Balancing 35x12.5 tires with balancing beads?

Payton34 · January 30, 2018

So when I got my TOYO RT 35x12.5r20 tires installed the shop said they do not balance large tires with lead weights and they use Checkered Flag ceramic balancing beads. My first question was if I would hear them and they assured no they make no noise and after going 35mph they balance the tire. So I went with the beads and this was November so everything was good I didn't hear anything and the tires rode perfectly. Then by spring I forgot I even had the beads in the tires and when I was driving with the windows open I heard a rattling/pinging sound everytime I stopped. To me it sounded like a baffle in my Corsa buffle was loose. Corsa sent me new muffler and I replaced but I still had the rattling and pinging.

It turned out it was the balancing beads in the tire. So the shop went for a ride and confirmed the beads were falling in the tire and bouncing of the wheel. They ordered equal flexx balancing plastic shredding stuff and my noise was gone and everything balanced fine until my tires were rotated 2 months ago and now I have steering wheel shake at 55mph. The shop says there isn't anything they can do and the nature of larger tires is they may not be able to balance perfectly. I told them its BS and I had 35's in past with lead stick on weights without an issue. I asked if they could have not put the right amount in one of the tires or the package had the wrong amount and they insist no. I asked them to redo the equal in the fronts but they said they do not like the plastic balancing and do not stock it and will only offer me to go to a ceramic bead like I originally had or they also use Magnum glass beads. I should also say the Equal clogs the valve stem sometimes and the shop didn't use the valve stem filters because as they said they didn't fit the GM stems.

Does anyone have experience the Magnum glass beads and are they quiet? Any other brand suggestions?

I actually do not like the equal for the valve stem clogging issue and was wondering if it could be clumped up and causing the out of balance.

sdeeter19555 · January 30, 2018

Would only clump if it was wet to begin with, and water will eventually work it's way out of a tire. I used balancing beads and had mixed results, some times good others not so good.

I would suspect you have an out-of-round tire causing your steering wheel shake, and no amount of balancing will help that. I have a one slightly out of round and can tell when it's on a front position, but not when it's in the rear.

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Bash74 · January 30, 2018

So when I got my TOYO RT 35x12.5r20 tires installed the shop said they do not balance large tires with lead weights and they use Checkered Flag ceramic balancing beads. My first question was if I would hear them and they assured no they make no noise and after going 35mph they balance the tire. So I went with the beads and this was November so everything was good I didn't hear anything and the tires rode perfectly. Then by spring I forgot I even had the beads in the tires and when I was driving with the windows open I heard a rattling/pinging sound everytime I stopped. To me it sounded like a baffle in my Corsa buffle was loose. Corsa sent me new muffler and I replaced but I still had the rattling and pinging.

It turned out it was the balancing beads in the tire. So the shop went for a ride and confirmed the beads were falling in the tire and bouncing of the wheel. They ordered equal flexx balancing plastic shredding stuff and my noise was gone and everything balanced fine until my tires were rotated 2 months ago and now I have steering wheel shake at 55mph. The shop says there isn't anything they can do and the nature of larger tires is they may not be able to balance perfectly. I told them its BS and I had 35's in past with lead stick on weights without an issue. I asked if they could have not put the right amount in one of the tires or the package had the wrong amount and they insist no. I asked them to redo the equal in the fronts but they said they do not like the plastic balancing and do not stock it and will only offer me to go to a ceramic bead like I originally had or they also use Magnum glass beads. I should also say the Equal clogs the valve stem sometimes and the shop didn't use the valve stem filters because as they said they didn't fit the GM stems.

Does anyone have experience the Magnum glass beads and are they quiet? Any other brand suggestions?

I actually do not like the equal for the valve stem clogging issue and was wondering if it could be clumped up and causing the out of balance.

Like you said you never had problem with the lead weights in the past, and that is why I will still always do the weights and not all this bead in tire stuff. The fact the shop can't do weights and large tires cant be balanced is just crazy. I know some people say it's better because weights can come off but I have never personally known anyone whose weights have come off even during some crazy off road driving. I would just get them done correctly with weights and be done with it but you have spent the money already so they need to make it right.

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Grumpy Bear · January 30, 2018

4 hours ago, sdeeter19555 said:

I would suspect you have an out-of-round tire causing your steering wheel shake, and no amount of balancing will help that. I have a one slightly out of round and can tell when it's on a front position, but not when it's in the rear.

I know I'm pretty old but once upon a time some shops would shave tires for round. Anyone still doing that? Anyone but me even hear of it?

sdeeter19555 · January 30, 2018

I know I'm pretty old but once upon a time some shops would shave tires for round. Anyone still doing that? Anyone but me even hear of it?

I've heard of it, not really common...haven't asked so I don't know if anyone does it around here anymore.

Supposedly a shaved set of tires yields an incredibly long tread life?

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

sdeeter19555 · January 30, 2018

Like you said you never had problem with the lead weights in the past, and that is why I will still always do the weights and not all this bead in tire stuff. The fact the shop can't do weights and large tires cant be balanced is just crazy. I know some people say it's better because weights can come off but I have never personally known anyone whose weights have come off even during some crazy off road driving. I would just get them done correctly with weights and be done with it but you have spent the money already so they need to make it right.

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I've lost wheel weights on this truck, with stock tires and stock rims with nothing more than highway miles....

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Grumpy Bear · January 30, 2018

26 minutes ago, sdeeter19555 said:

I've heard of it, not really common...haven't asked so I don't know if anyone does it around here anymore.

Supposedly a shaved set of tires yields an incredibly long tread life?

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

Only guy I knew that did it died about 20 years ago. A shop in Clinton Iowa. Okay then, it wasn't a dream.

Bash74 · January 31, 2018

I've lost wheel weights on this truck, with stock tires and stock rims with nothing more than highway miles....

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

That sucks. I mean I have only seen it on cars that are racing a lot and getting there rims very hot and the glue melting but never on a truck, I been lucky I guess. I know some people that get there car rims hot they use HVAC aluminum tape and tape over the weights.

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sdeeter19555 · January 31, 2018

That sucks. I mean I have only seen it on cars that are racing a lot and getting there rims very hot and the glue melting but never on a truck, I been lucky I guess. I know some people that get there car rims hot they use HVAC aluminum tape and tape over the weights.

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Steel wheels and hammered on weights...they don't do fancy stick-on weights on steelies.

Steve
2012 2500hd 6.0l

DLEBRoad · February 5, 2018

When it comes to aggressive tread tires, balancing beads are the way to go. The problem is what the manufacturers recommend arent accurate for tires like these. these would call for 6oz bag, I would suggest adding 4oz making it 10oz per tire to compensate for the added weight for the tire, as well as the assembly. In regards to which brand, I would go with Counteract balancing beads. They're coated so they don't react to moisture, as well as they work of principal which allows them to remain in the balanced position (similar to rubbing a balloon on your head sticking it to the wall).