husker 2
Sequim WA
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Joined: 02/05/2005
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Our ex next door neighbors are staying at our place with their 2005 Southwind 38ft Class A. We went to a local Les Schaub outlet today to get their coach's tires rotated, but ended up replacing the two front tires due to uneven wear and low tread depth.
The service person failed to inform him at the beginning that they could not balance the new tires due to not having large enough truck balancing equipment for the 19.5 tires.
They suggested that they could substitute wheel weight balancing by putting a product resembling a sand bag in each tire that would then when driven balance each tire by distributing the sand in the proper location.
New one on me and I was professionally before retirement an automotive service manager for some 30 yrs. Has anyone out there done this or used this method. Good or bad results. Pure hoakum???
2004 GMC 2500 6.0L CC SB Reese 16K Slider Prodigy BC Jayco 24 ft 237a Quest 5er
A decrepid old driver a foxy navigator and one cranky Griff puppy named Bandit. Look for a "Big Red" license NEBR 1
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wilpower
Punta Gorda, Fl
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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Yes it is a real method of balancing. Do a search for "equal" balancing, there have been lots of posts about it, both pro and con.
Wil & Cyndi & Einstein (African Gray)
FMCA # F262386
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ejforwood
Littleton (Denver) Colorado
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Joined: 04/26/2006
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Put Equal in my new Michelin's.
Haven't driven very far yet but smooth as glass so far.
Jerry, Dottie & Chan, "the little furry one"
98 Bounder 34V, 99 F-53 Ford V10 chassis
06 Saturn VUE 4I
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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And its NOT a "sand bag" either!!
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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KOG
Winterville GA
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Joined: 01/31/2001
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Stuff like that does NOT balance a tire. It can have some damping effect on vibration cause by an out of balance condition. I prefer to balance and eliminate the vibration rather than attempt to damp the vibration that's there. I suspect that if you check with your tire manufacturer they'll object to the use of any internal damping media. If it's actual sand (sharp sand) it could very well damage the tire by internal wear. It will certainly sandblast the rim.
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smlranger
Virginia
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Joined: 06/23/2004
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It is not sand but a special polymer bead that is used to balance the tire. I have Equal Balancing Powder in my 22.5 G670 Goodyears and they are smooth as glass. I did a lot of research before selecting this method and found it is widely used in the heavy truck industry.
Do a Google search on Equal tire balancing and you will find plenty of information.
Special screens do need to be installed in the valve stems to prevent the powder from fouling the valves and causing a leak.
2002 Winnebago Journey DL,36GD, 2004 Explorer 4WD toad. Blue Ox Aventa II, SMI Air Force One braking system.
Smith Mountain Lake, VA
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svkatahdin
Sevierville, Tennessee
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Joined: 10/27/2003
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My new Michelins have this system. Very smooth on a 2000 mile trip. Had it done at Camper World in Knoxville, TN.
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snail
south west Florida
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Joined: 08/22/2003
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We're installing new 270 80 r 22.5's on our mh and are considering beads. There are lots of different materials and from what I read it's important what material and brand you use.
I understand this method was 1st used for airline tires, then NASCAR started using and now some shops. It is a very simple method from mechanical standpoint. All you do is add a bag of beads of the correct weight to each tire. No expensive balancing equipment or compenent tech doing the balancing work.
I've been reading all I can find on the net and like everything: there are those who love it and those who dislike it.
I'm going to leave it to the shop who sells us the tires.
DRIVE A 2001 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR WITH 330 HP CUMMINS AND TOW A RANGER 4X4. TRAVEL WITH SPOUSE AND PET TINKER BELL OUR CORGIE.
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Jeffe
El Paso, TX
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Joined: 06/18/2004
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Many of us are sucessfully using Equal Tire Balancing and it works great.
In my case it is on Goodyear G670 275/70/22.5
Website Link: Equal Tire Balancing
2002 Winnebago Journey DL - 39QD
330 Cat with 6 Speed Allison
Toad: 2006 Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 Hemi
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CaBoy
Junction City, OR USA
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Joined: 02/20/2003
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Had 8 new tires put on my coach today. I ask about balancing with the beads, or powder, or what ever it is. Les Schawb here in Junction City said they will do lead or beads at the customer request but cautioned me about adding air that isn't very dry. Here our humidity is high and if you add air that is "wet" he said the inside the tire balancing products tend to absorb moisture and clump up. Then you may have to drive a bit to break it up and as the tires are sealed, the problem can be ongoing. I don't have a dryer on my air compressor & often have to drain the tank after making air. I thought it made sense in my area, went with the lead. Good info I thought and worth thinking about.
The older I get, the better I used to be.
1997 Prevost by Country Coach
470 HP Series 60 Detroit / 6 SP. Allison
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
Same Co-Pilot for 43 years
2 Boston Terrier girls, Scooter & Mia
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