BB Tire Balancing- Ever Done it?

The Therory is this

"The centrifigle (sp) forces @ speed greater than @25-30mph cause the BB's (or any other balancing media) to be spun out against the tire balancing out the heavy spots on the opposite side. The BB's balance across the entire tire not just one arbetrary side or the other. Coming to a stop, they roll down the "tread" to the bottom of the tire and just roll along until the CF causes them to spin back up into place. You might hear them when you are rotating your tires and rolling them from one axle to the other, but that is about it. At speeds under 25-30MPH, tires are largely unaffected by balance any ways. I have a ride smoother at 75-80mph (speed limit out here is 75) with the BB's than I ever did with traditional wheel weights did at 50mph. The other cool thing is when you go wheeling, and you get crap (mud, rock etc) on the rim, the BB's automatically compensate for the new imbalance, as you are going down the road and mud is getting flung off, they continue to recompensate automatically. It is so simple it is sweet, but because it is so simple, some otherwise "learned people" will fight you tooth and nail to tell you why it will nebver work, yet will not ride in my jeep to feel it work."

Can it work? Has anyone here ever done it. Seems wicked cool if it works.

I also found a compnay that sells a product but hell why not just go with the BB's. http://www.innovativebalancing.com/gallery1.htm

 

gee, talk about re-inventing the mousetrap
nope
never done it, don't see why I would want it
just one question?
are you supposed to put 1lb or 3lbs of BBs in the tire?
and what's the easy way to do that ?

 

One at a time through the valvestem silly R)

 

Not sure how it'd work, ever get water in a tire?
It'll beat you to death at speed. Dont ask me how I know.
Be interesting to see it tried though.

 

From what I've read its about 8oz for tires 30" and over.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/BigTirechart.htm

I also just did a google search and its talked about on a lot of boards. But I'm most interested in hearing from other Jeepers.

I think it could.

 

Interesting read’n at this site.

http://www.imiproducts.com/equal/how-equal-works.aspx

 

Interisting.

 

The problem is when you air down theat sort of stuff clogs the stem. Powders are the worst. PITA. I've heard of golf balls working ok. Centrimatic makes centrifigal RV balancers that are fabulous though. Available in lots of sizes and patterns. The 38s went from death wobble at anything over 30 mph to a small death range at 55-58. I've been impressed with them.

 

That IS an interesting concept.......Don't think I'd use regular steel BB's though. I'd go for the product in the first post.

 

I was thinking about these for the dually.
http://www.centramatic.com/
http://www.balancemasters.com/index.html

Might work for bigger 4x4 tires.

 

I've heard its best to fill the tires with Nitrogen when using BBs. If you use air, which is almost guaranteed to have moisture, and you live in a cold environment they can freeze into a lump.

I've also hear of Semi drivers using antifreeze in their tires for balancing, but thats not a good idea if you blow a bead off-road.

 

I remember seeing similar products in Fingerhut and other junk catalogs over thirty years ago. Basically mount like a wheel spacer w/ a tube of lead shot around the circumference. There's got to be a reason these never caught on.:v6:

 

not a new idea. Had a Buddy put one shot glass of BB's in his 37's. just dump them in and mount the tire. Only way he knew they were in there was that when you slow down the bb's loose there centrifigul force and fall and hit the rim. you could hear them tink tink tink the rims.

Other idea is 1/2- 1/2 Water and Anti-freeze. about 1-2 cups worth.

or like Big Rigs run, there's a granular material (don't recall what it was called) that you pul inside the tire.

The bad about pad or rim balancing is that you tirs can and will slip on the rim when off roading (unless you're bead locked). When your tire slips, your balance job is shot. With BB's, or any of these other methods, your tires re balance each time you start moving again. So as your tire wears over time, it'll again re balance each time.

 

From experience I can only reiterate strongly against sticking stuff into the tire. Any antifreeze mixture in the tire is lethal to animals should you ever blow a tire, and will also want to suck out of the stem when airing down which can't be healthy. Powders will clog your valve stems when airing down. Centramatic or another external centrifigal balancer (sand in a metal ring that mounts behind your wheel) is quiet, effective and safe.

 

Airsoft BBs

 

How bout RV antifreeze?? I use it in my fresh water plumbing in my camper and its supposed to be completely harmless. Just a thought....

Also, you wouldn't be putting much in the tire, so if your wheels were rotated so the stems were on top, you wouldn't loose any at all.

 

I use the beads from Innovative Balancing. All I have to say is they work great. I use them in the jeep and in my 2 trucks also. I use 8 oz. for my 33's on the Jeep and 4 oz. in my stock pickup tires.

 

This may be the way to go... No chance of them rusting together. 8oz is 8oz just a little more volume I would imagine.

I’m really considering doing it on the Jeep and if it works, I’ll carry it over to my truck. I don’t have the means to pop the bead myself, or at least I don’t think I do, so I can only imagine the look on the little guy's face when I show up 2lbs of BB’s at the tire shop.