Dyna Beads tire life

[98valk]

any reports on increased or decreased tire life using the beads?

I got 13k out of the OEM dunlops. no dyna beads
Presently with dyna beads rear ME880 with beads done at 13k, front ME looks like will be done at 15k but have severe cupping. ALways check and keep pressures at max.  I did notice a smoother ride with the dyna beads however I already had 7k on the MEs.

Thanks

[vanagon40]

Smokinjoe has reported on several occasions that the worst mileage he ever got on a tire was when he used dyna beads.

[Spirited-6]

any reports on increased or decreased tire life using the beads?

I got 13k out of the OEM dunlops.
Presently rear ME880 with beads done at 13k, front ME  looks like will be done at 15k but have severe cupping. ALways check and keep pressures at max.

Thanks

CA, I can`t give any advice on BEADS, but I have about 10,000 on 880`s with normal balancing "weights" and my front looks like it will go another 8,000 -  10,000 , rear another 5,000. I am a "slow" rider. 

[Big Rig]

Dave,

I have just replaced a set of 880's with standard balancing weights, tires have just over 13k on them, both look like I could get another 3 to 4k on them. The new set I am having Dynabeads balancing system installed. I will keep you posted on the mileage.

[Big Rig]

Can some one explain the theory behind lesser mileage using dynabeeads versus standard balancing weights?

[Dag]

Can some one explain the theory behind lesser mileage using dynabeeads versus standard balancing weights?

I look forward to seeing what the theory is based on...

[Mildew]

I have never balanced my tires in the past and got an even wear pattern. This new kenda is the 1st one I had balanced mainly because it was free. I notice a slight up and down wobble at 25 mph. I have never noticed this before. It rides great at any other speed but i'm sure the wobble is still there, I just can't feel it. I also think the wobble is from the balance weight not the tire. I'll be taking the weights off and i'll let ya'all know if their is a difference.

[F6Dave]

The beads are supposed to move 'into position' when you start to move and then stay there.  If they continue moving, could they generate enough heat to reduce mileage?

[Slvrvalk1]

I just changed out an Elite 3 on my front with 20,000 miles on it with Dyna Beads.  I could have gone further, but we are headed out on a long trip with my wife on back and I did not want to worry about the tire.

I have not noticed any difference with Dyna Beads in terms of tire life.  Remember that the tire that Smokin Joe was talking about was a car tire on the back of his bike.

Dave

[1FAST6]

I have used beads in my last 3 rear and last 2 front tires.  I have not noticed any difference in wear pattern or tire life.  There are only 3 oz in the rear and 2 oz in the front.  When the centrifugal force spreads them around the tire, there's almost nothing on any given square inch.  Especially when you consider the weight of the bike and rider and the size of the contact patch.  My dad always said, "Opinions are like @$$holes...  Everybody's got one!"  Guess I just showed you mine!   

[Mildew]

I guess i'll show mine now. I believe the purchace of dyna beads is just helping someone pay for their yact. Same goes for a lot of new market stuff.

[Farther]

...I believe the purchace of dyna beads is just helping someone pay for their yact....

What's a "yact"?

[Jabba]

A Yact is a mis spelled yacht.

Joe thinks the dyna-beads are hokum to begin with.  I dunno.  I think they run smooth.  I have them in BOTH rear car tires on my bikes.  Not a lot of miles on them yet though.  It'll be a while before either has a lot of miles as I am splitting the miles on mine.

Jabba

[Highbinder]

Motorcycle Consumer News evaluated the Dyna Beads on a reader’s suggestion back in Oct. of 06.  Although the tiny white ceramic beads have apparently found favor with long-haul truckers, we tested them on a Honda 599.  Using a shop’s spin balancer, we checked the bike’s rear wheel, which had 1.6 oz. of balance weights in place.  The balancer agreed with amount and location of the weights.  After installing the specified 2 oz.’s of beads in the rear tire and then removing the rim weights, the balancer found an out of balance condition.  The test was repeated five times and the balancer continued to call for the replacement of the 1.6 oz. weights in the same location.  Over the road testing was next.  Without the rim weights, the rear wheel produced noticeable vibration and the installation of the beads gave a barely perceptible improvement. Also, the weight of the beads added so close to the tire tread gave a noticeable increase in gyro stability, making the steering heavier.  We also tried them on a car and were disappointed.  Bottom line…Save your money for a proper spin balance.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Motorcycle Consumer News evaluated the Dyna Beads on a reader’s suggestion back in Oct. of 06.  Although the tiny white ceramic beads have apparently found favor with long-haul truckers, we tested them on a Honda 599.  Using a shop’s spin balancer, we checked the bike’s rear wheel, which had 1.6 oz. of balance weights in place.  The balancer agreed with amount and location of the weights.  After installing the specified 2 oz.’s of beads in the rear tire and then removing the rim weights, the balancer found an out of balance condition.  The test was repeated five times and the balancer continued to call for the replacement of the 1.6 oz. weights in the same location.  Over the road testing was next.  Without the rim weights, the rear wheel produced noticeable vibration and the installation of the beads gave a barely perceptible improvement. Also, the weight of the beads added so close to the tire tread gave a noticeable increase in gyro stability, making the steering heavier.  We also tried them on a car and were disappointed.  Bottom line…Save your money for a proper spin balance.

  I agree....Magic Balls....Snake-Oil

[Red Diamond]

I just mounted a new Avon Cobra on the front of the I/S. I rotated the tire until the heavy part was at the bottom.(The valve stem at the top) Applied weights near the valve stem until it remained wherever I stopped it. Now here is the funny part, seated the beads, 40psig, the valve stem moved to another location. Removed the weights and no balancing needed. It rides smoothly.

[Jabba]

Motorcycle Consumer News evaluated the Dyna Beads on a reader’s suggestion back in Oct. of 06.  Although the tiny white ceramic beads have apparently found favor with long-haul truckers, we tested them on a Honda 599.  Using a shop’s spin balancer, we checked the bike’s rear wheel, which had 1.6 oz. of balance weights in place.  The balancer agreed with amount and location of the weights.  After installing the specified 2 oz.’s of beads in the rear tire and then removing the rim weights, the balancer found an out of balance condition.  The test was repeated five times and the balancer continued to call for the replacement of the 1.6 oz. weights in the same location.  Over the road testing was next.  Without the rim weights, the rear wheel produced noticeable vibration and the installation of the beads gave a barely perceptible improvement. Also, the weight of the beads added so close to the tire tread gave a noticeable increase in gyro stability, making the steering heavier.  We also tried them on a car and were disappointed.  Bottom line…Save your money for a proper spin balance.

The "majic balls" need to have contact with the road surface to dissipate correctly.  They tell you right in their literature that it won't balance right on a balance machine. 

Maybe I don't need ANY weight on mine, but I have them in both rear car tires and they SEEM to work fine.  I know its anectdotal evidence... but I can't find a shop that'll even balance my MC wheel with a CT on it. 

I'll let everyone know what kinda mileage I get on it soon.

Jabba

[vanagon40]

The "majic balls" need to have contact with the road surface to dissipate correctly.  They tell you right in their literature that it won't balance right on a balance machine.

My understanding is that the axle must be able to move.  On the balance machine, the axle is rigid.

I can't find a shop that'll even balance my MC wheel with a CT on it. 

Honda dealer in Whiteland did mine.  Last time I just used a static balance with the axle resting on a couple of saw horses.

[Jabba]

The Whiteland Honda shop told me they wouldn't touch mine with a CT on it.  I don't even think they like it when I park it in their lot, because everyone wants to talk about it.

 

Jabba

[vanagon40]

I just took mine in to be balanced (actually, I first tried to just buy some weights, but the guy said he would balance for $10).

The guy (don't know who) in the shop looked at my wheel and said, "That's a car tire."

I responded, "Not anymore."

He balanced it.

This happened August 2007.

[Jabba]

Cool.  I asked them if they would balance a tire for me, that I had mounted a car tire on.  they told me that if it wasn't listed for use on a Valk,  they wouldn't touch it in the shop. 

They wouldn't accept MY list.

Jabba

[Dougger]

I had the beads in tires on my motorhome, worked good.
You should change the valve stems, the beads can get stuck in the stem and release the air. They have special valve stems for use with the beads.

[KW]

I just stuck some in about 1000 miles ago . . .  My tires weren't out of balance to begin with, so maybe it was stupid to try the Dyna Beads, but I've read so much about them and already had a package on hand. . . . The bike does feels slightly smoother going down the road, but who knows? Maybe I 'want' to feel a difference? I do agree with Jabba though; there is anectdotal evidence to suggest the beads work, no?

 (Modified to hide just how stupid I really am . . .)

[Jabba]

I just stuck some in about 1000 miles ago . . .  My tires weren't out of balance to begin with, so maybe it was stupid to try the Dyna Beads, but I've read so much about them and already had a package on hand. . . . The bike does feels slightly smoother going down the road, but who knows? Maybe I 'want' to feel a difference? I do agree with Jabba though; there is anectdotal evidence to suggest the beads work, no?

I haven’t heard about the ‘mileage’ concerns until reading this post today. Interesting enough, my mileage has slightly decreased recently and it does seem to correlate with the installation of the Dyna Beads, but I’m pretty sure my K&N is dirty. I’m pulling the tank today and cleaning it. We’ll see. . .

They mean mileage as to how far they'll get out of a tire.  Not MPG.

Jabba

[KW]

DOH! 

[Jabba]

DOH! 

I get it man.  I do that stuff ALL the time.

Smokin'joe complains about the ONLY tire he EVER used Dynabeads on was the WORST mileage he EVER got out of a rear.  So... naturally it now something to talk about.  Hundreds use 'em, 1 hates 'em, and it's something to argue about when we're bored.

Jabba

[NITRO]

I had a local tire place patch my rear cycle tire this spring. We asked about the cost of getting a GYTT on the rim and they had no problem with mounting it for us. They did say they wouldn't balance it, but they carry the dynabeads. Apparently they use them in large off-road truck tires that don't balance without lots of weights.