Balance beads

[ScorpioIM]

2 months ago I replaced both tires on my 2006 Wing. I got the rear tire balanced pretty good using weights, but the front tire, I couldn’t get that balanced to save my life. I said screw it, time to try the balance beads. I bought a 12 ounce bag from the NAPA store. And thanks to a video from Scott/Admin, I used his air gun/nozzle method to blow them into the rim. I used 2 ounces. Yesterday I replaced another tire on a different bike, and again, using his air gun method, blew 2 ounces into that tire as well.

A thank you to Scott/Admin for the informative videos he creates

At 61 yrs old, I’m still learning, and appreciate forums such as this, in which people share life’s learned skills.

[DenverWinger]

Might have to try them sometime. Coming back from Custer SD I hit 95MPH on an open stretch of US-85 in the Wyoming prairies, passing two semi's and a camper with oncoming traffic in the foreseeable future.

A little bit of front wheel vibration at 95 mph.

Guess I'll have to fix that!!!

In the past I've had the 1100 up to 110mph for probably a minute or so (that's stupid) but it rode smooth. I've cruised both bikes at 80 mph for hours on end on the Interstate freeways. Don't think I've ever had the 1500 over said 95 mph though...

Guess it all depends on the tech that installs the balance weights when you have a new tire mounted, attention to detail!

I've never tried balance beads.....

[offcenter]

I've been using balance beads in my 1500 for several years now.
Smooth as silk. I'm sold.

[joecoolsuncle]

2 months ago I replaced both tires on my 2006 Wing. I got the rear tire balanced pretty good using weights, but the front tire, I couldn’t get that balanced to save my life. I said screw it, time to try the balance beads. I bought a 12 ounce bag from the NAPA store. And thanks to a video from Scott/Admin, I used his air gun/nozzle method to blow them into the rim. I used 2 ounces. Yesterday I replaced another tire on a different bike, and again, using his air gun method, blew 2 ounces into that tire as well.

A thank you to Scott/Admin for the informative videos he creates

At 61 yrs old, I’m still learning, and appreciate forums such as this, in which people share life’s learned skills.

was there a brand name on the beads, or just napa labeling?

[ScorpioIM]

This is the package I bought at NAPA.

[AZgl1800]

I have used Dyna Beads for almost 20 years, and always got a smooth ride with them.

When I put a CT on the rear of my 1800, I poured in 4oz "just to make sure"
too little don't work, too much don't matter.

it rides smooth as glass

[blupupher]

...too little don't work, too much don't matter.
...

Well, to an extent. Don't put 10 oz in something that needs 3-4, but putting an extra ounce or two won't hurt anything. If you put too much, it may not spread correctly and end up having a worse imbalance.

I actually had to add an ounce of beads to my front tire.
I had changed the front tire (Kenda Kruz Rear tire in stock front tire size) and only used 2 ounces of beads. after a 4000 mile road trip, tire already had some severe cupping issues and causing low speed wobble.
I added another ounce, and is riding a little better (wobble there between 35-45 mph if I take 1 hand off the bars), but I think the tire cupping is there for the rest of the life of the tire.
Had no issues with the 4 ounces I used in the rear car tire (or the 2 other rear and 2 other front tires I used them in).

[WingAdmin]

This is the package I bought at NAPA.C7748939-9013-4377-90EB-3994BED37AB4.jpeg

Those are CounterACT beads, I've been using them in my bikes now for quite a few years. They're a bit easier to install than DynaBeads, I found.

[in2it]

I have used EZ Beads and have gotten good results from them ... I've always put in 3 oz per tire and it rides as smooth as glass ... here's a link to amazon https://www.amazon.com/Z-Tire-Beads-Bal ... ref=sr_1_5

[GLRT]

I've done quite a bit of testing on beads over the years which is something actually nobody has done. Most dump in the beads and claim the work however that is not a test. The trick is to find an MC tire that is out of balance which is tough as most are close enough to balance one can't detect any shake in fact I have not balanced an MC tire in over 30 years. However I did manage to fine on that shock a bit at 40mph and then again at 65 which is about right. So in went the beads and no surprise they did nothing. I also tried liquid balance material and anti freeze yet non did the trick. Adding lead weights and that worked.
In general balancing is normally not required but weight are still the only thing that really works. Beads only provide the illusion of working on tires that would be fine without any balancing.

That being said if adding gizmos and beads make you feel better about your ride than go for it.

[WingAdmin]

I've done quite a bit of testing on beads over the years which is something actually nobody has done. Most dump in the beads and claim the work however that is not a test. The trick is to find an MC tire that is out of balance which is tough as most are close enough to balance one can't detect any shake in fact I have not balanced an MC tire in over 30 years. However I did manage to fine on that shock a bit at 40mph and then again at 65 which is about right. So in went the beads and no surprise they did nothing. I also tried liquid balance material and anti freeze yet non did the trick. Adding lead weights and that worked.
In general balancing is normally not required but weight are still the only thing that really works. Beads only provide the illusion of working on tires that would be fine without any balancing.

That being said if adding gizmos and beads make you feel better about your ride than go for it.

Completely disagree. I had a tire that suddenly went out of balance and found that it had shed its stick-on wheel weight. I put beads in it, and it was perfectly smooth.

I've also had tires last MUCH longer on beads, and never need rebalancing.

But what really sold me was my truck - I had an Explorer that had a tire that would need rebalancing almost every couple of months, it just would not stay balanced. I decided to try putting beads in the tires, but that made it MUCH worse - the vibration was so bad that it made it undriveable above about 30 mph. I was about to break the tire beads so I could suck the beads out of them, but I thought I would try removing the lead weights and leaving JUST the beads in the tires. That was the ticket: that tire was smooth as glass from that point forward, and remained so until it wore out and was replaced a few years later.

[Gnarly]

I have used Dyna Beads for almost 20 years, and always got a smooth ride with them.
……….

17 years for me.

Only once did I have a bead get stuck under the valve in the valve stem, actually while I adding the Cyclops TPMS sensors to the T-valves.

Losing some air wasn’t bad right then…. was safely parked in the garage.

But I quickly found these online:
Dyna Beads filtered valve cores COR-1….about $2 each.
https://innovativebalancing.com/mobile/ ... .php?grp=7

Issue solved.
Hope it’s okay to include the link.

[WingAdmin]

You can get those filtered valve cores from a few different places. Problem is, they're too long to fit in the right-angle valve stems like found on my GL1500.

Getting a bead stuck in the valve isn't a big deal, just hit it with air from a compressor for a moment and it will clear out.

[blupupher]

You can get those filtered valve cores from a few different places. Problem is, they're too long to fit in the right-angle valve stems like found on my GL1500.

Getting a bead stuck in the valve isn't a big deal, just hit it with air from a compressor for a moment and it will clear out.

Yeah, the bead kit I got came with a filter valve, but as said, would not fit in the angled valve stem.
Never had an issue though, I have never let air out of my tires unless I am changing the tire, and then I remove the core, so no need for a filter core for me.

[Gnarly]

Appreciate the correction, gentlemen.

My slanted point of view was because I changed valve stem type when I recently upgraded the three trike tires and added Cyclops TPMS.

I switched to the Hawks Head T-valves.The TPMS sensor fits in the straight section, leaving the other 90 degree snout open if I needed to adjust air pressure.

One size doesn’t fit all.

[WingAdmin]

Appreciate the correction, gentlemen.

My slanted point of view was because I changed valve stem type when I recently upgraded the three trike tires and added Cyclops TPMS.

I switched to the Hawks Head T-valves.The TPMS sensor fits in the straight section, leaving the other 90 degree snout open if I needed to adjust air pressure.

One size doesn’t fit all.

I thought about putting those 90 degree T valves on my 1500 for the same reason, but there isn't sufficient clearance for them to fit.

[MikeB]

Here is an interesting tidbit for you. I've been using balance beads for well over ten years and never had this happen before.

I had a vibration after replacing the tires and installing beads. After some diagnosis I discovered that I had installed too many beads in the front tire. I didn't do a very good job and weighing them out. 3.6 ounces was too much. It caused a slight vibration at speeds over 70 mph. 2.0 ounces smoothed it right out.

Bottom line, install the recommended amount of beads and you will do just fine.
https://counteractbalancing.com/applications/

[captaindan]

I too disagree that balance beads don't work. When I bought my used 1800 years ago, it had some slight cupping in the front tire. The tire still had some life left, so after reading about balancing beads I decided to try them. Removed the lead weights from the wheel, and installed the beads. The cupping was actually significantly reduced before the tire was replaced.
Since then, I use them in several of my vehicles, including the front tires of my semi's.

[padutch47]

Anyone who passes on the opportunity to use beads to balance their tires is definitely missing a better way to ballance. I had such great success with beads in my GW tires I used them in my SUV and Silverado tires which eventually led me to use them in my Volvo Semi truck and trailer tires. Every vehicle maintained perfect balance with a noticeable extension of tire life. Still using beads and will as long as there's a tire in need of balance. Because I put them in every newly mounted tire, I just put a couple oz in while it's broke down before inflation so I've never tried Scotts method of blowing them in.

[donmitt]

when my son worked for walmart as a mechanic they used balance beads in their steer tires of the tractor (truck) tires. That says a lot on wither or not they work. I can only imagine how many ounces go into that large of tire.
donmitt

[Fatboy46]

OK! my Trike will need tires... I get the impression these beads work on M/C tires as well as the 'car' tires on the rear of a trike... correct?

[Gnarly]

Yes sir.
That is correct! They work remarkably well in mine.....Avon Cobra Trike front and Continental 205/55ZR16 91W FR ExtremeContact DWS06+ rear tires.

[wingthing88]

I have used the Dyna Beads and the other brand that is suppose to be good on three different bikes and on two different sets of tires on my 88 1500. Followed the manufacturers instructions to a tee. Experiminted by completely removing the beads and reinstalling them one ounce at a time. I could never get them to work. Have had them installed in my fathers 40' class A motorhome he took it back had the beads removed and the tires balanced the proper way. They have never worked for me or anyone I know personally. There is nothing better than tradional tire balancing. As a side note I spent 30 plus years as an ASE master tech and back in the day when beads started coming into vogue the big tire manufacturers would not warranty any tire that had beads installed. Also I noticed significant wear on the inner carcass of the tires that I've replaced that had beads in them.

[MikeB]

Also I noticed significant wear on the inner carcass of the tires that I've replaced that had beads in them.

It's a real shame that you couldn't get the balance beads to work for you. And I agree that traditional balancing of a wheel is the best way to go on a newly installed tire. However, I find that the balancing beads work throughout the life of the tire and keeps the wheel tire assembly balanced.
The main reason for my reply here however is I doubt that you have found serious carcass wear on tires that have used balance beads.
In the last 15 years and at least a dozen sets of tires, for me at least, all the tires that I have replaced and or broken down for inspection have shown no wear from balance beads.
I've used the beads in Dunlop, Avon and Bridgestone tires.

[wingthing88]

I didn’t mean that it was serious wear on the carcass just that there was an indication of wear. All that dust you find mixed in with the beads is rubber from the inside of the tire. When I’ve installed new tires and balanced them statically it lasts the life of the tire with no vibration from 5-100 mph and no cupping. The only tire I had cupping issues with were a set of Shinkos I put on one time. Don’t think I’ll use those again lol.