wheel balancing - beads vs weights

nadrojcote · May 18, 2015

I recently had new wheels installed and since they're a larger black wheel they asked if I would prefer beads over weights so that they aren't visible. They only had silver weights. I asked them if they will balance as good, and they told me it would be the same it just costs a bit more. So I went with the beads and I'm pretty dissapointed. If I take any turn or hit any bumps while traveling the balance gets thrown off and I get a bad vibration. Should I wait longer in case the bags of beads haven't broke open yet? Or should I go get them to balance them with weights? The shop I go to has a road force balancer so they should be able to set my spoke location and hide most of the weights.

fondupot · May 19, 2015

I've never heard of balancing tires with beads for ON-ROAD use. I would have tradition wheel weights installed.

Stevens03 · May 19, 2015

I always thought the bags were to be opened. They're generally used on tires that are 35" or larger. If you just put the "bag" of beads in, that's your problem. They'll always self level or balance.

nadrojcote · May 19, 2015

This brand apparently breaks open after installed. I'm going to do more test driving tonight and I'm going to see them tomorrow. I'm pretty upset about the situation to be honest.

The Zip · May 19, 2015

I would have tradition wheel weights installed.

projectsummit - installation of traditional weights that hang off the side of the wheel are too harsh for todays wheels, magnetic weights placed on the uderside of the wheel will be better on the wheel if you decide to go with weights.

nadrojcote · May 19, 2015

I'd be getting the taped on type on the inside of the drum. Not the type that are hammered on the lip. I'm going to take the guy I deal with at the tire shop for a ride tomorrow to show him and then ask them what they will do for me. I'm upset because I paid more for these beads and I specifically asked if they would work as good as normal weights.

fondupot · May 19, 2015

I'd be getting the taped on type on the inside of the drum. Not the type that are hammered on the lip. I'm going to take the guy I deal with at the tire shop for a ride tomorrow to show him and then ask them what they will do for me. I'm upset because I paid more for these beads and I specifically asked if they would work as good as normal weights.

Thats the kind I was talking about.

nadrojcote · May 19, 2015

I dropped it off this morning. I'm hoping they don't try to charge me for the mount and balance. If they do I'm going to ask them for my beads I paid $75 for.

nadrojcote · May 19, 2015

Got them road force balanced for free.

They took out the beads and they found that some of the lube used to get the rubber on the rim had got inside and clumped them up.

This whole wheel process was a piss off. I brought them new wheels tires, sensors and lug nuts.

First they took 2.5 hours to mount them because they claimed two of my sensors that I brought to them were defective. They were unable to program them. They convinced me that EZ sensors are garbage and that I should buy two of their sensors. ($130). So they took one tire apart and pulled out my sensor. While they had it out I had another guy that just got back off lunch try to program it and he had no problem. He then went over to my truck and had no problem programming the other sensor still on my truck. These were both apparently defective. Turns out the guy didn't know what the hell he was doing.

Fast forward to two days later. I finished washing my truck and noticed I was missing a lug. Look at my wheels and two other lugs were unthreaded to the point that they were about to fall off. I took my truck in and they found some type of oil in all my lug nuts. They claim they came like this.

Two more days later I got fed up with the violent shaking of my truck on the highway and took it back to them and they found the clumped up beads. I have a feeling that even if they weren't clumped up I still wouldn't have been impressed.

So finally today its all resolved. Have my wheels mounted and balanced, all the weights are hidden behind my spokes. They replaced my missing lug and my sensors are all programmed and working.