Update:
I just got off the phone with a rep at CounterAct. He assured me all their beads from the mc beads to the big trucks (Did not specify about the off road beads) are the from the same base and all fit through a valve stem, there is even a product that hooks up to compressed air to push large quantities of beads through the stem on semi tires. (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErLTk1lQAc ) . Everything sold in 4oz packages and up are identical in size and composition. The 1,2, and 3 oz packages are for motorcycles only. They start with the same exact beads but go through a more in depth refining process with nothing but perfect beads with 0 defects coming through. He also stated there was a different coating process for the mc beads to make them even smoother. With motorcycles and liability issues there has to be absolute perfection.
He was well aware of darkside tire use even before I even mentioned it and said he was one of the reps for their motorcycle products and rode himself. In true salesman fashion he neither condone nor condemn darkside tire use though. In further speaking about my needs with all my vehicles and trailers he suggested that purchasing one of the larger kits intended for big trucks through amazon (actual counteract product dealers instead of possible counterfeit product through ebay) would probably be my best option as they do not sell in bulk packages. They sell pre measured packages by the case to insure quality control and prevent product contamination all the way to the inside of the tire. I've worked in auto shops most of my life and can only imagine the crap that would end up in a tire if a 5gal bucket of beads was allowed to sit in a shop.
When I mentioned using their non motorcycle product and also BBs in the past with no adverse affects and didn't feel their additional refining process and cost of the motorcycle product were in my benefit he stated that's how they got started many years ago was with steel ballancing beads and have a patent on their current glass bead product with proprietary coatings for nearly 20 years. Never trust a salesman, I Googled it, its true. Also there is a lot of knowledge to be gained on how something works by reading patent info. Here it is if you're interested.
http://www.google.com/patents/US6128952 In addition to BBs we spoke briefly about ceramic. He did not speak negatively about any specific companies but did say that with ceramic balancing media there has to be a very specific mixture of components in the ceramic to prevent it from breaking apart becoming abrasive to the wheel and inside of tire and turning to dust in the tire. He then touched on the coating process again of their beads allowing free movement in the tire. He did also state that the cost of manufacture of proper ceramic beads is several times higher and was a factor in why CounterAct does not have them in their product line. Most if not all ceramic media is manufactured in china due to this additional cost. CounterAct beads have a manufacturing plant in Canada and one in the USA with about 80% of product coming out of the USA plant. Big bonus for me. Support American companies who support American jobs. I have watched youtube videos from checkered flag balancing where he states his ceramic product is imported. He states problems with every type of balance bead except glass beads in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBnHphZ328UIn my discussions with product reps at quackenbush and counteract and seeing what checkered flag has to say in several videos on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/cfmobiletires as well as counteracts videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyPipDAI5MwXOXEqiSG3w-A I have made the decision to keep using the counteract beads. I hope all the info I have documented here will help anyone else who has questions in the future
