Balancing beads

[Will]

What weight balancing beads do you guys use in your tires. I added 8oz to my fronts and still feel a little shaky. My bearing and front end is in good shape.

[Craig Leach]

Hi Will,
My BIL added balance beads to his tires and it developed a death wobble. Turns out if you put more than recommended in them it will cause issues. He had to replace all four tubes.
A simple case of more is not better.
Craig.

[TXGOAT2]

If you use balancing beads, do not use any kind of liquid tire sealer, and keep moisture out of the tubes. My car has balancing beads in all four tires, and they seen to work very well, but I don't know what brand or how much was added.

[Oldav8tor]

6 Ounces - I've driven 12000 miles with balancing beads and they've worked very well. They just address tire balance, not any of the other issues that can lead to death wobble or front end wiggle. I would question whether a couple of extra ounces per tire would cause a problem... as you speed up they spread out and achieve the balanced state.

If you've added balance beads and the front end is still "shaky" I suspect the problem is elsewhere. Sometimes they can be elusive.

[Allan]

Are balance beads used to correct a fault in modern junk tyres? I have never had a problem with balance using Olympic and Dunlop tyres from the last century. The only set of modern tyres with which I have had experience were T drivers. They did not present a balance problem, but they did wear out at very different rates, and rather quickly at that.

Allan from down under.

[Bills Auto Works]

I use CounterAct Balance Beads. They are glass beads, I would NOT use the steel beads (if they even sell them anymore.)

I use them in every truck, trailer, classic & hot rod I own. I have millions of miles using them with never any kind of issue & I believe my tires last longer, because balance changes as the tire wears. Balance beads continue to keep the balance exact where as weights do not change as the tire wears.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/thr ... ed.614419/

[Allan]

Bill, at highway speeds in modern and classic cars, I can see the benefits of good wheel balance. However, none of my T's are anywhere near capable of highway speeds, so wheel balance is not something I have ever seen the need for. For me, it comes down to "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Allan from down under.

[Bills Auto Works]

Bill, at highway speeds in modern and classic cars, I can see the benefits of good wheel balance. However, none of my T's are anywhere near capable of highway speeds, so wheel balance is not something I have ever seen the need for. For me, it comes down to "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Allan from down under.

I understand completely Alan!

An interesting side note : I misspoke about one of my trucks as it does not have CounterAct Beads, it has "Centramatics" which is a metal ring between the dually wheels & also behind the front wheels. The beads are inside the ring & the funny thing about that is that you know exactly when they start balancing, because you stop hearing them roll around inside the ring. That speed is 22 MPH, so to your point the Model T spends a lot of time under that anyway! LOL

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/thr ... ed.614419/

[TXGOAT2]

Balanced rotating parts reduce wear and tear and improve performance. I'd want balanced wheel/tire assemblies on any T that is driven on the road. Even at fairly low speeds, out of balance or out-of true wheel assemblies can cause problems by reason of exaggerated reactions to road irregularities.

[Oldav8tor]

Like I said, 12000 miles on a set of four Universal T-Drivers --- actually, they still show some tread but I decided to replace them because I do a lot of touring. If you aren't getting that kind of miles from similar tires is it possible that being a little off-balance played a role? True, out of balance tires are not as obvious at slower speeds but that doesn't mean it won't affect wear over the long run.

Just my opinion but balance beads are a inexpensive and invisible way to achieve tire balance so why not? I also use Counteract brand glass beads. I do not use the Schrader valves that come with them, finding them more prone to stick open than regular ones.