Centramatics vs Counteract: Best steer tire balancing solution?

[Mike]

Of course, you can trade out Centramatics for Balance Masters (which is what I currently have), and other types of balancing media that goes inside the tire in place of Counteract. I just wanted to list the most popular of each option in the title.

Beyond having the tires machine balanced prior to installation, and having them truly centered on the hub, which method of real time balancing do you recommend on your steer tires?

 

[Ontario Outlaw]

I let the auto greaser drip on the inside of the steer tire rims when it greases the king pins, then the dust and mud smears it around to where they like to run smoothly

 

[r3gulator3]

As long as you keep everything right centrimatics work great. If you get a vibration while running one it has a hairline crack and has taken on moisture.

 

[Johnson]

I don't use either, machine balance only.
I tried centramatics several years ago and it wasn't good . truck started vibrating , badly.
I had heard at the time if you had an issue with your truck centramatics could intensify the issue. So I did go to a freightliner steelership to make sure all was good, it was.

 

[ironpony]

I've never had issues with Centramatics, except one that started packing up after 700 - 800k miles. You still need to have the tires balanced.

Balancing beads seem a waste of money to me... you basically are throwing them away whenever the tire comes off the rim.

I've used the True Ballance centering sleeve product (along with Centramatics,) and I liked that combination a lot.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

My last truck had centramatics and they tore up the steers badly. Turns out they clumped up somehow, so I switched to balancemaster and then bought a second set on BM when I bought a different truck.

 

[Hammer166]

I've always used the Counteract-style stuff (Equal is the one I've used most often. ) I also never use air from anywhere but the truck, wet air is a no go with any of the beads. I've never had any balance issues, even back when I ran meat and got decent life out of steers. In carhaul, we lose the shoulders so fast that we don't see a lot of other wear issues, so long as alignment is decent.