Community Forums

AnotherGeorge · 02-19-2009, 06:34 PM

Has anyone heard of powder balancing and how it works and how good it is?

JOMARFL (FMCA 401058) · 02-20-2009, 03:51 AM

Here is what I found on the internet, don't know a thing about it though.

Permanent Balancing:
Several options exist for permanent wheel balancing. These include liquid and dry powder weight added to the inside of the tire and external weighted balancing rings the clamp between the wheel and hub. Both these options are commonly used for over-the-highway trucks, where tires can last 100,000 miles or longer. Frequent off-vehicle balancing costs could add up over the lifetime of the tire. One popular dry powder balancing product is known as Equal. Installation of the balancing material is done on a deflated tire, using a special tool to inject the powder into the valve stem. Alternately, it can be placed in the tire prior to mounting. Proper technique must be observed to keep water out, including being careful with liquid tire mounting lubricant and use of dry air for inflation. For a tire used in off-road situations, where frequent air-down/up cycles are common, user's may want to consider adding an air dryer to their on-board air system. Both liquid and powder in-tire balancers can cause problems with clogged valve stems, too.

Rocky 2 · 02-20-2009, 04:48 AM

You may be thinking of a product called Equal. If you do a search, you will find loads of comments. I have used it on the front tires on two different motor homes with success.

Bikeboy57 · 02-20-2009, 05:07 AM

It works.

However, it will not correct a tire that is out of round, or mounted out of round. You should have less the 0.050 runout in your tires for smooth riding.

Check the runout before you put powder in the tires. Cause if you have to dismount and remount to fix the runout, then you loose the powder.

Runout is the most common cause of vibration on truck size tires.

JerryForwood · 02-20-2009, 06:27 AM

Wouldn't go any other way!

two2go · 02-20-2009, 06:41 AM

Here are a couple of interesting alternatives:
Steel Beads
Ceramic Beads
I have no experience with any, but these seem better than Equal.

AnotherGeorge · 02-20-2009, 07:22 AM

One thing I was concerned about was how the powder works in the tire valve stem and it was posted here that it will sometime clog the valve stem. This concerns me as I need to replace the tires but also wnat to install a tire pressure monitoring system and don't know if the powder will give me inacurate readings. Speaking of tire pressure monitoring systems I see Camping World has been advertising a system I have never read about before. Any one know anything about this system compared to pressure pro system?

Rocky 2 · 02-20-2009, 07:35 AM

As mentioned, Equal is not the only alternative. If one chooses Equal, it is essential that the installer use the special valves provided that prevent the clogging or air loss through the valve stem.

historyljc · 02-20-2009, 05:25 PM

I have Equal in all four of my tires. Smoothest ride that I've had since I owned the coach. Yes, as previously stated, the rims must be round and the special valves must be used. They are provided as part of the package.

Darryl · 02-20-2009, 06:20 PM

I've been using equal for two years. The valve stems have a filter in them that keeps the powder out of the valve core. I must say I have an extremely smooth ride at any speed and have no problems.