Counteract Balance Beads/ White Wheels

[1tondriver]

So I am talking myself into powder coating my wheels white because I think they look pretty cool. The winter months make my mind do crazy things I suppose. 
If I do this I won’t want any wheel weights and am looking for advice as far as balancing. I have read a couple of good reviews on the balance beads but am looking for confirmation or another good way to balance the wheels. TIA

Edit: Am I just plain crazy for considering white wheels? Some wheel wax may help?

[DewMan]

White's awesome if you're into cleaning your wheels a lot. 

From previous threads here, I've not heard bad things about the beads though I have no experience with them myself.

[1tondriver]

23 minutes ago, DewMan said:

White's awesome if you're into cleaning your wheels a lot.  ">

From previous threads here, I've not heard bad things about the beads though I have no experience with them myself.

Not a huge fan of cleaning anything but darn they would look good

I was/am a little skeptical about the beads but haven’t really read anything bad about them. 

[geophb]

Paint wheel weights white too???

I haven't used the beads. There supposed to be good from what ive heard too.  Only thing is I would be worried about is them clumping together overtime. Especially if someone tries to pump "slime" in there 

[blackout]

White would be cool.  Pretty sure any color needs cleaning on wheels.  They just get real dirty if ignored.

As I'm sure you already know. I use and like Counteract balance beads.  You do need to make sure nothing sticky is in your wheel like mounting goo or leak fix goo.  Wish you were local.  I'd get you setup with a mount and dismount as well with my No-Mar.

The last time I mounted my tires and added the beads I did something a little different to make sure all went well.  Depending on your valve stems, adding the beads can be tricky.  I resisted adding the balance beads before seating the tire beads because I was concerned with the beads falling out on the bottom side or getting stuck between the rim and tire bead on the bottom side.  So I did the following.  Once one bead seated with the loud pop, I stopped adding air and added the beads into the tire through the unseated side of the tire.  Make sense?    

[1tondriver]

1 hour ago, blackout said:

White would be cool.  Pretty sure any color needs cleaning on wheels.  They just get real dirty if ignored.

As I'm sure you already know. I use and like Counteract balance beads.  You do need to make sure nothing sticky is in your wheel like mounting goo or leak fix goo.  Wish you were local.  I'd get you setup with a mount and dismount as well with my No-Mar.

The last time I mounted my tires and added the beads I did something a little different to make sure all went well.  Depending on your valve stems, adding the beads can be tricky.  I resisted adding the balance beads before seating the tire beads because I was concerned with the beads falling out on the bottom side or getting stuck between the rim and tire bead on the bottom side.  So I did the following.  Once one bead seated with the loud pop, I stopped adding air and added the beads into the tire through the unseated side of the tire.  Make sense?    

Yea that makes sense. I guess the inner tire should be wiped down real good and make sure it is dry. My buddy would be mounting and dismounting the tires for me at the dealer where he works so I will have to convey to him. 
I wish I was local as well. No issues at any speed with the beads?

I have to be dedicated to cleaning the wheels if I go white. A dirty white wheel will look like crap. I am pretty heavy on the front brakes so I am sure they will get dirty pretty fast. Installing some EBC HH pads so not sure if they are any “cleaner” than stock. 

[blackout]

57 minutes ago, 1tondriver said:

Yea that makes sense. I guess the inner tire should be wiped down real good and make sure it is dry. My buddy would be mounting and dismounting the tires for me at the dealer where he works so I will have to convey to him. 
I wish I was local as well. No issues at any speed with the beads?

I have to be dedicated to cleaning the wheels if I go white. A dirty white wheel will look like crap. I am pretty heavy on the front brakes so I am sure they will get dirty pretty fast. Installing some EBC HH pads so not sure if they are any “cleaner” than stock. 

While I ride track a lot, I only have gone up to 110 mph.  I just have not bothered going faster on the front straight.  Not sure why.  lol  So, no problems up to 110 mph.

[geophb]

20 minutes ago, blackout said:

While I ride track a lot, I only have gone up to 110 mph.  I just have not bothered going faster on the front straight.  Not sure why.  lol  So, no problems up to 110 mph.

That's pretty close to max anyway I think. Mine hovers at 115 (full pin in 6th obviously), on what looks like mostly flat road.  

Are the beads you have plastic?glass?ceramic? or?  Do they wear out/grind down overtime?

I like the idea of the beads, if their as good as they claim. Its like a re-balance every time you stop/start.  Tires change balance as they wear and people rarely re-balance their tires. 

[blackout]

7 minutes ago, geophb said:

That's pretty close to max anyway I think. Mine hovers at 115 (full pin in 6th obviously), on what looks like mostly flat road.  

Are the beads you have plastic?glass?ceramic? or?  Do they wear out/grind down overtime?

I like the idea of the beads, if their as good as they claim. Its like a re-balance every time you stop/start.  Tires change balance as they wear and people rarely re-balance their tires. 

They are Counteract brand, designed for motorcycles and sold by Revzilla.  Not sure what they are made of.  I have two sets of wheels and have not dismounted my "street wheels" with 5,000 miles to see if the beads did anything to the inside of the wheel.  My guess is no, as the beads are thrown to the inside of the tire once the wheel starts rotating.  I'll have to make time to dismount.  My hopes are to get some track rains this year for those wheels, but who knows....

[1tondriver]

2 hours ago, geophb said:

Are the beads you have plastic?glass?ceramic? or?  Do they wear out/grind down overtime?

This is their description but who knows what they are made of. 
“specially coated micro-spheres”

[Evill_Ed]

4 hours ago, 1tondriver said:

Yea that makes sense. I guess the inner tire should be wiped down real good and make sure it is dry. My buddy would be mounting and dismounting the tires for me at the dealer where he works so I will have to convey to him. 
I wish I was local as well. No issues at any speed with the beads?

I have to be dedicated to cleaning the wheels if I go white. A dirty white wheel will look like crap. I am pretty heavy on the front brakes so I am sure they will get dirty pretty fast. Installing some EBC HH pads so not sure if they are any “cleaner” than stock. 

You could try coating them with one of the new ceramic coatings. I was talking to someone who did that to freshly powder coated yellow wheels, he said they clean up very easily. Nothing really adheres to the ceramic coating.

I may coat my wheels gold this year, if I do, I'll try coating them.

Ed

[cornerslider]

I've  entertained the idea of powder coating my wheels as well.... If your going with white, I'd use normal weights, but maybe color them white? There are metal "paint markers", available from any welding supply store. White is the most common color, as it can be seen on steel very easily. As long as the weights are dry, the paint will not come off the weights. Might be the easiest solution. Please post pictures of the wheels when they're done!!! I might go with white as well. My 07 is a 2016, all black. I think white wheels would look really sharp!

[1tondriver]

28 minutes ago, cornerslider said:

I've  entertained the idea of powder coating my wheels as well.... If your going with white, I'd use normal weights, but maybe color them white? There are metal "paint markers", available from any welding supply store. White is the most common color, as it can be seen on steel very easily. As long as the weights are dry, the paint will not come off the weights. Might be the easiest solution. Please post pictures of the wheels when they're done!!! I might go with white as well. My 07 is a 2016, all black. I think white wheels would look really sharp!

I read about some of those ceramic coatings as well (F11) and that stuff is pretty pricey. I am sure I can find another that will work as well cheaper. 
I would be worried about sticking on normal lead wheel weights but will look into it and the paint markers are not a bad idea. 
If and when they are done I will post some pics. I am about 85% convinced to do it now. Lol

[cornerslider]

Just now, 1tondriver said:

I read about some of those ceramic coatings as well (F11) and that stuff is pretty pricey. I am sure I can find another that will work as well cheaper. 
I would be worried about sticking on normal lead wheel weights but will look into it and the paint markers are not a bad idea. 
If and when they are done I will post some pics. I am about 85% convinced to do it now. Lol

Wheel weights aren't lead anymore.... At least not the motion pro weights I use aren't. I like the lead ones better. You don't need as many on the wheel to achieve the same balance-

[1tondriver]

4 minutes ago, cornerslider said:

Wheel weights aren't lead anymore.... At least not the motion pro weights I use aren't. I like the lead ones better. You don't need as many on the wheel to achieve the same balance-

I’m old and still call them lead. Lol

Thanks for Correcting me

[1tondriver]

I wonder if the powder coated could/would coat a sheet of wheel weights when doing the wheels

That might be a good option 

[blackout]

Or Testors white enamel paint in those little glass bottles from your local hobby shop or craft store.

[sorkyah]

On 12/20/2019 at 4:56 PM, 1tondriver said:

I wonder if the powder coated could/would coat a sheet of wheel weights when doing the wheels ">

That might be a good option 

3M™ Wheel Weight PN61405, 4mm x 23mm

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3M™ Wheel Weight PN61405, 4mm x 23mm See the the how to video here.  Details Material can be cut to...

It's a foam adhesive weight I used to use in the dealership on aftermarket wheels

Stuff is a very light grey, about the same color as most spray primers

[1tondriver]

I looked at that but last night ran across this and of course bought it. This should last a the rest of the tires I need for this bike. I am making a pledge to that this is the last round of upgrades until next winter. 
 

[iSmkGrnBud]

I tracked my R6 through probably 30 sets of tires before she got totaled. I've swapped many of tires there at the track and always used Counteract balance beads since it was easy to do and fast, and with zero issues. Personally Id prefer to have a wheel properly balanced with actual clip on or stick on weights, but sometimes that's way more of a hassle. If you do use the beads just make sure like stated before to never use the slime, itll clump oyur beads and give you one hell of an imbalance. IME I've seen ton's of auto tires get nasty imbalances just from slime alone.

[HulkHogan]

Ride On Tire Sealant supposedly balances tires...

I’ve heard these internal balancing products are a no-no on the track and aren’t good for high speed.  Also haven’t seen any of the trackside vendors in SoCal offering these products.  They’re out there with a line of static balancers...

[connoroonie]

Sorry for the necropost but for anyone who uses counteract beads, how much did you put in? The calculator suggests 2oz in the rear and 1oz in the front but for bikes exceeding triple digits it says start with 1/4oz.