Tire Balancing

teacel · Mar 26, 2003

I was just introduced to a new (to me) way of having my tires balanced. It is called a static balance. MAGNUM Tire Balancing Compound.

MAGNUM is a technologically advanced dry free-flowing compound designed principally for balancing medium truck tires, light truck and off-road tires, and custom wheels where wheel weights will mar the cosmetic appearance of the rims.

MAGNUM works with the rotation of the tire and wheel assembly. As the tire rotates, centrifugal force distributes the tire balancing compound evenly around the interior of the tire.

A heavy spot in the tread, or variation in the stiffness of the sidewall of the tire will create an equal and opposite force inside the tire that causes the MAGNUM to move away from the heavy spot in the opposite direction, thereby offsetting the effects of the heavy spot, and resulting in a perfectly balanced tire.

Has anyone heard of this product and how efective is it?

OntarioVanMan · Mar 26, 2003

Yep, It's been around for awhile in various names, in Canada that is, I found out awhile ago , I was in the taxi business and I mentioned a vibe in one of my tires and he asked me if I did high speed driving. Well being a cabby I said yes in which he replied I may need a static balance Which as you Teacel said is a more precise balance, And lo and behold no vibe as it was about an 1/2 ounce off on side weight even thou thru conventional balancing it was perfect. Now as an Expediter all my tires are static balanced, after all Michigans roads are bad enough, we need all the help we can get for a smoother ride!

x06col · Apr 8, 2003

Tony:
Save yourself a few bucks and use some old shag golf balls
I put six balls in each 22 inch tire when I purchase them
works wunnerful.

teacel · Apr 18, 2003

x06col
Is this for real??? You did this? Do they make any noise? If this really works I will try it. I like saving money. What other tips does anyone have? }> x( :7

cruizer · Apr 19, 2003

I have used a similar product called "Equal" .

The granular mixture must be measured according to each tire size .

Works good for me .

Big Scooter · Apr 20, 2003

I put Centramatic rings on my steering tires last year and a new pair of shocks and haven't had the first vibration or bit of tire cupping. They cost me $120 but have been well worth it, even throught the winter. Ask others who have them and see if they are satisfied with the investment.

Weave · Apr 20, 2003

The centramatics are excellent, I had them on my old FL70 and will add them to my new truck when I replace its steers. They are only made for big truck wheels, but automatically adjust the static balance.
I have heard this golf ball thing a few times. Just taking an educated stab, those golf balls are doing 100% of nothing. How can they be calibrated to the amount of imbalance?
Don't skip dynamic balancing when having new tires installed either-
this is balancing between the inside and outside of the wheel. If you have a lot of "squirm" or that funky wave pattern tread wear, chances are the dynamic balance is off. Poor static balance usually results in steering wheel vibration and cupping wear.
I recommend "real" wheel balancing done on a machine over spray in things or the golf balls. It is not expensive, so why compromise?
-Weave-

zingfu25 · Apr 21, 2003

I was doing some research into powders and granules such as "EQUAL", and I found out that sometimes the powder will absorb moisture and clump up. When this happens, the material is useless as it cannot flow freely to the needed area of the tire. This is just what I found...hope it helps.

x06col · Apr 22, 2003

Tony: Lets take care of the nay sayers concerning the golf balls
first. At a usual cost of around $0, you cant beat the price. There
is no noise at all. Golf balls work the same way to balance as any
of the other "material" you may choose to purchase(go to the light
spot) If in question, when you have tires mounted, put some balls in
and have them read on a balancer. Betcha a donut they"ll be perfect.
Presently have 110,000 on one trucks steer tires. No cupping,no
vibration, no nothing but extended service. So, do what ya gotta do.

Weave · Apr 26, 2003

I am going to have my truck at Steve's Equipment tomorrow, and I will talk to Dave Pagano, Western New York's guru on truck tires and alignments. I will ask him about golf balls for balancing, and see what he knows about that- maybe it's true? I also read an article in Land Line where someone swore they worked. I'm still a bit doubtful as I know balancing weights are carefully calibrated and placed in the proper locations around the tire. I am also going to try to cantact the technical department at Michelin in SC just to inquire about the subject, as I'm very curious. Maybe we'll have to save those old Top-Flites.
-Weave-

teacel · Apr 27, 2003

How is it that moister gets into the inside of the tire? Yes it will clump up if that happens. I took a risk and went with the powder and so far so good. I don’t have any shaking or vibrating at all. This seems to be working fine. I just hope it continues to do well.

Weave · Apr 27, 2003

The moisture is there with the air that is used to inflate the tire. The air around us contains water vapor, and when it is humid out, there is a lot of that. Good shop air compressors have water separators, or dryers. And yes, are the things you hear pop or hiss on big trucks with air brakes to release the water vapor in the new charge of air from the compressor. So there is a teeny-tiny bit of water vapor in your tire from inflation, that will condensate into liquid water when it gets cold outside. It is probably not enough to make the balancing compound clump. I do believe these balance compounds are designed to stick to the points of imbalance, and stay there. In that sense, they should work as far as pure balance logic goes. But I still ask how much or little should be used to balance the wheel? (How many golf balls do you put in?) You have seen real balance weights- you can flick them off the tip of your finger, yet they balance the wheels both statically and dynamically if done right. I am eager to talk to Dave and the Michelin man later today.
-Weave-

ATeam · Apr 28, 2003

This thread is giving a new twist to the phrase, "keep your powder dry."

While it's true that, "Good shop air compressors have water separators, or dryers." it's also true that not all sources of compressed air are good sources. Cargo vans don't have air compressors like big trucks do. They use a variety of locations to air up their tires. Back in the day, I never once saw a gas station air compressor properly maintained. Generally, the employees would close up shop and get home before draining the compressor. The boss would know it had been neglected when he saw water vapor coming out of the hose. Draining the tank was easily put off because it took a long time to re-pressurize it. It was easier to let it go and save the customer complaints that "your air hose isn't working."
Also, if you have no compressed air, your mechanics have no air tools. Even though you knew the compressor should be drained, it was easier not to.

Weave · Apr 28, 2003

Yes, very true. My own shop compressor has a 60 gallon tank, and a water separator/regulator on the line that takes a lot of the water out when in use. But, when I drain the tank at the end of the day, still a good 3-4 ounces of water comes out the bottom.
I have seen giant compressors out on the road, mostly while at places that do plastic injection molding, that use a series of filters to guarantee 100% oil and water free air, but you won't find them at the truck stops anytime soon!