Tire Balancing

[Old Blue]

Got a new set of K60s to put on.

Am I ok to just put them on, or do I need to have them balanced?

I never balanced tires on my KLRs, but then again, they were KLRs! The S10 is a different animal, so I thought I'd ask!

 

[VAT]

Dynabeads balancing beads. Check out the site and procedure. They work great for me & you can DIY.

 

[BaldKnob]

Blue, look for the yellow dot on the sidewall of the tire and place it at the valve stem. Sometimes that is all it takes. I use DynaBeads (1oz for front, 2oz rear) and tires have been happy. If you want to place lead weights to balance (static), I would remove the brake calipers and rotate the wheel. The heavy end should end up at 6 o'clock position consistently. Add weight to opposite side, spin it again until wheel stops at random spots. The shaft drive interferes with this procedure for the rear tire so most use a trueing stand of some sort. For me, this is a lot of work so dynamic balancing is my choice. YMMV. Good luck.

 

[OldRider]

If you want to static balance it (which I think is the very best way to do it) you will have to do it with the wheel off the bike. If you try to static balance it on the bike, the spacers will have enough drag in the seals to throw it off.

While I would like to be able to prove the magic beads are hocus pokus, I have seen the test with the plastic coke bottle and the drill, and that makes me think there may be something valid to them.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I tried the beads and could sell you what I have left. They worked in some tires and not others of the same make/model. Plus, I inevitably use a plug or two in the life of a rear tire and the beads stick to the sticky string.


Balancing with lead weights can be done in a few minutes and maybe I'm just unlucky or my ass is too tender, but I sure can tell the difference!

 

[autoteach]

I have yet to see any demonstration of the physics behind dyna beads. Therefore, they don't work If you go to the track, the cars and bikes have weights on the wheels. If dyna beads were the answer, the factories would use them too.

 

[Old Blue]

Thanks, folks!

 

[escapefjrtist]

I have a Marc Parnes set-up that works very well...always balance and that's after I line up the dot.

Be aware, heavy side of rim is not always at the valve stem. Best to check the bare rim first and then proceed.

YMMV

--G

 

[tomatocity]

I have a Marc Parnes set-up that works very well...always balance and that's after I line up the dot.

Be aware, heavy side of rim is not always at the valve stem. Best to check the bare rim first and then proceed.

YMMV

--G

I thought the heavy side of the rim would be opposite the valve stem hole. Thinking that the valve stem hole would not be drilled where the rim material is joined. Thinking where the rim material is joined is the heavy side of the rim because there is more material. Yes / No ?

 

[escapefjrtist]

I thought the heavy side of the rim would be opposite the valve stem hole. Thinking that the valve stem hole would not be drilled where the rim material is joined. Thinking where the rim material is joined is the heavy side of the rim because there is more material. Yes / No ?

Tire mounting convention says the valve stem + extra material results in the heavy spot there. When tires have a mounting dot, that point is usually lined up with the valve stem which theoretically gives you the least amount of balance weight. I've only mounted one set of S10 tires and they were Michelins w/o a balance dot, so I didn't bother to check rim balance. My S10 is due for a rear tire in a couple thousand miles, I'll check balance on the bare rim then.

FWIW -- wrong forum, my FJR bare rear rim is 42 grams out of balance approximately 90 degrees from the stem.

--G

 

[Mzee]

It has always been done for me when fitting new tires. I cannot tell whether weights work or not.

 

[Ironhand]

I have been using Dynabeads in my personal shop for years. Never had an issue on any of my bikes or a complaint from a customer. I have thrown a conventional wheel weight. I certainly noticed the difference.

 

[mcbrien]

My Yamaha dealer has been useing dynabeads for several years now
and says they have never had a tire come back or seen issues yet.
I am getting a full life from my 1st set of k60's and will continue useing them.

 

[stutrump]

Ive always change my own tires and Ive never balanced any on over 250,000 miles, which includes a Honda Fireblade, Honda Blackbird, Pan European etc. One of my old mechanic friends where I used to live in China used to laugh at me if I asked for my tyres balancing. He used to say...we dont even do that for the race bikes!...since that Ive never bothered and have never experienced any problems at any speed.

 

[dcstrom]

Bob, been using Dynabeads for a long time now and wish I could tell you how they work... but they do. If a tire is unbalanced you will see it in the wear pattern - one side will be more worn than the other. (Not that I need to tell you that... what makes you say they didn't work in some tires? Balance has to be off by quite a lot to feel a vibration.) Apart from anything else that means you're probably replacing the tire sooner than if it was worn evenly. With Dynabeads my tires are worn evenly every time.

The last tire I took off had a string plug in it for about the last 4000 miles. There were a few beads stuck around the plug, but not enough to throw the balance off. Don't think it's a problem. Just don't try using Slime for sealing leaks

I tried the beads and could sell you what I have left. They worked in some tires and not others of the same make/model. Plus, I inevitably use a plug or two in the life of a rear tire and the beads stick to the sticky string.


Balancing with lead weights can be done in a few minutes and maybe I'm just unlucky or my ass is too tender, but I sure can tell the difference!

 

[OldRider]

Actually on this side of the big pond the left side of the tire is going to wear more than the right side 99% of the time.

 

[BaldKnob]

Bob, been using Dynabeads for a long time now and wish I could tell you how they work... but they do. If a tire is unbalanced you will see it in the wear pattern - one side will be more worn than the other. (Not that I need to tell you that... what makes you say they didn't work in some tires? Balance has to be off by quite a lot to feel a vibration.) Apart from anything else that means you're probably replacing the tire sooner than if it was worn evenly. With Dynabeads my tires are worn evenly every time.

The last tire I took off had a string plug in it for about the last 4000 miles. There were a few beads stuck around the plug, but not enough to throw the balance off. Don't think it's a problem. Just don't try using Slime for sealing leaks

I'm not exactly sure how DynaBeads work either but the wear patterns on my tires are even with none of the usual "cupping" seen from the front tires. As for the Slime, I had to put some in to stop a persistant rim leak (K60) and I did not experience any clumping or out of balance feel. The beads are still free to position themselves where needed, they just take a little longer to get there.

 

[Old Blue]

I have decided to go with the Dyna Beads. I've never used them so I'm looking forward to trying something new. I ordered them at 0500 this morning and already have a shipping confirmation!

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

 

[avc8130]

I tried the balance beads once. They seemed to "work" while they were in there. What concerned me was what I found when I changed the tire.

1. They make a fricken mess. No matter how hard I tried, on the way off they got everywhere.

2. I found an equal amount of dynabeads as I did little rubber balls that the beads had worn off the inside of the tire. The inside of the tire was SMOOTH as glass and it was clear the beads were eroding the tire. I didn't like this and stopped using them.

Static balancing works and is easy. If you go to an AMA or MotoGP race you will see every crew static balancing their tires. If it works at 200mph, it will work for me.

ac

 

[BaldKnob]

I have decided to go with the Dyna Beads. I've never used them so I'm looking forward to trying something new. I ordered them at 0500 this morning and already have a shipping confirmation!

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

Installing these little buggers can be frustrating and if spilled will go everywhere. I use a small funnel with a 6" stretch of tubing. Add slowly, as the beads tend to jam inside the valve stem. I also place an engraving pencil against the stem and the vibration seems to break up any logjams. Many other ways to skin a cat, YMMV. Or, they come in a handy packet that is placed inside the tire before levering the 2nd bead over the rim. Once rolling, the packet releases the beads and the voodoo begins. Good luck.

One more thing, be sure to check air pressure with the stem at 6 O'clock.