Bead balancing 8 lug wheels.
 

I'm getting ready to change out the tires on the 2+2 I just bought. I know I can buy a plate to balance the 8 lug wheels with for about $80.00. I've looked into that.

I know a guy who is an owner operator on a semi. He tells me the big trucks use balancing beads in the tires and they work like a charm. He suggested I look into using the beads so I don't have to use any weights on the wheels, and won't have to buy the plate.

Anyone familiar with or used these beads? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

This is a year and a half after your original post but I thought I would ask you if you ever went ahead and tried this on your 8 lug wheel/tire assemblies? I ran across the site for Dyna Beads today and was reading up on the concept and I immediately thought of its potential use on 8 lugs. Thanks for any input!

Five lug or 16 lug or anything in between-- some recent posts on balancing beads/pellets http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810452

That's a good thread and I read the entire comments of that one. However, I did not read about anyone that has specifically tried it on the 8 lug wheel/tire combo. Seems like it would be an excellent alternative because of the difficulties with spin balancing the 8 lug wheel/tire combo using a purchased balancer plate and/or using the rear drum assembly to mount the wheel/tire assemby and then spin balance the entire set-up.

Ultimately, after reviewing my options I bought the plate & kept it under the spare, in the car.

Were you happy with the results using the balancer plate? I have heard of situations where the wheel/tire combo is balanced but when you mount it on the drums...the drums are sometimes out of balance and you get vibration anyway. With the beads it seems that even that potential problem would be negated....

I ran Coker 7.75 x 14 redline bias plys and did not have any problems with balancing using the plate I bought from AMES.

Those tires are too small for that car.

Pontiac didn't think so & neither did I.