Tire balancing

[maggiek]

Back in April I asked if one should balance their tt tires. The concensus was generally a yes. Particularly if you were doing the bearings and had the wheels off anyway. Okay, I finally got the grease seals (back order) and pulled two wheels off and did the bearings. Surprisingly easy for the first time, dirty but a straight forward task. So, after doing the left side I thought I'd get those tires balanced. Now the question. I've got Karrier LoneStar 205X14R ST's mounted on aluminum rims. The balancing process ended with one assembly needing 4.25 oz and the other needing 4.5 oz. Does this seem a lot of weight or is it a function of the ST tire quality control or lack of. A Tundra was getting snows removed and summers mounted and they took less than an oz each for 265 X 60R 20's. Thoughts please.

[prof_fate]

I got new TT tires here and shopped around the word is - nobody balances TT tires. It's done for 'passenger comfort' and well, there are no passengers in the TT.

The factory does not balance the tires. I have 3 other trailers - none have balanced tires.

Less than an ounce is the way it should be. 4 ounces is a lot. When mounting all new tires have a mark that should be aligned with the valve stem and that should give the best balance (not 100% in my experience, but close). I've found few tire folk bother with this. Can you see the rid 'ring' that is supposed to be aligned with your valve stem?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by maggiek

Back in April I asked if one should balance their tt tires. The concensus was generally a yes. Particularly if you were doing the bearings and had the wheels off anyway. Okay, I finally got the grease seals (back order) and pulled two wheels off and did the bearings. Surprisingly easy for the first time, dirty but a straight forward task. So, after doing the left side I thought I'd get those tires balanced. Now the question. I've got Karrier LoneStar 205X14R ST's mounted on aluminum rims. The balancing process ended with one assembly needing 4.25 oz and the other needing 4.5 oz. Does this seem a lot of weight or is it a function of the ST tire quality control or lack of. A Tundra was getting snows removed and summers mounted and they took less than an oz each for 265 X 60R 20's. Thoughts please.

It's probably the poor quality tires as the rims are aluminum and should be very close to being in balance. Depending on the age of the tires and weather cracking, if you can afford it, get a set of Goodyear Marathons or Maxxis.

[amxpress]

Were they using a cone on the inside of the rim to center it on the balancer ? If so, ask them to use the adapter that mounts on the outside and centers the rim using the stud holes.
If it spins, rotates or rolls at 65 mph, balance it.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by amxpress

Were they using a cone on the inside of the rim to center it on the balancer ? If so, ask them to use the adapter that mounts on the outside and centers the rim using the stud holes.

Aluminum wheels have a machined center and the holes are indexed off the center, a cone is ideal for alum wheels.

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

It's done for 'passenger comfort' and well, there are no passengers in the TT.

I say to also not shake the whole damn trailer apart going down the road.

Originally Posted by prof_fate

The factory does not balance the tires. I have 3 other trailers - none have balanced tires.

That would eat into profits, so why start?

[BarryD0706]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

I got new TT tires here and shopped around the word is - nobody balances TT tires. It's done for 'passenger comfort' and well, there are no passengers in the TT.

No passengers? Ok, but there is a lot of dishes and electronics that I don't want vibrated all to H!!

All of the smart people on this forum get theirs balanced. ;-)

[amxpress]

Only if it's back coned and even then I've had problems with cheap aluminum rims. I know RV aluminum rims easily fall in this cartagory.

[Garrette]

You need to get them balanced. It's your money. If the tire guy ask why you want them balanced, just tell him that you do not want to shake up the beer.

[PHS79]

I just had new tires put on our TT and I requested the tire shop to balance them, the stock junk Trail Express were not. I picked them up a couple days later and each tire had at most 1.25 oz.

If I were you I would have the tire shop break the bead on the tires and rotate them on the rim, then re-set the bead and then balance them. It may take a time or 2 of doing this, but doing this you should find a combo that doesn't take as much weight to balance them out.

My parents bought a 2013 Open Range 5er last fall, the tires were balanced from the factory on their unit.

[ependydad]

My tire guys said that my Maxxis tires were going to take 3.65 oz. to balance once of them and recommended against it. Advice here was to push the subject and have them break the bead and try again until it takes less weight. I haven't had the camper back and haven't taken them to another tire shop to do so.

[maggiek]

Originally Posted by PHS79

I just had new tires put on our TT and I requested the tire shop to balance them, the stock junk Trail Express were not. I picked them up a couple days later and each tire had at most 1.25 oz.

If I were you I would have the tire shop break the bead on the tires and rotate them on the rim, then re-set the bead and then balance them. It may take a time or 2 of doing this, but doing this you should find a combo that doesn't take as much weight to balance them out.

My parents bought a 2013 Open Range 5er last fall, the tires were balanced from the factory on their unit.

I've heard of the "moving the tire indexing to another point on the rim". It's been a while though and if I remember correctly it could be quite a time consuming exercise, read $$$$. As for this "experiment" I think I"ll do the right side bearings tomorrow take the tires to the shop and see how much weight they take. I suppose we'll see how the normal "spin" balance works when I take the tt to the dealer to get the rest of the season prep work done. If it seems to shake more than it did, I'll definately look at other options.
Thanks all for the insights.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by maggiek

I've heard of the "moving the tire indexing to another point on the rim". It's been a while though and if I remember correctly it could be quite a time consuming exercise, read $$$$. As for this "experiment" I think I"ll do the right side bearings tomorrow take the tires to the shop and see how much weight they take. I suppose we'll see how the normal "spin" balance works when I take the tt to the dealer to get the rest of the season prep work done. If it seems to shake more than it did, I'll definately look at other options.
Thanks all for the insights.

Regardless of how much wt it takes, have them balanced. It's better than not balancing at all. BTW, you will not see or feel any shaking on the trailer tires. I am especially vigilant of those things and still ended up having 4 new tires on a new trailer cupped in about 2500 miles before seeing it (2007 Kodiak 26'). 5 full days of towing and not inspecting them at night or in the morning before taking off was my fault. BTW, that was the first, last and only trailer I had not balanced the tires on.

[checca]

I used Tire Balancing Products. Rv size and 6oz per tire ... had local shop break the bead and pour them in. I've always had my trailer tires balanced.

[acadianbob]

I had my tires balanced. It can be about more than passenger comfort in a car too. Ever seen tires that were badly out of balance? And the cupping?

[Top B]

Originally Posted by checca

I used Tire Balancing Products. Rv size and 6oz per tire ... had local shop break the bead and pour them in. I've always had my trailer tires balanced.

I use Ride-On because it balances and seals punctures, but you still should have them balanced before installing. I use it in my TV and mororcycles too. You can put it in yourself.

[amxpress]

Find a shop that uses a Hunter 9700 balancer. It will measure road force and tells you exactly where to reposition the tire on the rim.

[farfetched]

If you do not balance, and the tire continues to bounce, it will cause irregular wear on the tire, much like cupping. Get them balanced!. Pay the extra to have the tire rotated so that not so much weight is needed. Look for the balance point, red dot or otherwise

[Batts-toy]

I was reading on Etrailer.com this morning where they are answering customer questions and one question had to do with 'do they balance the pre-mounted tires and rims they sell online', their response was that they do not balance them but they do mount the tire on the rim so balance will be as close as possible by indexing. They also stated that they recommend you have them balanced before you mount them on your TT. I always go for balancing my tires no matter what the application is car, RV, TV or TT especially those that will be subjected to highway speeds.

[Tiggerdad]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Aluminum wheels have a machined center and the holes are indexed off the center, a cone is ideal for alum wheels.

One would think so but that is not always the case. Lugcentric is the way they should be done. Cheap rims and tires are not built to the same specs. as auto and truck tires and rims and are.