What's the verdict on Equal?

[Lawn Cher']

I'm wondering what the verdict is on Equal, the continuous internal tire balancing powder. There has been some discussion of it, but no conclusive answer as I can tell. I've put BB's in my XJ's 35" tires, but haven't been able to road test it yet. I'm looking to put new tires on my Suburban and don't like paying for balancing that eventually has to be redone anyway, especially since I mount tires myself. This is a DD/tow rig, so I'm not concerned about how it affects airing down, etc. Any thoughts, anecdotes, advice would be appreciated.

For background info, I'm replacing a set of worn 245/75R16 Bridgestone Winter Duelers with a set of 235/85R16 load range E Hi-Tec Retreads in the AP tread pattern... the previous owner of the vehicle put the Duelers on it and they are almost bald in the rear, being of an improper load rating to handle the recommended inflation pressure for the vehicle. They handle like crap, too, because they aren't stiff enough for the weight of the Suburban. So I'm hoping the new tires will improve traction, vibration and handling.

 

[ROCKREADYXJ]

Mark

I have always found the best way to balance any tire over a 33 or swampers is patch balancing. they last the longest and balance the absolute best. You also donot have to worry about running them throught the woods. because you cant knock off the weights. and unlike the stick on weights patch weights go on the tire on the furthest point from the rim wich is were every thing is out of balance anyway and you can place them to the left or right to get a more presise balanced wheel

 

[Eagle]

I believe Joe Rosa was running Equal in his tires and he felt it worked pretty well. I'm less sure about this, but I thought Dan Weakland had also used it.

 

[XJEEPER]

I believe Joe Rosa was running Equal in his tires and he felt it worked pretty well. I'm less sure about this, but I thought Dan Weakland had also used it.

Is there a way to buy this in bulk? I can only find it locally in those little 1/2oz packets at Denny's..........maybe I should try Nutri-sweet...........

 

[HodgePodge]

hahaha.. Better start eating out more often

 

[XTrmXJ]

Hey Mark sorry for bringing it back alive but these might help

www.innovativebalancing.com

 

[scorpio_vette]

i got the big pack of air soft BB's from walmart for $15. i did 5 33" tires and still have enough for one or two tires. that's about 4 times cheaper than those dynabeads from www.innovativebalancing.com.

 

[BrettM]

airsoft.

cheap, nearly silent, won't clump like equal, no concerns of them wearing the inside of the tire like BBs.

 

[jrsxj98]

i got the big pack of air soft BB's from walmart for $15. i did 5 33" tires and still have enough for one or two tires. that's about 4 times cheaper than those dynabeads from www.innovativebalancing.com.

Yes but does it work, I have been kicking the innovativebalancing beads around for awhile, I run 35's on my DD and would much rather pay that price once than to rebalance every 4-5k.

 

[BrettM]

airsoft works great on my 35" MTRs. golfballs were pretty good.

 

[jrsxj98]

airsoft works great on my 35" MTRs. golfballs were pretty good.

getting rebalance after every wheeling trip is getting kinda expensive..

 

[XJSpencer]

anybody have the centramatics balancers?

 

[MyJeepXJ]

Help me out here, not trying to jack the thread, but add to it...

Theres mention that metal BBs are not as good as the AirSoft BBs. I was thinking that with the heat and friction generated, that AirSoft plastic BBs would not hold up as well as metal BBs.

What is the expanded explination for this?

I am also of the opinion, that although golf balls could be used, they are pressureized and the skin would sheer off after a short time leaving the ball to explode and leave fragments inside, making it not balance as it should after that.

I am thinking with highway driving, or stop and go city driving, esp. in the summer heat, the balancing material used would need to be durable, hence why I was thinking that metal BBs would be the BEST option.

What about pinball balls? Maybe there too heavy to properly balance.

Ideas, suggestions?
Andrew

 

[Jeffro600]

airsoft.

cheap, nearly silent, won't clump like equal, no concerns of them wearing the inside of the tire like BBs.

Equal brings a lot of problems to the table...clumping if you get ANY moisture in your tires, expensive, and you have to run special valve stems to keep from blowing the stuff out when you air down.

Run AirSoft bb's. They wont wear the inside of your rim/tires or rust like regular bb's will, their cheap, no special valves or worries about moisture and they work fantastic! 2 pounds worth was plenty to balance my 33's....used about 8 oz per tire.

 

[rockwerks]

airsoft works great on my 35" MTRs. golfballs were pretty good.

airsoft pellets are all I run in all my rigs, when I change tires. I put in about 8 oz in each tire for 35's and never have had any negative issures..........they have been in for about 15,000 miles on one rig and sitll perfectly balanced

 

[Trailbst]

I am a recent sucker for the Equal balancing.

285/75/16 Truxux Mts.

I don't like the stuff. It's been about two weeks now. All of my bushing are good. Still got a terrible wobble. in the front around 60.

Airsoft pellets might be next. Gotta do something!

Don't waste your money on Equal.

As for the Centramics, there is a guy in my local club who uses them. 90s something K5 Blazer with 40s. He is more than happy to have spent the $200 on them. He originally used them with his 37s.


Erik

 

[rockwerks]

airsoft quality pellets = 20.00 ceramibeads = 160.00 or more simple math

 

[Jeffro600]

airsoft quality pellets = 20.00 ceramibeads = 160.00 or more simple math

Air Soft pellets arent even that much....you can get them in 5 pound bags(which will do about 10 33" tires) off of ebay for like 10-15 bucks.

 

[Ramsey]

airsoft quality pellets = 20.00 ceramibeads = 160.00 or more simple math

what size and how many did you wind up going with.

 

[Bloose]

I thought those air soft pellets were plastic? No?

I went with the Innovative Ballancing ceramic beads. I tryed beads on my 35's because they would have required lots of lead weights to get them ballanced. So far it seems to work great, though I don't do over 65mph in the Jeep. Filtered valve stem cores are cheap so airing down is not a big deal. One bonus is they can be added after the tire is mounted through the valve stems. Not sure if the sir soft pellets can be added that way.

HTH,
B-loose