Is someone using "counteract tire balancing beads" pearls in their tires?

Are they recommended?

I just noticed they could be used to dynamically balance the wheels, in addition to normal weights.

Is someone using these in a Superb 2 or similar?

I don't use them nor would I.

 

If there were any better than normal balancing or did help fuel usage, I'd expect to see tyre fitters or car makers using them. If they are happy to try and sell me nitrogen to fill my tyres, throwing a few glass beads in seems like easy profit!

 

Everything on the testing page is in relation to trucks too :/

I have used Ceramic Balance beads on 4x4's that go offroad and some that might be taken offroad and lose the weights on the wheels.

I have them in my 4x4 van with SUV Cross Climates fitted.

Out of interest, I had a look at their website, and a few things struck me.

 

- There is a 'how it works' page in their brochure. Nice, but it doesn't say how it works.

 

- I looked at their economy claims and thought 'that's difficult to believe'. Then I realised that it doesn't say what they are comparing to, If they were comparing to a normal, correctly balanced, truck, then its difficult to believe. If however they are comparing to a truck where each of the eighteen wheels is as out of balance as it gets, then that's easier to believe.

 

-While their website is nicely designed (photos look expensive!), it looks like an expensive way of hiding the fact that the information that you really want isn't there.

 

My summary is that I believe (without taking the time to investigate in full detail!) that these things are probably over-priced and do little that wheel balancing doesn't. So, conditionally recommended for people concerned about lead in the environment, or that vast group who refuse for odd reasons to have their tyres balanced.

Tyre balance weights haven't used lead for some time, I  think. 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Wino

Well...

 

i found those things on ebay...

 

282 grams for 7€

does not seem too overpriced?

 

 

got that from this video, starts at about 1 minute

 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by mbgar

Pushing your balls through the tiny orifice requires much pumping 🤣

 

You can have the same dynamic wheel balancing for free by putting water in your tyres, my industrial washing machine uses that system, turn the drum by hand and you can hear the water sloshing around in the sealed annular chamber, its very very effective against unbalanced loads.

We used to put water in Dumper Truck wheels and 4x4's a long time ago which was fine as long as you remembered to drain before the winter weather.

and some would put in Antifreeze which was OK if it was stuff getting drain from other vehicles, otherwise that was rather expensive.

 

Ceramic Beads (In a bag & put in a when the tyre was being fitted)  work fine for tyres that are not on BeadLocker wheels and might get run at low pressures, and tyres might be pretty crap on the road and where you are not adding that much liquid that would be hindering you going uphill.

(I used them on my sons trials bike as well if it was one without internal bead loackers keeping the tyre secure..)

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot