Tire balancing options

[SVonhof]

I have an appointment to get my front tire replaced on Friday afternoon with a PR2. The dealer was telling me they have 3 options for balancing. The standard stick-on weights, balancing beads and a gel.

According to him, the beads are ceramic and go in the tire and are allowed to "float" in there and they dynamically balance the tire. Seems really strange to me, but he says it works great.

The gel he said is not like slime, but is a gel that will self-seal a hole up to 3/16" diameter and he recommends for people that commute all the time.

Anyone have feedback on either of the last two? They are both new to me.

[So Cal Joe]

The beads are Dyna beads, many guys on the Gold Wing board use them and love them, (don't know what they will do to the TPMS.)
The gel is Ride-On tire sealant, suppose to seal small holes in your tire and balance them also. It is not like slime or other tire sealants that will corrode your rims. This is suppose to clean up with water. ( I have it in the front of my concours)
The last of course is the stick on weights that just stick on to your rims. And looks ugly.
The advantage of the beads and the Ride-On is that they will always keep your tire in balance, as your tire wears the balance changes so the weights aren't accurate after a while.

Look at these videos
DynaBeads demo video

http://www.motorcyclepartsandaccessoriesblog.com/revolutionary-tire-sealant-from-ride-on-video/2011/06/01

[Jeremy Mitchell]

I use Dynabeads because I really like not having stick on weights. They also do not affect the TPMS and they work well, but there are several guys here that refer to this new fangled contraption as "snake oil".  YMMV

[SVonhof]

O.K., those beads are a lot smaller than I was thinking. Interesting demo.

[Mister Tee]

Why do you need stick on weights?  There are some very nice ridges in the center of the rim that accomodate clamp weights perfectly.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

Why do you need stick on weights?  There are some very nice ridges in the center of the rim that accomodate clamp weights perfectly.

I have black wheels and wouldn't want to tear them up with the clamp style weights. 

[COGnosticat0r]

I use Dynabeads because I really like not having stick on weights. They also do not affect the TPMS and they work well, but there are several guys here that refer to this new fangled contraption as "snake oil".  YMMV

How many ounces do you put in each wheel?

[Jeremy Mitchell]

How many ounces do you put in each wheel?

1 ounce in the front, 2 rear.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/chart.htm#MotorcycleChart

[COGnosticat0r]

1 ounce in the front, 2 rear.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/chart.htm#MotorcycleChart

That was what I read but the dealer suggested 2 oz in each tire.  I will go with 1 oz in the front.

I will be trying them when I mount the Conti Motion tires this weekend

[ZG]

I have black wheels and wouldn't want to tear them up with the clamp style weights.

+1...
 
I have the stick-on black weights on my black wheels too, much more sano IMO...

[SVonhof]

Don't know if this will help anyone, but a buddy of mine told me this:

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/faqs/47 wrote:Dean, We sell many M/D bars to owners of other brand tire changers. It will work well with what you have. Dynabeads do not work on motorcycle tires despite their faithful followers opinions. They can't work and it has been proven in published tests my Motorcycle Consumer News. **What happens to the beads under hard acceleration? **What happens to the beads under Hard Stopping and re-acceleration? **What happens to the beads when there is a heavy spot in the tire that elongates the tire. They certainly don't move to the opposite side. **Have you ever tried to install a tire without tire lube? **Tests prove that there is better results with no beads and no weights than adding the beads. **It is faster and less frustrating using a static balancer than feeding the beads through your valve stem. **If they actually worked, or even worked better, Don't you think they would be the preferred way to balance a wheel? The beads were designed for non-pliable, non high speed rated Tractor Trailer tires which have a square tread design. (Which probably don't matter much anyway). Trailer companies generally do not balance trailer tires. It would be equivalent to balancing an ATV tire or a kids dirt bike tire. Many people want to believe the beads work like a "Magical Goo" spreading themselves amongst the tire and evening everything out. The only basis for this "wish" is the hope of an "easier softer way", instead of learning something new. There should not be any mystery in wheel balancing after kindergarten. It is the same principle as the "Teeter Totter". If two kids of equal weight are on each end they balance. If one kid is fatter, then he sinks to the ground. The kid won't get any skinnier (we've seen that before)so we need to add some weights to the skinny kid's side to get it to balance. It is the same with a wheel and tire on a static balancer. Heavy spot sinks to the bottom. Add weights to the top. Turn it a little and adjust until it will not move on it's own. Pro-Race teams have been using this method for years. It is fast, simple, and perfect. Steve

And there is also this:

http://www.marcparnes.com/Buyers_Guide.htm wrote:
What about all this internal "balancing media" I've heard about?
People have been selling all kinds of "stuff" to put inside your tires that is supposed to "balance" them at speed for years now. There's been all colors of goop and "slime" that are even supposed to seal flats as well. Just don't be around when it comes time to take the old tire off. Yuck, what a mess! Others have hyped glass bead, ball bearings and other "media" of all descriptions. Does it actually work? I don't know, and aside from the claims made by the folks that are selling it, I've never read an actual independent test anywhere verifying that it does. I've been all over the MotoGP pits and haven't seen anyone putting anything but air or nitrogen in their race bike tires. Since this "media" stuff is claimed to work only above 30 mph anyway it would be next to impossible to actually test it since there isn't any equipment to my knowledge that can spin balance a wheel up that fast. In my view more independent testing is certainly needed. You can always find the guy who will buy it, install it and think it's just great. It really depends on how far out of balance his tire was to start with and how sensitive he is to detecting imbalance. Besides, we often assume that whatever we spend money on was money smartly spent. Right? Human nature at work I guess.

[lt1]

DynaBeads work fine and do not damage or jam in the TMPS.  I would go with 1.5-2.0 oz in the front.

I am not familiar with the gel, but without further information would be inclined to pass because of the TPMS.

Every thread asking about DynaBeads tends to deteriorate once people who have never used them come on and explain why the cannot work.  The only people who like them are the ignorant fools who make them and the ignorant fools who use them.  Speaking as an ignorant fool who uses and likes them.

[SVonhof]

lt1, I understand your post completely. Until Mythbusters try it and proves that it works or doesn't work, many people will call it snake oil while many others will believe as they have used it and feel that it works. Maybe we need to get Adam and Jamie working on it?!   

[So Cal Joe]

In your friends report, it says that is HIS opinion, there are many that use dyna beads and love them, the dealer I go to sells Ride-On tire sealant, and unlike the e-mail you got from your friend, it is not like slime, it washes off with water and will NOT hurt aluminum wheels. Everyone has an opinion and your friend is entitled to his. Now ask him if they use stick on weights how often does he re-balance the wheels? once the tire starts to wear the stick on weights are not accurate anymore, thats why on a car you are suppose to rotate and BALANCE your tires every 5,000 miles. I have Ride-On in my front tire and have 4500 miles on it and it looks like new, no vibration or wobble at any speed.
Ask your friend his thoughts on Centermatic wheel balancers?  I guess in HIS opinion this won't work either. but read the reviews on it.
http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/22434_centramatic/29204_stainless_centramatic_goldwing_wheel_balancers/?goto=%2Fpgroup_list%2Fgl1800%2F22434_centramatic%2Fmfg%2F

Read this review on Ride-On
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142869

[gonzosc1]

That was what I read but the dealer suggested 2 oz in each tire.  I will go with 1 oz in the front.

I will be trying them when I mount the Conti Motion tires this weekend

this your first set of connti motion tire???  Im at about 3000 miles on mine set and they are still rolling strong. mega tread left still!!

[SVonhof]

FYI, the quotes I put in were not something my buddy wrote, but something he found on the web and posted.

So Cal Joe, I like the video they do on the Centramatic portion of the Wingstuff site. Nice to see the strobe showing where the bearings are, it's pretty interesting.

[556ALPHA]

Fred should be along soon with his photos, I think he has some interesting info.

[Kazairl]

I used regular airsoft beads when I had the tires mounted on my Dodge last year. Mostly because they were 35" mud terrains and required like 10 oz per tire to balance. They are cheaper than the dynabeads by a long shot but they are too big to fit through the valve stem. You'll have to pop the bead to add or decrease the amount in there. And most of them only weigh about .12 grams per bead. I think I boughy 10-15k beads all told.

 I would be willing to try them on the bike but that quote brings up some good points about their behavior under hard acceleration and stopping. Something worth researching.

[VirginiaJim]

Fred should be along soon with his photos, I think he has some interesting info.

Fred will not be along...

[JetJock]

Fred will not be along...

That's a shame. Did we offend him in some way?