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Balance beads?

Billho

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I just picked up a set of 17" Magnetic wheels with stock Bridgestone Dueler A/T's as takeoffs from another forum member (Thanks NurseNeil!) and I am thinking of mounting them myself. I have always had my tires balanced and mounted at shops with weights, but I've been reading about balance beads and think that might be a good way to do it in my shop at home. Does anyone here have experience with this? Also, I have some AirSoft bb's and traditional copper bbs that I could use. Or I could go online and order some specific balancing beads made for this purpose.

I would appreciate any advice or help from those that have done this on your Ranger. I've watched several videos and have found quite a few different opinions on this topic.

Thanks!
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canyonslicker

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Don’t substitute, they need to be perfectly round. I’ve had great results on motorcycles. You may want to look at Ride-on.
 

Langwilliams

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I've used them on motorcycle tires but those tires are small an don't weigh much. I saw a testimonial for the dyna beads from a truck fleet owner that claimed he got longer tire life using the beads over weights because they adjust as the wheel wears.

https://www.innovativebalancing.com/gallery1.php
 

Frenchy

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I would suggest holding off on the balancing beads and still use actual weights. The only time balancing beads would be used are when you cant mount a wheel and tire assembly on a balancer due to shear size. This is very common on the big tractor trailers out there
 

OFC Ranger

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I got drunk one time, and funneled a bag of beads up my cornhole....

didn't help balance my walk home any better than before.
cops still stopped me and charged me with public drunkenness.
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canyonslicker

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I would suggest holding off on the balancing beads and still use actual weights. The only time balancing beads would be used are when you cant mount a wheel and tire assembly on a balancer due to shear size. This is very common on the big tractor trailers out there
Ok I just have to why? What damage can be done? The physics are solid on this application..

IMHO if I were doing my own mounting this is exactly what I would do.. heck I would cut open my inner tube to recover the beads for re-use..

The only downside was price point otherwise a great solution..

Technology can spook people and this really is low tech stuff with real science behind it..

I’m a believer not a promoter just great past experience.. I’ve had difficult tires like Dick Cepeks to keep balanced and it worked wonders for me. So this should be gravy train and no wheel weights to boot … crazy but they work!!
 

canyonslicker

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Ok I just have to why? What damage can be done? The physics are solid on this application..

IMHO if I were doing my own mounting this is exactly what I would do.. heck I would cut open my inner tube to recover the beads for re-use..

The only downside was price point otherwise a great solution..

Technology can spook people and this really is low tech stuff with real science behind it..

I’m a believer not a promoter just great past experience.. I’ve had difficult tires like Dick Cepeks to keep balanced and it worked wonders for me. So this should be gravy train and no wheel weights to boot … crazy but they work!!
Under 15 mph they may feel unbalanced otherwise good to go. They need centrifugal force to work..
 

WOADKIL

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I got drunk one time, and funneled a bag of beads up my cornhole....

didn't help balance my walk home any better than before.
cops still stopped me and charged me with public drunkenness.
TMI ! (Too much intestine)
 

Frenchy

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Ok I just have to why? What damage can be done? The physics are solid on this application..

IMHO if I were doing my own mounting this is exactly what I would do.. heck I would cut open my inner tube to recover the beads for re-use..

The only downside was price point otherwise a great solution..

Technology can spook people and this really is low tech stuff with real science behind it..

I’m a believer not a promoter just great past experience.. I’ve had difficult tires like Dick Cepeks to keep balanced and it worked wonders for me. So this should be gravy train and no wheel weights to boot … crazy but they work!!
So clearly you did not read my post and somehow misinterpreted it. I already stated the reason as to why they are used. If a wheel and tire assembly are able to be properly balanced on a machine then that is the best route especially will how little it cost to have that done.
 
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Billho

Billho

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Don’t substitute, they need to be perfectly round. I’ve had great results on motorcycles. You may want to look at Ride-on.
I got CounterAct, mainly because that was the brand in stock at my local auto parts store and I wanted to do this while I have time off work this week and I wanted to do it at home, instead of going to a shop. I guess we’ll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.
 

Megawatt

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If you go off-road often you may not like them at low speed. I have read some owners can hear them at low speed and when you hit a bump, rock, hole etc. It does take a large amount of beads based on tire size. I use them on my motorcycles and they work great with zero issues.

If I didn’t live in a big city with access to many balance stores I would resort to the balance beads for my truck.
 

P. A. Schilke

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got3fords

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I had an old '94 Explorer that even with the best balance job would sometimes still shimmy. I put about 4oz. of antifreeze in each tire. Didn't cure it but helped a lot.
 

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BGDOGY

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I used to run the dynabeads in my F-250's 35" tires. They worked great, since I didn't want weights on the outside of my rims. The regular weights just couldn't get them balanced correctly only putting them on the backside.
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