tire balancing

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 6, 2011 | 11:33 AM

#21

DuraGlide

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 1,895

Likes: 121

From: Southern WV

For all you cheap guys out there, make friends with your local heavy truck tire installer. I got an 8 oz bag of balancing beads for free. Measured out the 2 and 1 oz amounts. Took a 3 in. piece of clear tubing and the lid from a bottle of rear diff lube with a nipple on it. Ran a straight piece of mig wire thru the tubing and lid and slipped that over the valve stem. Pour in a few beads to fill up the tube and lid. Pull the mig wire up and down to work the beads in. Free balance job.

Jan 6, 2011 | 12:34 PM

#22

ddm502001

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,616

Likes: 17

From: Mid West

I guess I am just old school, still use a balance rod/bearing setup and still use tape weights on my wheels when I change my own. I don't get all worked up over the weight on the rim and don't care they are there as long as my ride rides well and smooth, I can't see them from the seat.

Jan 6, 2011 | 12:39 PM

#23

big ears

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 346

Likes: 2

From: Buller Louisiana

I balance mine whith a Marc Parnes balance kit. No problems.

Jan 6, 2011 | 02:20 PM

#24

BezerkoBob

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 830

Likes: 34

From: Missouri

Dyna-beads in my Elite 3's, front & rear. Overtime, tape weights, or other mechanical weights lose their balance as the tire wears, just like your car. The dyna-beads stay balanced throughout the life of the tire.

Jan 6, 2011 | 02:41 PM

#25

jjnoble

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 2,727

Likes: 6

I put dyna beads in my rear tire (3oz). I have put about 2000 miles on it since and it feels fine. However I had it dynoed before I rode it anywhere and the bike bounced in high gear at high rpm (over 5k). Some of the time, not every time, but when it bounced it bounced a lot, completely losing contact with the track. You can see the tire losing contact in the dyno graph. I don't usually ride above 5k so I'm not really worried about it, but you could lose control at high speed with the dyna beads. Just a heads up.

Jan 6, 2011 | 04:57 PM

#26

Notgrownup

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 24,711

Likes: 9,214

From: Snow Hill, NC

I left my weights on i felt like it would help smooth it out even more...

Jan 6, 2011 | 05:56 PM

#27

vickon

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 1,916

Likes: 19

From: Sunshine State

Mmmm ..

I tried them on my '08 FLHTC front (E3/2010 OEM 18" wheel) and had two issues:

1. real bad "howl" at lower speeds 30~40mph (blamed tire, defective bearings).
2. awful shake at 75+mph

Took 'em out, had the wheel/tire balanced with regular weights and no issues since.

My .25 cents ...8]

Jan 6, 2011 | 08:33 PM

#28

09StreetGlider

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 832

Likes: 1

From: Bagram, Afghanistan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry1834

09StreetGlider...How did your 407 rear wear? Even and cupping on the outside? .

My first set... 407 front and rear without beads...both had cupping and uneven wear. The rear cupped on the outside edges while the front cupped right down the middle. I replaced the front under warranty around 8K and the rear at 12k.

My next set...408 front and 407 rear with dynabeads....has lasted 16k front and 12k rear right now and neither has any cupping what-so-ever. Even tread wear all around. The only other thing I changed was the pressure. I now maintain 40 PSI front and rear. I estimate 3-4K left on both the front and rear.

I have a brand new set of American Elites waiting to be installed once I wear these out....