tire balancing beads?

[colinmitchell111]

I'm going to be mounting a set of wheels 16x10's with 305 70 16 bfg at ko's and was debating on balancing beads. They are surprisingly expensive. Anyone running these? Or should I just go with sticky weights?

[Karls03]

Beads, sand, water, and any other alternative method for balancing tires are usually reserved for big a$$ tires that won't fit on the balancing machine. Seems like those old bubble balancers were phased out while they were still useful.

I'm sure someone will chime in otherwise, but for a set of 33s, I'd do some sticky weights. Actually, because I am more concerned about proper balance than looks, I liked the clip-on weights that went on both lips.

[MyTractorsSexy]

i would'nt recommend them for 33's but if they are having trouble balancing them you probably will end up with about 100 bucks worth of dynabeads are they knobby MTs or just a AT or Street tire?

[Karls03]

Originally Posted by MyTractorsSexy

if they are having trouble balancing them

..you either have a bent rim or need to go to another tire store. Tire stores don't always have the "best and brightest" running their equipment.

[Term3]

Had a buddy dropped off his three piece alloy rims ($$$$) down at a big name tire store to have new tires put on them. Two of the rims came back with huge dents from the changer machine that the nob was inexperianced at using. They tried to say the dents were already there when he dropped them off but luckly he took a few cell phone pics as the nob unloaded them. Pretty hard to say the dents happened somewhere else when your employee is standing in the picture.

[BgCountry]

Never ran them in my truck tires, but thats what alot of us Harley owners use in our tires.

Had custom spokes and custom made WW's and didnt want to run weights on the wheels and they worked GREAT. Really cheap too.

[colinmitchell111]

Thanks guys I haven't had them mounted yet but if beads were the way to go I was going to order them. Looks like I can get what I need for about $50 in beads. If you guys don't think they are worth it for 33" bfg at's I'll just go with sticky weights. Thanks.

[Eric]

We've got a few dealers at work that use them in every tire they install, regardless of size. The Magnum balancing beads should be less than $10 a tire

[Southpaw]

We just use stick on weights even up to 44's. The beads really only work well on real big tires and a lot of 22.5, 24.5 stuff. If you know what you're doing with a computer spin balancer, there should be no problem get a 33 to balance. (unless of course there is water in the tire or the wheel is bent.)

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[Silver200273L]

Depends on wheels. I work in automotive shop. We use clip-on weights and stick-on weights. I have balanced 37's without problem. I have installed 46's and used Equal product and works great.