Adding “balancing beads” inside tires allows users to observe the fascinating operating mechanism of this equipment.
YouTuber Warped Perception recently conducted an interesting experiment to explore how the mechanism inside the tire operates. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
The selected tire is a large-sized one that has been significantly damaged over time to test the “balancing beads.” (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
A GoPro camera was mounted to the rim before the outer tire was installed. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
The balancing beads are then pumped inside the tire. These small spheres made from plastic or glass are used to make the tires more balanced during operation, though their actual effectiveness is still under research. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
However, one certain factor is that the presence of these beads in the tire allows for easier observation of the internal operating mechanism than ever before. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
The wheel was then tested for balance on a support platform before being mounted on the actual operating vehicle. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
At low speeds, the balancing beads continuously move within the tire, with a small portion beginning to adhere to the tire wall as speed increases (due to centrifugal force) to assist with balancing. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
At higher speeds, all the balancing beads cling to the tire wall due to centrifugal force. Their position remains stable in the area that ensures tire balance. However, the camera was displaced due to the significant centrifugal force acting on it. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).
Upon checking after practical operation, the tire showed no additional damage despite the rim being unbalanced (due to the GoPro camera) which offset the center and increased centrifugal force to one side. This means the balancing beads did their job relatively well. (Image from video, source: Warped Perception).