I'm running out of options ..... anyone know where to get a 37" tire balanced in boulder, co? (NTB could do it when I lived back east, but everyone here says they can't do anything bigger than a 33"). I haven't called 4 wheel parts yet, but the only place i've found is John's 4x4 & he's wanting $200 for a set of 4!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

Also, anyone every used Equal Tire Balancer? any opinions?
T

Predator 4x4 in Colorado Springs will dismount/mount and balance 36 bolt beadlocks for $50. Boulder isn't that far. Give them a hollar. They will do 37" BTW.

Way

Not to slam anyone but....

The guys over at D-web are really liking that Equal Tire Balancer. Seems like an easy fix for beadlocks that are a pain to get balanced.

Ho and John are selling it on their site, I don't know where else you can get it besides them (and direct from the manufacturer).

most of the guys i chat with on 37's don't bother to balance the tires, fwiw . . . (but they're all on swampers)

i have a couple of friends that use equal in 32's and they seem to like it. i've been thinking about getting one of those $39 harbor freight tire-changing tools, a box full of "equal' wholesale from somewhere and forever saying bye-bye to tire shops (at least for the rover)

to run the equal you have to make a small modification to your valve stem, and it's advisable to run steel stemp caps

36 sx's , and I have never balanced them. Rides like a dream:rolleyes: :D No really, it is not bad at all, they actually smooth out really nicely at high speed for some reason. but I have about 175lbs rolling mass in tire and rim, and yours is probably not that much.

mine are more like a 110-120 (guessing). I wouldn't worry too much about it if I didn't have to do long hwy drives (eg- 5 hrs to Moab and 10 hrs to cruces). I did find a place this morning that is going to do it for $40 (4 tires).

T

What about Centramatic wheel balancers?

Review Here (http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/centramatic/index.htm)

They are fairly popular with the jeep guys and from what I have seen work very well. The biggest size tire I've seen them used on is a 35" MT/R though.

Personally I like these better than equal because of your OBA spits out even a tiny bit of oil then the equal starts to clump.

Justin

Originally posted by JMyerz
What about Centramatic wheel balancers?
Personally I like these better than equal because of your OBA spits out even a tiny bit of oil then the equal starts to clump.

Justin

That's why I'm thinking of buying a small scale and a carton of BB's.

Anyone know if a BB will fit inside the schrader valve without the core?

Billster

with visions of sitting in the garage and inserting hundreds of BB one by one this way:flipoff2:

LOL! :flipoff2:

That's the only thing that's been holding me back! The question of the BB size that is! Hehe.

The beadlocks would be no problem, but the other 20 tires I own would pose a bigger problem.

4 Wheel Parts now sells Equal.

Regarding getting a tire balanced in Boulder, Dunno. However I am sure that 4 Wheel Parts could do it. They are near Boulder, but not in Boulder.

BTW I really don't like 4 Wheel Parts, it's just that they come to mind. Also you might check Discount Tire. They do 35's for sure. I believe they sell 37's. Couldn't hurt to ask.

I bought my BFGs from 4WP and they could never get them balanced right, so I went to Americas Tire and they balanced them first try. I know they do 36" SXs up here in OR, so I imagine those 37 MT/Rs would fit

Justin

Originally posted by lwg
4 Wheel Parts now sells Equal.

Regarding getting a tire balanced in Boulder, Dunno. However I am sure that 4 Wheel Parts could do it. They are near Boulder, but not in Boulder.

BTW I really don't like 4 Wheel Parts, it's just that they come to mind. Also you might check Discount Tire. They do 35's for sure. I believe they sell 37's. Couldn't hurt to ask.

I'm actually considering the golf ball thing.. Unless I can find some non-steel bb's that won't corrode if a little water gets in my tire. Or maybe just add a little oil in there to start with and lube 'em up good!

Of course, you guys know you don't need a tire shop to put these into any tire. Just take the tire off, take out the core (faster deflation), and put your high lift next to the bead and under your rear bumper. A little work with the jack and you'll pop the bead right off. Then insert your stuff, and re-inflate using the nearest handy compressor. The trick to re-seating the bead with a low volume compressor is to use a ratchet strap around the tread of the tire to push it in and make the beads fit tighter against the wheel. Then, re-inflate like normal. Don't forget to remove the ratchet strap once the bead seats though!

-John

I thought BB's were made out of copper?

Copper washed steel. That's how they stuck to the magnet on the bolt face and didn't roll out the end of the barrel when you were humping through the bush on S&D missions.

Ken

Call me. I can get you done at any goodyear company store. I believe northglen is the closest to you. Let me know.

j

3039068693 is my mobile.

Tiresource in Boulder .... $6.50-$10/tire depending on how many weights they use ..... I pick them up tomorrow..... amazing that I may get out of this for $26 and John's 4x4 wanted $200!!!

.... let the fender trimming begin!!!:D
T

And when you rip all the weights off, then you can go to golf balls' and be done with it forever....

BTW, anyone know how many golf-balls will balance a 42" TSL?....Awe, never mind...

--D

if this doesn't work, i'll try golf balls next -- Doug, you better buy the bonus pack :D

got them mounted, though ... along with the "heim'ed" steering and new rear links .... just gotta replace an engine mount, do some trimming, retain the front springs, and find a way to mount a softtop and tailgate without having the hardware I need ... & she'll be ready for cruces!! can't wait :bounce: :bounce2: :bounce:!!!
T

Originally posted by RockRover
And when you rip all the weights off, then you can go to golf balls' and be done with it forever....

BTW, anyone know how many golf-balls will balance a 42" TSL?....Awe, never mind...

--D

I recall a disussion on the general board (or maybe it was chit chat:flipoff2: ) about using mouse balls. http://www.mouseballs.com

Just another thought.

-Jeff

john, you dont want to put oil inside your tire, it will eat away at the rubber. and i dont know why everyone is so worried about demounting and then remounting the tires? its not too hard to make a friend at the local tire shop and get use of the tire machine after hours. i know i did.

OK,
I've tried to keep myself quiet on this one. But....

I would not put anything and I mean any foreign substance in a tire. Most sidewall failures happen from the inside out. Yes I know all about centrifigal forces and all that, but there is a spin up time. The ONLY thing I know that works between a rim and tire is the kevlar rings that the Government uses as run-flats and such. (ask me sometime over a beer and I'll tell you a great story about Timothy McVeigh's limo's)

Anyway, the majority of the material over the sidwall is on the outside, not the inside. The inside is very easily damaged, and due to the thickness of the material, very sensitive to friction.

The biggest challenge to traditionally balancing a large tire/rim combo is the health and maintenance of the balancer itself. If your local Goodyear or Discount store's machine's lid won't fit on your combo, seek out the local Goodyear commercial store (in this area the franchise is called Brad Reagan) and have them spun up there. There SHOULD be NO extra charge for the size. The most I have seen (with my own eyes) is a set of hummer MT's take 5 oz of weight. (new)

j

john, i know you have worked for good year and all, but i have to question your logic on the sidewall thing.

how is a round golfball going to harm a sturdy piece of rubber?

it is also my understanding that this has been an old truckers trick in the book for decades, with good success.

OTR tires are a completely different animal, and I still wouldn't do it.


You probably don't get it because you don't know or understand the design differences between tires.

You ever see "gatorbacks" on the highway? Where a carcass separates? That is what interior sidewall damage does to a vehicle. It is not always just a re-tread coming off.

When you shred a tire from deflation it doesn't happen from the object giving it a "flat". It happens from sidewall delamination.

The interior sidewall of a tire is the weakest area of a tire. Period.


j

The guys over at Peerless tires in longmont did a fine job of balanceing the 38's on my Jeep, and the 36's and the 35's All Swampers... Go there... Course you might get shot:(