had worn out from the inside, Now keep in mind that these tires usuall run about 100,000 miles so

we may not be comparing apples & apples.

I think I would add a couple of ounces of glycol instead. Bernie

 

[Metric]

Be very cautious. I was running a semi-truck about 3 years ago and at that time the dispatcher was insisting that we put golf balls in the steer tires( I did not get any yet). some time later we had three trucks blow out steer tires within 3 months. That scared me bad enough that I would not use them.Did talk to one of the tech. and he thought that the tires had worn out from the inside, Now keep in mind that these tires usuall run about 100,000 miles so

we may not be comparing apples & apples.

I think I would add a couple of ounces of glycol instead. Bernie

Morning Bernie.

Your are absolutely correct, this is not an apples to apples comparison. This is more like apples to bowling balls. Consider the differences here. A single golf ball weighs how much? If that one ball was to start bouncing inside the tire for some reason (pot hole or you lock up the brakes in an emergency stop), consider the force of impact inside the tire once you give it some momentum. Also consider that all that force will be focused into a small area. To make matters worse, the golf ball is made to react to an impact and fly. So if it does take off bouncing inside the tire, not only will it probably keep bouncing, but if it contacts other golf balls they will likely take flight also. Now multiply that damage over a 100,000 miles or however the tires are lasting.

The tiny ceramic beads that I am using don't even come close to having the same potential to do that kind of damage. If they are disrupted while the tire is turning at speed, the mass of them separates into all the little pieces. The potential for damage just went out the door.

I'm not an expert on how all this work by any means. All I know is what I have seen first hand. When I first saw this idea of putting material inside your tires to balance them, I was a nonbeliever. But the whole thing intrigued me and I started reading the different info from the companies marketing them and reading individuals experiences. After a while I had to try them myself. At this point I feel that I have a good idea from first hand experience of exactly how the Ceramic Beads (nothing else!) works and what the limitations are. I have seen first hand the damage done by some of the other products that people have used to include golf balls. So have the tire manufacturers. I just put a new set of Yokohama tires on my truck. Guess what, the warranty card explicitly states that any internal tire balancing media will void the warranty.

With all that being said, for your semi tires, you want to contact a company called CentraMatic. They are manufacturing a self contained balancing media that works on the exact same principal as the Ceramic Beads do. However they are using a much larger weight. The bigger difference is that you install the Ring they sell between the duals. CentraMatic Demo Anyone that is on the fence about these beads should check them out, their demo does an excellent job of showing off exactly how this whole thing works. If you still don't believe it or don't think its worth it, no big deal. I'm not pushing these things on anyone, they sell themselves. I don't even advertise them as there is no need. I don't want to be that busy anyway!