You don’t see the internal workings of a band every day. That’s why this video from the Warped Perception YouTube channel is so interesting. Thanks to a GoPro mounted on a wheel in a tire, we can see exactly what’s happening as a car drives down the road, complete with balance beads to give us some context as to what’s really going on.
It’s bizarre enough to see the inside of a tire as it rolls down the road. But for an extra effect, the aforementioned balance beads have been added. They are small balls of plastic or glass that are molded into a tire once it is mounted on a rim, intended to balance the wheel as it spins. You’ll find all kinds of discussions online about higher physics topics that both support and refute the question of whether they really work.
Beads aside, we’re more interested in what goes on inside a tire as it drives through the cratered streets of Chicago. We’ve seen tape footage from this YouTuber before, but without the free-flowing beads, you only see the inside of a tape. The beads provide a much-needed perspective on the centrifugal forces that take place as the tire spins. It’s also strangely relaxing to watch the beads fly around at low speed.
It’s worth noting that the tire balancer seen earlier in the clip showed an imbalance of 2 ounces on the first turn and 1.5 ounces on the second, both with the beads added. It’s not a perfect balance by any means, but considering there’s a GoPro attached to the edge, it’s not too bad.
All things being equal, we just slap a few ounces on the back of the rim and be done with it. But it’s nice to know that there are quirky alternatives. And isn’t variety what life is all about?