After trying to figure out what I should buy, and who from, I picked
the Centramatic Perma Balance.
Why? Having Run Flats, there is a chance that grease will be inside
the tires from the grease packets that should be inside. From time
to time the grease packets break open while having low pressure in the
tires while outing. Grease inside the tires and "Equal" (another
product that continually balances the tires) inside do not mix and will
not work correctly. The Centramatic is mounted on the between the
hub and the rim and will stay with the truck as I change tires out.
If it did not work out right, it can easily be removed and returned, and
being that I bought it from Stinger Accessories,
if it did not work, I know they will take it back, no questions asked.
If you want literature on it, you can call "Continuous Wheel Balancer"
@ 800-523-8473, list price was about $480 and that covered all 4 tires.
Part # 370-800 and comes in a set of 4.
Another product, as I mentioned just a second ago, is Equal. Now the product is pumped inside the tire and moves around with the tire. In theory, it should work better, providing that you do not have any moisture or grease inside the tires. If I had tires without the runflats I would have tried this out, and there is a good chance I will install it in my Suburban's tires. If you have CTIS, you can get a filter that will prevent the product from getting in the system, and a filter that will "Block" any moisture from getting in the tires. Now I do not know if the filter will fit the CTIS system, since I do not have it. The cost of this when I priced it was about $20-$25 per tire and can be done at local tire shops. The Company that markets this is called International Marketing Inc.(717-264-5819), they sent me a list of local places that could install the product, and they sent me a 5 minute video tape demo on the product and how it works, nice video.
Below are the photos of the Centramatic Wheel Balancers being installed on the Hummer.
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| Above is the Centramatic Balancer - Not in place. And is a view of the backside of it. | Here it is mounted on the hub, ready for the wheel to be mounted in place. |
Little History: I had the tires spun balanced, found out that I had a right rear tire a little out of round, but it was balanced and took out just about all the shakes. Then I had my wheel aligned and I think a weight must have be moved or something, cause right after the wheel alignment, I go the shakes at just about 65MPH. Check every thing out and could not find a problem with the alignment. So, I then called around and found my best pricing from Stinger Accessories, ordered them and when I got them, I installed them that night.
Now I have heard others who tried them and did not get the same results and returned them, they said it made things worse, but then others who have installed them said they worked great.
I originally found out about the Centramatic balancers from a truck driver who had them on his truck, and he said that is was well worth the cost on his rig. They make them here in (Dallas) Texas , and they make them for all size wheels.
For some good reading about keeping your balance, check out COMMERCIAL
CARRIER JOURNAL web site,
"How to keep your
WHEELS BALANCED for tire life and driver comfort" .