Changing Tires: Haven't seen anything like this before

[myfirstluv]

Look what I discovered:

http://www.jakewilson.com/videos.do?videoId=83

Jakewilson is a motorcycle website and I found in an ad in cycle world magazine and thought I should share this since I have never seen or read anything like this before.  I've only read about difficult do-it-yourself tire changes so far.

You can also balance your tires without weights and no fuss.  I guess I didn't know much about balancing tires, but anyways all the tools can be bought on there site.

If the link doesn't work go to Jake wilson dot com and then the video section where you'll see a tire changing video which can also be found on youtube.

The tires are also cheaper than bike bandit.  Let me know what you think and whether or not I'm a little behind the times

[Deros514]

Cool, one day when I've got nothing to do I'll remove the tires of my wheels to paint/polish them. Idk about those dyna beads, I'd rather just have it balance the traditional way.

[Toogoofy317]

Cool neat find     Not sure on the dyna beads but that really doesn't look all that tough!

Mary

[tt_four]

Just ordered tires from them, they showed up last Monday and I mounted them on Wednesday. Pretty fast shipping, plus it was free. Brought my mount time from all weekend my first try down to 3.5 to 4 hours for both of these, onto the same wheels in the video!

I would've tried dyna beads but I didn't order any any already had normal weights. I wish I had remembered to order rim savers too. Had to use some rubber hose and it was a pain. By the time I was done balancing I had 6 weights on the front wheel and none on the rear  That seems odd, but that's how they balanced so who am I to argue.

[myfirstluv]

I found an article that helped me understand how it works.  Based off of my understanding in physics it makes sense.  Let me know what you guys think.

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-100-dyna-beads.aspx

[tt_four]

I was skeptical about them for quite a while but everyone who's tried them seems very pleased so who am I to argue.

[twocool]

Dyna beads?     Does this really work, or another scam?

Internet is full of guys who swear by them, and also guys who say they are crap...........

Nobody can really explain how they work.......

Many guys run with completly unbalanced wheels and say they get a smooth ride anyway......

I think I'll stick with the tried and true rim weights.........they work........

I've owned three bikes in the last two years and never had a wheel balance / vibration problem.....One had spoke weights, one had rim weights, one had no balancing at all........

Cookie

[tt_four]

I definitely heard more people picking on them before a lot of people really got a chance to try them.

One thing that interests me is the fact that they would work through the life of the tire. You can balance a wheel when you put new tires on it but as you ride and the tire gets worn down the balance will wear with the tires. If you have the dyna beads in they function the same until you remove the tire. If you're gonna go through the hassle of changing tires it's really not much work to balance them too though.

[twocool]

I definitely heard more people picking on them before a lot of people really got a chance to try them.

One thing that interests me is the fact that they would work through the life of the tire. You can balance a wheel when you put new tires on it but as you ride and the tire gets worn down the balance will wear with the tires. If you have the dyna beads in they function the same until you remove the tire. If you're gonna go through the hassle of changing tires it's really not much work to balance them too though.

Well, conventional weights seem to work for the life of the tire too........

I've had a lot of cars and a couple of motorcycles, and driven lots of miles and never had a problem with wheel balance of any kind, ever....

So these dyna beads sorta seem like a solution without a problem........

My internet searching seems to come up 50 / 50 of guys who swear by the dynabeads and who think it is a scam....

Even if the beads really work, I see no advantage over conventional balancing........

Cookie

[the mole]

I've never used them, but after seeing this thread I had a look on line and found this: <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg>>.
Seems pretty convincing!
Also:

I recently had new tires installed at a Honda dealership and they didn't have the equipment to balance the back tire (K1200S). They could either install the Dyna Beads in the rear tire or I could take it somewhere else to balance. They installed the Dyna Beads in the rear and traditional weights on the front rim. I ran the bike this way for a month or so and decided to install the beads in the front and remove the ugly weights from my rim. Instead of buying the Dyna Beads for $3.50 an once, I ordered 1.00 mm ceramic polishing spheres from McMaster Carr. 5 lbs for about $45, I now have a life time supply. I installed the beads in the front and haven't noticed any difference on the way the bike handles. I ran at the track a few weeks back and it still felt rock solid at 120 mph. Sometime you just have to try things out for yourself. There are alot of opinions floating around and if the "magic beads" work in your application, then they really are magic. Good luck

Maybe someone could order a few pounds and re-sell to members?

[tt_four]

Even if the beads really work, I see no advantage over conventional balancing........

Cookie

I think the main benefit is for people who don't own the equipment or trust themselves to balance wheels. It's a lot easier just to dump a couple of the dyna beads inside your wheel instead of spending the time to balance the pair.

[twocool]

Even if the beads really work, I see no advantage over conventional balancing........

Cookie

I think the main benefit is for people who don't own the equipment or trust themselves to balance wheels. It's a lot easier just to dump a couple of the dyna beads inside your wheel instead of spending the time to balance the pair.

You've got a point there.......but.....

If a guy is good enough to change his own tires, he could certainly figure out how to balance........

Changing tires = difficult (IMO)   Balancing = easy

Motorcycles generally do not need dynamic balance since the tires are narrow.......you can get / make a static balance rig for not too much money.

For cars, my tire guy includes mounting and balancing all in one price, so no advantage in beads.......

What would a bike shop charge for balancing only?  What is the cost of a set of beads?

One of my "hobbies" is looking into automotive scams, and seeing the psychology behind them......

I am on the fence with these dyna beads........at least the theory of operation seems sound........but there are a lot of questions in my mind about actual performance in use, on a motorcycle...........

There is a similar product used on large trucks, but it is a self contained device, with lead shot and oil contained, which bolts on.......I can see this working on a truck.........

But with beads in a motorcycle tire..........hmmmmmmmm....

When you are stopped, the beads all fall to the bottom, so at least when you start off, you know for sure the wheel is NOT balanced..........they say you have to get up to like 30~40 MPH for the beads to distrubute.....

What if the inside tire surface is uneven?  They say the beads won't work on racing tires for that reason....

What if there is some moisture or goop inside the tire, will the beads get stuck?

What happens on a bumpy road?

Some of the manufacturer's claims are a bit much for be to believe...like 30%  longer tire life?  30% longer than what?  Certainly not 30% better than a properly balanced conventional tire with weights?

Cookie

[tt_four]

Your tire doesn't really need to be balanced under 30-40mph.

I would assume the longer life would come from the fact that after 2-3k miles your wheel may no longer be balanced with traditional weights, but in theory the dynabeads should keep your wheel in balance until the day you pull the tire, over 30-40mph of course. An unbalanced wheel will wear faster than a balanced wheel.

[AccidentalF]

I have no doubt that the beads work: the theory is sound, and I've seen demonstration videos with electric drills and soda bottles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg).  They should work perfectly in a static condition, i.e. highway cruising.  I do have doubts about their performance in situations where the vehicles' speed changes a lot (sport riding) and on uneven roads/bumps (every road I ride on).  If they rely on imbalance vibration to distribute properly, what does road bump vibration do to them?  Would the rider be able to tell the difference anyway? Would the rider be able to tell the difference between that and a completely unbalanced wheel?  I know many who wouldn't.  Static balancing works fine for me. 

If you wanted to get scientific about it, you could attach an accelerometer to the fork and do some testing runs on a set course...but I'd rather just ride with what works.  Call me lazy.

[Twism86]

You mean this isnt the best way to mount a tire? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0GNLvPmAg&NR=1 

[tt_four]

I'm always so tempted to try that, but my tires always seat perfectly easy just by blowing air into them.

[twocool]

Your tire doesn't really need to be balanced under 30-40mph.

I would assume the longer life would come from the fact that after 2-3k miles your wheel may no longer be balanced with traditional weights, but in theory the dynabeads should keep your wheel in balance until the day you pull the tire, over 30-40mph of course. An unbalanced wheel will wear faster than a balanced wheel.

You are correct sir!   In fact many experts don't balance motorcycle wheels at all......and claim smooth operaton up to 100 mph...............

Why would your wheel become unbalanced after a couple thousand miles?

I am sure they make the claim of 30% better tire wear comparing a really out of balance tire to a balanced dyna bead tire........

But now compare tread wear of a nicley balanced conventional wheel, to a dyna bead wheel and I am sure the 30% is out the window.................In fact I am sure there would be no wear difference at all........

So I still say, that although the theory makes sense, and the reports are good, based on the fact that you really don't have to balance motorcycle wheels at all........that dyna beads are a solution to a non-existant problem.........

So I gotta rate this on "myth plausable"......not busted, not confirmed.....

cookie

[twocool]

I have no doubt that the beads work: the theory is sound, and I've seen demonstration videos with electric drills and soda bottles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq263AYgyYg).  They should work perfectly in a static condition, i.e. highway cruising.  I do have doubts about their performance in situations where the vehicles' speed changes a lot (sport riding) and on uneven roads/bumps (every road I ride on).  If they rely on imbalance vibration to distribute properly, what does road bump vibration do to them?  Would the rider be able to tell the difference anyway? Would the rider be able to tell the difference between that and a completely unbalanced wheel?  I know many who wouldn't.  Static balancing works fine for me. 

If you wanted to get scientific about it, you could attach an accelerometer to the fork and do some testing runs on a set course...but I'd rather just ride with what works.  Call me lazy.

I agree completly..........I have no problem with conventional static balancing.....why re-invent the wheel?  Sorry bad pun.....

Like I said earlier, I have driven like maybe 1,000,000 miles so far, in many vehicles, and never had a wheel balance issue of any kind........

Bigger, better things to worry about than beads in tires.......

Cookie

[myfirstluv]

What is the name for the "static balancer" for balancing the wheel conventionally?  I want to see current cost from a site.

For me the beads seem more of a do-it-yourself tire change and balance without hassle or fuss with weights.

But, conventional balancing doesn't seem difficult at all, as long as the balancer and weights aren't too expensive.

As for the rest of the tire changing, I never realized how doable it is at home.  I paid almost $400 for my tire change.  $75 to mount and balance each tire.  I'd rather buy online and do-it-myself.

It's funny how everything now-a-days can be done online .

P.S.  Isle of Mann TT is on HD Theater for the next couple of weeks

[twocool]

What is the name for the "static balancer" for balancing the wheel conventionally?  I want to see current cost from a site.

For me the beads seem more of a do-it-yourself tire change and balance without hassle or fuss with weights.

But, conventional balancing doesn't seem difficult at all, as long as the balancer and weights aren't too expensive.

As for the rest of the tire changing, I never realized how doable it is at home.  I paid almost $400 for my tire change.  $75 to mount and balance each tire.  I'd rather buy online and do-it-myself.

It's funny how everything now-a-days can be done online .

P.S.  Isle of Mann TT is on HD Theater for the next couple of weeks

I searched some wheel balance rigs online...........for static balance..........about $150 ~$200  US.......

This includes a heafty stand, (which can be used for truing spoked wheels) along with the cone and bearing deal which is the heart of the thing.........The stand is surly responsible for more than 1/2 the cost.............

I can't yet find the cone thing alone.........

A crafty person could make one themselves for maybe $25 and make even a wooden stand for $5........

I made miniature versions of these when I flew model airplanes, to balance wooden propellers......(10,000 rpm!!!)

But even at $200, one time, you would be ahead of paying the dealer $400+ for a mount and balance....

Cookie