Balance Beads in New Imagine Tires

[MtnGuy]

We just purchased a new Imagine XLS 22MLE, and discovered that the Goodyear Endurance tires have balance beads in them. I have not read anything in the brochure about that. Is that a new thing, or have they been installed in camper tires for a while, and I just haven't kept up with trends ?? Our salesman didn't even know about it.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

The popularity of the balance beads comes and goes. Some people pooh-pooh them and some people swear by them. I never thought much of them, but now I can't say too much because I'm running a set of CentraMatics on my trailer.

 

[huntr70]

We just purchased a new Imagine XLS 22MLE, and discovered that the Goodyear Endurance tires have balance beads in them. I have not read anything in the brochure about that. Is that a new thing, or have they been installed in camper tires for a while, and I just haven't kept up with trends ?? Our salesman didn't even know about it.

Are you sure they are from factory?

I have not heard about that at all...

 

[Hoopy Frood]

How did you know they had the balance beads?

 

[Riverbug]

Neither of our Imagine trailers had balance beads (2022 and 2023), can't speak to 2024 of course.

 

[MtnGuy]

Are you sure they are from factory?

I have not heard about that at all...

Not sure it was from the factory, and definitely not sure if you hadn't heard of that. Our unit was built 3/6/24. We bought from a chain dealership (sorry Steve, but 100 miles away is better than 200+) near Richmond......but not Camping World. The Certificate of Origin showed the chain name, but I think the address was Florida. This is Michigan based company, so don't know if they do that for tax purposes or what.

How did you know they had the balance beads?

1 of the 1st things I do to a new camper is to balance the tires and get better valve stems installed to support the TPMS sensors. When the tire guy went to computer balance the tire, it was giving him all sorts of weird readings. Then he heard the beads rolling around. I heard them when I rolled my 1st tire to the truck, but didn't know what it was. All 4 tires had the beads, but I haven't checked the spare yet.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeah, I have heard you can't balance the tires if they have beads. Not exactly sure why, but there's a "scientific" explanation.

 

[triplethreat]

Yeah, I have heard you can't balance the tires if they have beads. Not exactly sure why, but there's a "scientific" explanation.

The balance beads were a big thing for motorcycle tires years ago.....I've never been a fan. I mount and balance my own MC tires using a static balancer and I can normally get them to almost perfect balance....think 1 or possibly two 1/4 oz weights. I've done several over the years that ended up with zero weights, but that just takes a bit more time.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeah, I change and balance my own motorcycle tires too. I was exasperated when I had an issue getting lead weights. I didn't like the zinc ones, and finally found a supply of lead weights. You can't cut those zinc weights in two for 1/8 ounce pieces. I have enough to last several lifetime, of several people!!

 

[Wileykid]

The balance beads were a big thing for motorcycle tires years ago.....I've never been a fan. I mount and balance my own MC tires using a static balancer and I can normally get them to almost perfect balance....think 1 or possibly two 1/4 oz weights. I've done several over the years that ended up with zero weights, but that just takes a bit more time.

Tried the beads on my bike, never again. Had a slow leak after about 4K miles, and found the beads had worked there way in-between the tire and rim, but not all the way to the rim bead area. Took some time cleaning the bead debris.

For truck tires, I have had several different shops say they will not use the balance beads.

 

[MtnGuy]

So, another 22MLE owner posted on a Facebook group that they also have balance beads in their tires. They posted that they called Grand Design to confirm that. And I thought I had a anomaly.

 

[huntr70]

I just confirmed with my GD Rep as well. He is going to find out when they started doing this.

The units that have them in have a metallic valve stem cover with a red insert that says "CounterACT". Evidently is a brand of balance beads.

 

[MtnGuy]

This is what the cap looks like.