When dismounting my front tires, they were found to contain a serious pile of sand. A trucker told me that it was from some sort of tire cooler that would have been a liquid put in when the tires were first installed. He said that over time, especially if the vehicle is sitting a lot, it all turns to sand. So, if anyone offers any such stuff to you, be warned.
I had heard that was a trick to help keep tires balanced. Maybe?
Was there any damage to the tire from the sand?
I'd leave it in. There are a few products that dynamically balance tires, that look like sand.
Here's a website quote to ponder...
"Equal" is a sand-like compound that, when placed inside a tire, is forced outwards by centrifugal force as the tire spins. Like the contained weight, it follows the laws of physics and it distributes itself more heavily at the lighter spots in the tire. This brings the tire into perfect static and dynamic balance. (Note: Equal must be installed following manufacturer's directions, using special screened tire valves to prevent slow air leakage.)
Might be this stuff or it might be something else. I had a LONG discussion with a physicist on this a few years back- bottom line, if your valves aren't giving you trouble, it works! (Golf balls seem to work just about as well according to many...)
Oh...FWIW, I don't have sand or golf balls in my tires. I just have the tire men put on the tried and true lead weights....
Cheers
boogie
I am by no means an expert in tire balancing. However it would occur to me that if there were someting in the tire that could move...that a slam on the brakes would tend to disrupt the balance...causing major problems.
Anyone want to 'edjumacate' me?
Thanks
Jack
Equal and Dynabeads are the two common INternal tire dynamic ballancing materials, golf balls etc have also been claimed to work,
I had Centrimatics on my 4104 all around and my Dad's 4108 that is for sale also have them all around. they work great.
I am presently running Dynabeads on the steers of my MC-8 with good results so far.
Slamming on the brakes would only make a difference if you could instananeously stop the tire, which does not happen.......even if it did as soon as you started rolling again they would reballance.
the whole dynamic ballancing thing...is just that dynamic.....constantly in a state of flux to accomidate all sorts of variables
As reported in a similar thread not too long ago, the golf balls might pose a serious threat in case of a blow out.
I hope I'm not close.
Ed
Be very careful if you have tire pressure sensors mounted on the valve stems. There are supposedly filters you can install, but I think you are asking for problems to mix the sensors and a product like Equal.
Jim
"it follows the laws of physics and it distributes itself more heavily at the lighter spots in the tire."
Smart sand.
Now I am feeling bad that I threw away all that valuable sand. Is there any independent data that supports that any of these balancing elixirs works?
yes....it's called Physics
Quote from: Lin on February 12, 2008, 12:02:51 AM
Now I am feeling bad that I threw away all that valuable sand. Is there any independent data that supports that any of these balancing elixirs works?
We've been running Equal for 4-5 yrs now and are quite happy with it! But keep in mind that I also like SETRAs, KUMHOs, & FORDs too, so Your Milage May Vary! LOL!
;D BK ;D
Quote from: Tony LEE on February 11, 2008, 10:57:08 PM
"it follows the laws of physics and it distributes itself more heavily at the lighter spots in the tire."
Smart sand.
Mess with the Laws of Physics....and the Laws of Physics will mess with you! ;D
I worked a few wrecks on the Interstate where cars went off the road sideways and was always amazed how chunks of sod would wedge between the rims and tires, kinda half in and out but the tires still were inflated. Lots of dirt inside the tire.
Magic sand and glass beads and golf balls that somehow manage to flow uphill seem to be almost completely unknown in Australia.
Are there any reputable tyre manufacturers who have expressed an opinion on the efficacy of any of these products?
All the tire manufacturers acknowledge these products.
the stuff isn;t flowing uphill but being flung outward centrifugally
weight is weight.
Tony, these things do not work in continents south of the equator. There they travel to the heavy side ;D ;D ;D
Could not resist
Jim
Personally have had experience with Equal and didn't feel it did as good of a job as Centramatic wheel balancing metal rings that mount between the tire and the brake drum. To get the best results for balancing-first make sure the brake drum has been balanced (you can usually tell this by machining cuts taken out of the support ring near the edge of the drum); when buying new tires have ALL of the tires-this means the rear tires too-spun balanced; then mount the Centramatics (the rear go in between the duals). This is from 21 years of over the road driving and experimenting with many methods. Good Luck, TomC
A friend, who used to be in the tire business and is now a truck mechanic, told me not to balance the rear tires saying something the about weights on one of the duals could work against the weights on the other. Is there any sense in that?
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If one is out of balance it kinda makes both out anyway...right?
I am no expert here!
Jack
My Opinion of the Centrimatics is great. Plus you have tha ability to take them off and transfer to another vehicle.
Dynabeads are also a fine product....but lack the transfer option but are considerably cheaper.....but you must recover the beads or replace them with a tire change.
Equal is a good product, often disliked by guys who have to break tires down, is susceptable to moisture, requires a special valve stem (core) to prevent leaking. is cheapest of the products.
As for not ballancing tires......there was a heated thread on this some time ago.
As for ballancing rears.....most truckers do not do it as a cost savings measure.....wheel weights will not work against each other on an inside.outside dual config. Your ballancing a particular tire.
My Dad even goes to the trouble of trueing his tires for the upmost in smooth ride in addition to Centrimatics.