airsoft pellet tire balancing?

[dieck]

Ok guys, I've got a few questions I'll be posting today after a weekend of wheeling.

I knocked off some of my wheel weights which caused my truck to shake like the dickens on the drive back. This will likely be a regular occurance the way I drive and the places I go.

I read this article http://4x4trailhunters.com/article.php?id=18 and the physics sounds sound. Wondering if anyone has done this. For a daily driver / weekend expedition vehicle it sounds ideal.

No more tire balancing!

-H

 

[jeffryscott]

I have used Equal, sold by Expedition Exchange, and it worked great in one set of tires (Kuhmo MT's), but not so well in another set (TrXus MT's).

When it works, the stuff is great because you never have to worry about balancing. And when it doesn't work, then you've wasted your money.

 

[overlander]

I just installed equal (from EE) in my new BFG MT"s that I installed myself with outback tire plyers. with only Equal, and no weights, the tires are running very nice and smooth. I'm sold.

 

[dieck]

I have used Equal, sold by Expedition Exchange, and it worked great in one set of tires (Kuhmo MT's), but not so well in another set (TrXus MT's).

When it works, the stuff is great because you never have to worry about balancing. And when it doesn't work, then you've wasted your money.

I've read about equal but they say it clumps if it gets wet from condensations or airing up and down. The airsoft pellets are cheaper too...

 

[gearbox]

I've never used it, but I've read a lot of testimonials on various wheeling forums about Dyna Beads

 

[wADVr]

Ive been running the airsoft pellets for over a year and have yet to have an issue. Tires such as those produced by Interco(swamper, Trxus, IROK ect) may need more than the suggested weight, adding more than the needed amount has no ill effects that I know of. with my 33" BFG MTs I used 2000 bbs and wish I would have overshot it another 500.

 

[dieck]

Ive been running the airsoft pellets for over a year and have yet to have an issue. Tires such as those produced by Interco(swamper, Trxus, IROK ect) may need more than the suggested weight, adding more than the needed amount has no ill effects that I know of. with my 33" BFG MTs I used 2000 bbs and wish I would have overshot it another 500.

Thanks, great info! Do you know what weight airsoft pellets you used? There are apparently different weights of pellets for different airsoft guns.

Do you know what the total weight is that you added? Did you add them yourself or did a tire shop do it for you?

 

[seth_js]

I run 8oz of #9 lead shot in each tire, 33x11.50.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I think I'mm gonna do the airsoft pellets. I have a ton of weights on my rims and everytime I wheel they get more unbalanced. I've been thinking about it for a while, time to step up.

 

[wADVr]

I used Crosman AirSoft 6mm .12g BBs. So 1000 BBs = apx 4.25 oz. I am running about 2000 BBs per tire to get the recommended 8 oz of weight per 33" tire. I installed them myself but used a tire machine to pop the beads which made the process very easy.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I just picked up 10000 .12g orange ABS airsoft pellets. $21 and change at Paintball HQ here in Tucson. Thats 240g per tire (5 tires) which is equal to 8.4oz. I'll let you all know how they work out after I test em.

 

[dieck]

Ok guys. I bit the bullet and did this. I put 14 oz of .2g black airsoft pellets in each new 285/70/17 BFG AT. The guys at discount tire were very complimentary of the idea which was nice because costco, sams, and NTB all turned up their noses at it. I went heavier than recommended with the pellets because the BFG's are pretty heavy at 54lbs each and I didn't want to have to do it twice.

The truck is super smooth now and balances perfectly. I can't hear any noise from the pellets unless I drive with the windows down next to a tall concrete wall or in a parking garage where sound bounces around a lot.

The ride is way better than with the Goodyear MTR's probably because the BFG AT is more suited for road driving and because they are actually balanced.

Total cost $23

special note. DONT USE BIODEGRADABLE AIRSOFT PELLETS they will disentigrate in your tires..

 

[xcmountain80]

Yeah freakin ha. I solution to my problem. I can't tell you how excited I was to read this post. Ok so Dieck you used 14oz. ea. in yours. I have 295/75/16 Nitto Terras and I'm always losing weight and not in the good way. My off road tires are constantly dropping weight. Wow so how will I know how much weight to add?

Aaron

 

[Oddmar]

Just a quick installation tip, guys...put the bb's in a paper towel taped shut, stick that in the tire before mounting it. The towel will come apart inside the tire, releasing the airsoft bb's, and that way you won't chance getting a bb stuck between the rim and the tire bead during mounting, and it just makes it easier overall.

Just use plastic airsoft bb's...not steel ones, cause they rust together, and not "balancing sand" like in semi tires, cause it too clumps up after awhile. People will forever tell you "You're doing it wrong", but this is a good, simple, cheap way to balance tires.

 

[dieck]

I initially used this chart http://www.innovativebalancing.com/BigTirechart.htm but then after doing a search on naxja, go-jeep, and pirate, a lot of poeple were complaining that there was not enough weight with only 8-10 oz in the 8 ply 33's. So I decided on 12 oz to in each tire. I went to Academy to buy the airsoft pellets and they sold them in aprox 7 oz small containers in the .2g weight. So instead of getting fancy with the guys at the tire store, I just told em to dump in 2 containters per tire. No real downside to an extra oz or two in each wheel except for a little more rotating mass, but it's insurance for when you break off a lugg or pick up a big rock in your tread.

I'm super stoked about not having to go back all the time to get balanced.

Yeah freakin ha. I solution to my problem. I can't tell you how excited I was to read this post. Ok so Dieck you used 14oz. ea. in yours. I have 295/75/16 Nitto Terras and I'm always losing weight and not in the good way. My off road tires are constantly dropping weight. Wow so how will I know how much weight to add?

Aaron