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Old 07-26-2023, 06:05 PM   #1
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tire balancing

Looking for advice. We have an '08 Diplomat and I will be changing from the G670's to Michelin's soon and I am trying to decide between using balancing beads or Centramatic wheel balancers. I know I cannot use both at the same time. Any thoughts on which would be better?
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Old 07-26-2023, 06:26 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cevin View Post
Looking for advice. We have an '08 Diplomat and I will be changing from the G670's to Michelin's soon and I am trying to decide between using balancing beads or Centramatic wheel balancers. I know I cannot use both at the same time. Any thoughts on which would be better?
Do a search to find good information. The opinions are use neither, Centramatic or beads--for various reasons.
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Old 07-26-2023, 06:29 PM   #3
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I've had beads in my last 3 coaches with great success. My local tire shop said I don't need them in the duals but I made them do it and I watched.
Now even they are believers.

Mike in Colorado
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Old 07-26-2023, 06:59 PM   #4
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we run beads in our tires
after 25mph its smooth sailing
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Old 07-26-2023, 07:38 PM   #5
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I use beads in my MH tires and in my Jeep tires. They both have ZERO balance vibration.

The standard beads are so small that they can get stuck in the valve core and cause a small leak after you have checked tire pressure. To get around that I used BB gun BBs in my MH tires and #4 steel shot in my Jeep. They are too big to get into the valve stem and cannot cause the valve core to leak.

See the attached picture for the comparative difference between standard bead, #4 steel shot and BBs. Left to right; BB, #4 steel shot, balancing bead.

Click on this WEBSITE. Note that Innovative Balancing offers a larger size bead for truck tires.

Any material in the tire from liquid to sand to BBs and beyond in size will work as an internal balancing media. I've read that golf balls have been tried. I don't see how they could work that well! They are not dense enough!

I consider the cost charged by the various balance bead companies to be excessive so I chose something else. I put $25 worth of polished competition grade BB's in the MH VS $125 for balance beads. I had a box of #4 steel shot shells about $25. I cut them open to get out the shot and used them in the Jeep tires. Both require a little effort and an inexpensive postal scale.

I have no experience with Centramatic so I don't an opinion on Centramatics other than the Centramatic balancers work at the diameter of the wheel. Beads work at the diameter of the tire. Centrifugal force is greater at the diameter of the tire vs the diameter of the wheel so less weight is needed to balance the tire. In addition the beads can spread from side to side and provide a minimal amount of side to side imbalance correction that the Centramatic balancer cannot do. That might be BS!!! but you asked for an opinion!
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Old 07-26-2023, 10:11 PM   #6
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When balancing beads are used the installer must also use special valve stems with a filter to prevent the valve core from leaking or failing.
My MH tires are spin-balanced and ride very smooth.
There are 2 things the person mounting a tire must do to help with balancing. All tires have a white or red dot to identify the heavy or light spot that should be aligned with the mark of the heavy spot of the rim.
There is a tiny ridge on all tires to assist the person mounting the tire in obtaining concentrically.


When those 2 things are performed correctly it can greatly reduce how much weight is required to balance a tire, plus the tire rolls smoother.
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Old 07-27-2023, 12:58 AM   #7
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I installed Centramatics all 4 corners of previous RV when I installed new tires. It rode silk smooth with zero vibration. Traded that RV in and removed the Centramatics with plans to transfer them over. I had a vibration in the front, so I finally got around to removing the spin weights and put the Centramatics rings on the front only so far. Smooth ride now. Going to be replacing all the tires this fall and will once again install the rings on all 4 corners. No experience with balancing beads. Spin balance I believe is most accurate, the day they are balanced. After that, weights can get tossed and tire wear changes, which require rebalancing. Beads and rings both rebalance every time the wheel starts rotating.
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Old 07-27-2023, 06:27 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Cevin View Post
Looking for advice. We have an '08 Diplomat and I will be changing from the G670's to Michelin's soon and I am trying to decide between using balancing beads or Centramatic wheel balancers. I know I cannot use both at the same time. Any thoughts on which would be better?


Centramatics are the best but the cost of 1 is a life time of buying beads. Just courious why Michelins over Toyo’s M144 for half the price?
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Old 07-27-2023, 12:28 PM   #9
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Thanks for all the good advise. Sounds like I could go either way and be happy. Going with Michelin's mostly from a friends advice. He just changed to them and is very happy with the ride, much improved over his Goodyears. The mobile tire guy does Mitchelin's and balance beads. His prices are good, probably higher than Toyo's but I do have easy access to getting the job done.
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Old 07-28-2023, 09:08 PM   #10
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Maybe somebody bookmarked or saved information, a member found the zircon ceramic ball bearings and bulk in various sizes at a really good price, cheaper than balance beads no valve stem issues. Could buy too big to get in the valve stems . For life of me I can't find the post and I almost certainly bookmarked but I can't find it.
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Old 07-28-2023, 09:50 PM   #11
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Investigate what you put in tires, Michelin is picky about objects inside their tires and will void the warranty for some things.
https://michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bconte...s_Brochure.pdf
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Old 07-29-2023, 08:20 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Cevin View Post
Looking for advice. We have an '08 Diplomat and I will be changing from the G670's to Michelin's soon and I am trying to decide between using balancing beads or Centramatic wheel balancers. I know I cannot use both at the same time. Any thoughts on which would be better?
Just sent you a PM.
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