Anybody ever use balance beads in their p/u or SUV?

[John Schmidt]

Had a new set of tires installed in front a couple weeks back and they can't seem to get rid of a vibration that comes in real strong around 75mph. I wish we could go back to the old method of spin balancing on the vehicle, I never had this problem back then. Most of these computer run devices don't seem to spin the wheel up fast enough. If I still lived in the Orlando area, I'll bet this old gent I know could take care of it. That's the only way he'd balance tires....by spinning the entire rotating mass. I could set a glass of water on the fender, he'd spin it up and get the water to sit without a hint of vibration.

So, if you used beads in a p/u or SUV, how much did you use for a 245/55r19.

[Rams]

John,
This should help.

http://www.wheelbalancingbeads.com/tire-chart/

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Doesn't list my tire size but appears that 5oz per wheel is needed, judging by other sizes near the same as mine. My wheels have the pressure sensing device, just wondering if that would create problems. I'd like to hear from others that may have used them with the sensors installed.

[Steel cowboy]

The ford dealer in Inverness Florida used a bag filled with beads in each tire of my 450 Duely work truck. I used them in my Jeep that has 35’s installed and I will use them in my f-250 when I replace the rubber. I used 10 oz. in each of my Jeep wheels, with no shimmying up to 80 mph. I don’t dare go faster in my 2 door TJ model.

[h13man]

John you might find a shop that will "fast" spin balance as most installers won't go above 65 mph. I suggest a "tuner" or speed shop type place. Never used beads in cage tires but I sure do like them in the bike tires!

[John Schmidt]

What I'm more concerned about is whether the beads, especially steel, would damage or interfere with the pressure sensor. With that system installed on my SUV I would most likely use the glass beads, possibly a larger version than what I used on the bike.

[Robert]

Tire pressure sensors are located at the base of the valve stem on the inside edge of the rim and the beads are in the bottom of the tire and are away from that area. They are more than likely thin enough and out of the path of the beads to not be affected to much. The sides can be flat but are only about a 1/4 inch projection into the tire. I have even seen sensors with a tapered edges also.

I have put the ceramic beads in tires with sensors with no problem at all, and the steel are not as hard but more than likely just as heavy so you should not have a problem.

Sensors are pretty cheap these days for information, you can get programmable sensors for as little as 35.00.

[98valk]

Had a new set of tires installed in front a couple weeks back and they can't seem to get rid of a vibration that comes in real strong around 75mph. I wish we could go back to the old method of spin balancing on the vehicle, I never had this problem back then. Most of these computer run devices don't seem to spin the wheel up fast enough. If I still lived in the Orlando area, I'll bet this old gent I know could take care of it. That's the only way he'd balance tires....by spinning the entire rotating mass. I could set a glass of water on the fender, he'd spin it up and get the water to sit without a hint of vibration.

So, if you used beads in a p/u or SUV, how much did you use for a 245/55r19.

new tires and vibrating? today's advance manufacturered tires should need almost zero weights to balance.
I have larger tires than oem on my F250 and almost zero weights were needed, and then I put the beads in.

so either u have bad rims which a good shop can check or those tires are defected.

[John Schmidt]

Had a new set of tires installed in front a couple weeks back and they can't seem to get rid of a vibration that comes in real strong around 75mph. I wish we could go back to the old method of spin balancing on the vehicle, I never had this problem back then. Most of these computer run devices don't seem to spin the wheel up fast enough. If I still lived in the Orlando area, I'll bet this old gent I know could take care of it. That's the only way he'd balance tires....by spinning the entire rotating mass. I could set a glass of water on the fender, he'd spin it up and get the water to sit without a hint of vibration.

So, if you used beads in a p/u or SUV, how much did you use for a 245/55r19.

new tires and vibrating? today's advance manufacturered tires should need almost zero weights to balance.
I have larger tires than oem on my F250 and almost zero weights were needed, and then I put the beads in.

so either u have bad rims which a good shop can check or those tires are defected.

I've always been told to add beads without any weights on the wheel so that's what I do with the bike. Apparently beads can be added after weights are in place. One chart I looked at suggested 5 oz. for a 245/55r19. Seems like a lot to me but it is a fair sized tire. Guess I could try it, can't hurt anything....I hope. Tires ain't cheap.

[98valk]

Had a new set of tires installed in front a couple weeks back and they can't seem to get rid of a vibration that comes in real strong around 75mph. I wish we could go back to the old method of spin balancing on the vehicle, I never had this problem back then. Most of these computer run devices don't seem to spin the wheel up fast enough. If I still lived in the Orlando area, I'll bet this old gent I know could take care of it. That's the only way he'd balance tires....by spinning the entire rotating mass. I could set a glass of water on the fender, he'd spin it up and get the water to sit without a hint of vibration.

So, if you used beads in a p/u or SUV, how much did you use for a 245/55r19.

new tires and vibrating? today's advance manufacturered tires should need almost zero weights to balance.
I have larger tires than oem on my F250 and almost zero weights were needed, and then I put the beads in.

so either u have bad rims which a good shop can check or those tires are defected.

I've always been told to add beads without any weights on the wheel so that's what I do with the bike. Apparently beads can be added after weights are in place. One chart I looked at suggested 5 oz. for a 245/55r19. Seems like a lot to me but it is a fair sized tire. Guess I could try it, can't hurt anything....I hope. Tires ain't cheap.

yes motorcycle tires I don't use any weights.  car and truck tires I get them balanced and then use the beads to help keep them balance over time due to tire wear which changes the orginal balance.

I did try only beads on my truck tires one time. always ran smooth except the tires wore faster than it should have. so did more research many sites suggest to balance and also add the beads.

[Jess Tolbirt]

take your vehicle to a car dealer and have them load balance your tires. If it takes more than 20 you will need a new tire. the ram trucks have a 55mph vibration and will only go away if load balanced. after you have them load balanced dont let any one rebalance your tires unless its a load balance..

[cookiedough]

if new tires and say only on 1 month or less go back to where you bought them and get new tires very well could be a factory defect in the tread/steel belts of the NEW tires.  I had that once on Goodyear Wrangler 18 inch tires NEW on a brand NEW Chev silverado truck drove it few 1000 miles and took it back to GM dealer where bought new truck the tires kept pulling to one side even after they took all 4 off and rebalanced them and swapped the tires to other side as well as front end alignment on new truck.  Dealer had no issues scrapping the tires and give me 4 brand new OTHER brand of tires said probably 1 or 2 bad tires from factory. 

doubt it, but also could be your SUV needs  front end alignment creating the vibration over 65 mph? 

Or, just add beads and give that a shot at it if too much trouble to go back to where you bought the new tires from.

[SCain]

You might check out these beads, I haven't used them yet.
https://checkeredflagtirebalancebeads.com/

From their website
Unlike other products on the market today our balancing beads will not clump with moisture and is safe to use with TPMS.

[John Schmidt]

You might check out these beads, I haven't used them yet.
https://checkeredflagtirebalancebeads.com/

From their website
Unlike other products on the market today our balancing beads will not clump with moisture and is safe to use with TPMS.

Just talked to them via phone, asked why my 245/55r19's weren't listed on their tire charts. Reason they gave was the beads in general don't work well with low profile tires. Sure doesn't look like a low profile tire, now I don't know which way to go.

[cookiedough]

You might check out these beads, I haven't used them yet.
https://checkeredflagtirebalancebeads.com/

From their website
Unlike other products on the market today our balancing beads will not clump with moisture and is safe to use with TPMS.

Just talked to them via phone, asked why my 245/55r19's weren't listed on their tire charts. Reason they gave was the beads in general don't work well with low profile tires. Sure doesn't look like a low profile tire, now I don't know which way to go.

yah,  they about same size 19 inch on my wife's upgraded SUV that I told her NO ON!  She did not listen wanted this fancy feature and the next which I absolutely FRICKING HATE the auto up/down rear hatch of the SUV.  Is too slow electric can just push button below hatch in back and do it myself and do it manually much much quicker and with less hastle.  More crap to go wrong for sure.    It has a use for older folks who cannot close the hatch I guess or has arm issues raising it that high to grab the rear hatch and close it shut manually.   ONLY useful upgraded feature in upgraded package was LED lights all the way around they shine much brighter at night being a good thing but is it worth 1500 more? 

Plus those lower sidewall (more rim) 19 inch tires ride quality diminishes enough to notice over cracks/bumps/rough spots in the road due to less rubber between rim and outside of tire.  Also they are more apt to scrap the rims on curbs due to less rubber of tire width and more rim.   i wanted 18 inch standard rims and dealer would not swap them even though they getting an upgrade 19 vs. 18 inch tires and rims. 

Just throw some beads in each tire see how it goes I guess cannot hurt if no good only out 10-15 bucks or so.  I'd go back to the installer of the tires and demand they fix it after showing them with a test drive at 75 mph.

[old2soon]

          John-I learned about balance beads while driving semi. I now use BBs as the balance media-cage trailer(s) and definitely on Phatt Ghurl. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

          John-I learned about balance beads while driving semi. I now use BBs as the balance media-cage trailer(s) and definitely on Phatt Ghurl. RIDE SAFE.

Dennis, I added 3 oz. to each wheel on the trailer so should be pretty smooth going back home.