fsjguy : Tire Balancing with Dynabeads

Tire Balancing with Dynabeads
Post by fsjguy on Sept 9, 2006, 8:30pm

Quick review for new folks and folks who don't remember my balancing issues:

I have custom made rims consisting of stock center and 16.5" one piece rim. I don't know who made them. I have 38.5" Super Swamper tires on these rims. The truck shop and my favorite muffler/tire place can't get them balanced. But they did get "close", so there were already weights on the rims when I started this:

I received my Dynabeads (tire balancing stuff) this past week and
went down to my friend Jason's house to install them. He has a nice
big air compressor that I don't have and I didn't want water in the
tires from the filling station's air.

Per their online chart, for a 38.5" tire, I ordered one 12 oz bag for
each tire (4+spare+1 extra) for a total of 6 bags. About $15 per bag,
plus valve cores, valve core tool and a bottle/hose to install them
with. Final cost with shipping was about $110.

With the truck on jackstands, we let ALL the air out of the tires,
rotated the valve stem to the bottom and poured in the beads. After
installing the new "filtered" valve core, we aired up the tires.
Except the new fancy valve core didn't want to really stay closed. It
was VERY easy to push down the pin and let air out. So we replaced it
with the regular core. We did the same to the other axle and went for
a test drive. It was MUCH MUCH smoother. However, I was still getting
a bit of a shake at certain speeds (but nowhere near the death wobble
like before) so we decided to remove the weights and see if it was
better. NOPE. It made things worse. I guess the weights were on there
for a reason! We split the remaining two bags and poured 1/2 a bag
into each tire. The vibration lessened, but not a whole lot. By this
time, Jason had other things to do, so I went home and put some of
the weights back on the tires. That seemed to help out a little bit.

I may end up ordering more beads to see if that will help. But it
does appear that they work. But it seems like they need A LOT more
than just 12 oz for this tire and wheel combination.

We did find out that one rear tire will come off the bead very easily
with NO air in it. Fortunately, it was easy to re-seat since only the outer bead came off.
I guess I won't air down my tires very much. <g>

Re: Tire Balancing with Dynabeads
Post by robertcowan on Sept 9, 2006, 11:43pm

super swampers are notorious for being out of round. does your wheels have solid plate centers ?

Re: Tire Balancing with Dynabeads
Post by bigwheelbob on Sept 10, 2006, 7:11am

Yea, I would bet on the tires being the culprit, and I dont think any amount of dynabeads will fix it.

Re: Tire Balancing with Dynabeads
Post by fsjguy on Sept 10, 2006, 11:46am

Wheels have the original wheel center. I didn't like the looks of the flat plate center, that's why I waited for something with the stock center. I ordered some more beads, so I'll see what happens. Regardless, the ride is so much improved over the previous death wobble at 40mph. <g>

The only drawback is that it will cost me $30 extra to fix a flat. (how much in beads I have in each tire) But that's better than not being able to drive long distances.

Oh, and and a big thumbs up to Bob Cowan for not typing in all CAPS. My eyes thank you!

Re: Tire Balancing with Dynabeads
Post by moosejr on Sept 10, 2006, 12:25pm

A couple thought for you, . .one, in regards to the dropping the tire pressure, . .because of the design of the bead seat on a 16.5 wheel, . . dropping tire pressure on them is very risky, both 15s and 16s have a better bead retainer, 16.5s are notorious for dropping the bead, that is part of why they have fallen out of favor with off-roaders. The other, is that, as Bob Cowan mentioned, swampers tend to go out of round, try jacking up your tire just enough to that it will spin, then spin it and see if the distance between the bottom of the tire and the ground varies, . .or if the tire suddenly stops, . quick and dirty way to see if it is round. . . good luck with it, ...