Tire Balance

1182 Views 12 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Matoo, Mar 20, 2015

BrandonZX6r

Discussion Starter · Mar 19, 2015

I was wondering how track racers balance tires, what method do you use?

I ride street FZ6R and ZX6R and both bikes have been balanced different. One was done by the tire sitting on a stand horizontally while a level was used to determine weight placement. Other bike was spun balanced I think they did a high speed balance on it? Both ride great. I do have two buds how have used the plastic beads placed in the tire. They claim it worked great.

I have read so much about using the beads and most claimed it is great for larger truck tires. I have seem about a 60% / 40% split on motorcycles.

Just wondering if anyone has used beads and if they liked them also how do you track guys / gals balance your tires , if you have ever used the beads.

Thanks to all who reply to entertain my inquisitive knowledge seeking pea brain.

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lowcel

· #2 · Mar 19, 2015

Beads just add weight to the outside of the tire to keep you from feeling it. Your suspension still has to work extra when you use them leading to having to get your suspension rebuilt more often. Just say no to beads.

Myself and most others use a static balancer. Nice, cheap, and does a good job.

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exalted512

· #3 · Mar 19, 2015

I use a static balancer, available at harbor freight. Beads work fine if you're just cruising around. If you start going fast enough where the tire starts getting sticky, the beads get stuck on the inside of the tire and can no longer work correctly.
-Cody

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lowcel

· #4 · Mar 19, 2015

This is from No Mar's website.

Dynabeads have been proven not to work. If you wheel really needs a lot of weight to balance I recommend static balancing or you will get shaking and wear out your suspension. You may not feel the shaking but the suspension will wear prematurely. I believe that is what is really going on with the beads. The slight wheel vibration is muted by the excellent modern day suspensions and the riders don't feel the subtleties unless it is a more extreme case.

Tire manufacturers regularly discourage the use of the beads and liquid balancing products. Motorcycle Consumer News , years ago disproved the beads as a waste of money and time. Beads would stick to tire lube unless wiped away. Probably not so practical once second half of tire is installed and that is the side you really need lube on to install. We get customers regularly who are complaining of shaking wheels and request us to remove them and balance their wheels in our MotoTireUSA store. We service about 2000 motorcycles per year. If the Dynabeads were proven to work we would sell them as an upgrade and all racing organizations and factory teams would use them. We only sell what is guaranteed to work.

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Todd

· #5 · Mar 19, 2015

Static balancer here....it's not that hard.

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Strider

· #6 · Mar 19, 2015

Don't use the beads. The other two methods of balancing that you mentioned are fine, and most, including me, use a static balancer.

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PowerGroove

· #7 · Mar 19, 2015

I put it on the machine... give it a spin... and BAM! It goes... BEEEEP. And slows down. Then I add weights if needed.

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zx6ixxer

· #8 · Mar 19, 2015

PowerGroove said:
I put it on the machine... give it a spin... and BAM! It goes... BEEEEP. And slows down. Then I add weights if needed.

:bigfinger:

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riverszzr

· #9 · Mar 19, 2015

Electronic or static balancer, either will get you to the same point. I use both but most often the static balancer

Dyna Beads, while I have a few cruiser customers who swear by them and will only accept them in their tires- I think it is hogwash but they simply do not want weights externally on their tires and swear that the dyna beads work for them.
I do not recommend them and sway people away from them when I can.

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BrandonZX6r

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 19, 2015

Thanks for all the input. I will definitely stay away from beads..

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moto82199

· #11 · Mar 20, 2015

Static balancer for me also. Super easy to do and slap on the sticky weights and some helo kitty duct tape.

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08zx6az

· #12 · Mar 20, 2015

Lol I prefer the ninja turtle duct tape myself!

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Matoo

· #13 · Mar 20, 2015

Another vote for static

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