has anyone tried equal in their tires for balancing? I have 315-70-17 tires.

 

if they will not balance with weights, equal will usually help, in my experience it works best on OFFROAD tires like Super Swampers(tires with big lugs) if you are having that big of a problem try it, comes in little bags, 1 bag per wheel, usualy $6 to $10 per bag

 

Equal? Thats a new one to me.

I just added ceramic beads from Innovative Balancing... around 10oz. per tire. Just hoping to keep tires wearing uniformly and keeping the ride somewhat smooth...

 

We need to here more about this equal thing. Please chime in and give us the skinny.

 

Beads work great! Smooth as silk! Even a stone, mug, ice on the rim, will throw the balance off. I used to have them balanced all the time, now I just drive. Beads are the only way to go! Balance the tires then add beads in my book.

 

what does it do? add unsprung weight? i dont get it

 

The beads counteract any imbalance in the tire. As the tire spins, centrifigual force takes over and the beads go where their needed, on the opposite side of the imbalance. They automatically balance themselves and the tires every time you drive.

 

Here is a web site for more info.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.html

The instructions say you need to take the tire off the truck. I didn't do that and it worked just fine. You need to be patient though and the beads can clog up in the valve stem. Just flick it with your finger and they move in. and you can start again.

If you get a flat tell your tire buster dude to scoop them out with a piece of paper and save them. He can add them back into the tire right before he sets the final bead.

They work great! You won't be disappointed.

 

Those little ceramic beads can be a nightmare...

Just had to remain patient... and work slowly. Not my favorite thing to do...

Worth it in the end.... for sure.

 

Make sure you get the "filter" valve stems, and the intallation kit. Take your time, about 15 mins per wheel for me.

Easier if you don't drink any coffee first! lol

 

I ordered the whole kit from them.... I gotta tell ya, my stems must've had smaller openings toward the inside of the tire. One tire took me over an hour, the others maybe 25-30minutes each... and I tried every way possible to get them in there...

 

Yep that is the biggest problem, it gets in the vavle when adding air and day later its flat. You must add air to clear the valve before air downs. Some people use water and antifreeze or copper BB's to ballance them.
The problem with the powder is water or wet air it turns to paste.
You can not use CO2 to air up and really need to pop the bead to dry it out and have a filter on your air hose to pull the water and oil out before you install it.
You get water or soap inside when installing a tire and it will not dry out so really need to mount dry or before seating the bead dry it all out.
Jon

 

Did you take the valve stem out? Was the valve dry?
I have seen people try it with the stem in it and some pressure or little water in the stem. If you have the same kit sometimes you can let all the air out and hook it up then jack the truck up and it sucks it all in fast.
J

 

http://www.expeditionexchange.com/equal/FAQ.htm

I have had several experiences with this on truck with 40" tires that are very nobby. It worked much better than weights. I cant speak for an eveyday driver, it comes in pack with different weights for different size tires, usually $6 to $10, you break one side of the tire down and toss the pack in, the pack breaks up when you drive and the equal goes wherever it is needed.

Equal is a dry polymer granule designed to reduce the vibration level of a loaded pneumatic tire in the dynamic mode, i.e., when the tire is rolling down the highway. The Equal granules are placed inside the tire and are free to move about the tire, constantly changing in location to accommodate various road conditions.

 

Good thing i read the link on "Equal". I was sitting here trying to figure out how to get my artificial sweetner into the tires.

Anyone try the fluid dampner style??