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HowieE · 06-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Both of these systems assume that the tire is out of balance along it's center line. It is not uncommon for tires to be out of balance more on one side than another. How is this addressed?

LI Pets · 06-01-2007, 06:50 PM

I think, not 100% sure, they will work their way to where they are needed inside-center-outside.

7xp · 06-01-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispyboy

I thought about the balancing beads but if you have a flat tire out on the road somewhere you will need to replace the beads. The centramatics are always there.

If you are replacing the tire, couldn't you recover the beads from the old tire or carry an extra bag of beads to put in the new one? If you carry a spare you could buy enough beads for the spare. This would still be way cheeper then the Centramatics. (IMHO) Not restricting airflow to the brakes is a BIG PLUS with the beads. "Mac"

Goin camping · 06-01-2007, 09:35 PM

How do you know how many beads to put in? Can you overfill with the beads?

**azflycaster** · 06-01-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goin camping

How do you know how many beads to put in? Can you overfill with the beads?

If you use enough beeds you don't need any air

.

Really, the site has a chart that shows how many ounces to put in a tire listed by tire size. A P225/75 R15 tire requires 3 oz. which sells for $6 per tire.

Goin camping · 06-01-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

If you use enough beeds you don't need any air

.

Really, the site has a chart that shows how many ounces to put in a tire listed by tire size. A P225/75 R15 tire requires 3 oz. which sells for $6 per tire.

Three ounces will work no matter how out of balance you are?

Just trying to understand.

dscluchfc · 06-01-2007, 11:59 PM

When using beads or Centramatic Balancers, I would think you would want to balance traditionally, and then use the beads or balancers to fine tune the setup.....why make them try to overcome a severe out of balance problem?...what if the balance problem was more severe than you had capacity to overcome with 3 oz of beads or whatever the Centramatics can compensate for???

ROBERTSUNRUS · 06-02-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goin camping

Three ounces will work no matter how out of balance you are?

Just trying to understand.

Hi, "Three ounces will work no matter how out of balance you are?" I don't think so; Most decent tires and wheels take from nothing [very rare] to as high as six ounces to balance. [bad ones take even more] So three ounces would at best be a happy medium. And don't forget the main reason we are talking about this is because Airstream / Dexter / Henschen don't balance the damn drums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can balance the wheels, but if the drums are out of balance, it's just a waste of time, effort, and money. What were they thinking? Since it is illeagle to ride inside of you trailer, you won't feel the vibrations, therefore it's OK for your trailer to shake it's self apart on the freeway. At this time my vote goes for the Centramatics. I don't believe any tire was made to have foreign objects flying around inside of them. I'm curious what Goodyear and other tire manufacturers would have to say about these beads. This is my opinion at this time and subject to change, or remain the same, at any time.

flyfisher · 06-02-2007, 12:39 AM

All of this talk assumes that our tires are round, doesn't it?

When I took my Airstream in to have my running gear balanced, the first thing they did was to "true" the tires (shaved off the high spots to make them perfectly round). I was amazed at how much they had to shave off my new Goodyear Marathons in this process.

I think that even if you install Centramatics, or have your running gear balanced like I did, on tires that are not round it would still be like rolling an egg down the road. At least that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

John

LI Pets · 06-02-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, "Three ounces will work no matter how out of balance you are?" I don't think so; Most decent tires and wheels take from nothing [very rare] to as high as six ounces to balance.

I use 3 oz in mine as recommended, but it's good question.

I'm going to ask the guy at Dyna beads, let you know!

LI Pets · 06-02-2007, 08:13 PM

Just recieved a reply from Dyna Beads.

"You can go to 4 oz if you want and it won't cause any problems at all.
Gives you a little "fudge factor".
Remember that the weights operate on a circumference based on the
diameter of the rim, the beads operate on a circumference based on the
diameter of the tire, which is much bigger. The weights have to be
heavier than the beads to do the same job as they can't develop the
centrificul force that the beads can."

dscluchfc · 06-02-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LI Pets

Just recieved a reply from Dyna Beads.

"You can go to 4 oz if you want and it won't cause any problems at all.
Gives you a little "fudge factor".
Remember that the weights operate on a circumference based on the
diameter of the rim, the beads operate on a circumference based on the
diameter of the tire, which is much bigger. The weights have to be
heavier than the beads to do the same job as they can't develop the
centrificul force that the beads can."

So how much out of balance can 4 oz of beads compensate for???

wanderer1 · 06-02-2007, 10:00 PM

I used Centramatics on the steer tires on the 18 wheeler I used to own/operate.They work all right,however,Centramatics can be a little noisey

.They have ball bearings inside the ring that move 'round as you drive.Most of the time you cann't hear them but,when your up against a jersey wall,underpass,or tunnel with the window down,you will hear them

.Just don't think some things wrong with the t/v

.Also Centramatics can be reused as long as the tire diameter is the same.Handy if you get a different a/s or t/v

.Some truck stop tire shops used to have cut away Centramatics on display,if anyone would like to see how they work...Brian

HowieE · 06-03-2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer1

I used Centramatics on the steer tires on the 18 wheeler I used to own/operate.They work all right,however,Centramatics can be a little noisey

.They have ball bearings inside the ring that move 'round as you drive.

Hi Wanderer1

You say you could hear the Centramatic. If the bearing have taken a position to balance the tire at a given speed what is the source of the noise? There souldn't be any movement inside the Centramatic. Is it vibration side to side or squeak between the hub and wheel. Did the centramatic show any wear when you changed tires on your truck?

LI Pets · 06-03-2007, 11:16 AM

The balls in the centramatics are imersemed in oil?

Should be any noise unlis the fluid was leaking maybe

Zeppelinium · 06-03-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LI Pets

The balls in the centramatics are imersemed in oil?

Should be any noise unlis the fluid was leaking maybe

Some noise is OK. The balls move moderately quickly even in the viscous oil.

Zep

ROBERTSUNRUS · 06-03-2007, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

Some noise is OK. The balls move moderately quickly even in the viscous oil.

Zep

Hi, I can't imagine metal balls, incased in a tube, floating in oil, and mounted between the wheel and brake drum makeing very much noise; Not to mention way back on my trailer and at my age? WHAT NOISE. I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING. DO YOU HEAR ANYTHING? Everything is smooth running and no warning lights came on, keep going. LOL

Jim & Susan · 06-04-2007, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

......... I don't believe any tire was made to have foreign objects flying around inside of them. I'm curious what Goodyear and other tire manufacturers would have to say about these beads. This is my opinion at this time and subject to change, or remain the same, at any time.

This was my question as well. What does this do to your tire warranty?

Jim

dscluchfc · 06-04-2007, 09:34 PM

I got the centramatic balancers in today.
The ones sent to me are for steel wheels, drum brakes....tire size 7.00x 15.
They measure 10 inches in diameter. This leaves about 1" all the way around the inside of the wheel when they match up on the bolt pattern.

I thought they would be a closer fit to the inside of the wheel and be at least 11.5" across instead of 10".

Do you think I got the right ones shipped to me, or are the others larger in diameter than 11'5"???

I am thinking maybe I better call Jerry at Centramatic tomorrow and check to see that they sent the right ones?

dscluchfc · 06-05-2007, 09:41 AM

I talked to Jerry at Centramatic this morning.
The next size up has a diameter of 13". The inside of my steel wheel is only slightly larger than 12".
Therefore, the balancers shipped to me that are 10" in diameter are correct for my application.

There are THREE different Centramatic Balancers used on Airstreams depending on your setup of wheels, brakes-disc or drum, and size tires.

Talk to Jerry, he knows which ones to work with your setup.