Tire repair

[kozzy]

Ok well my brand new TT with new tires just got a screw in one on my first trip..thank god for the spare...now I went to get the other repaired...wal mart and tire kingdom won't repair ST trailer tires and say I have to buy a new one...ok so right before I was about to she'll out 150 for a brand new tire...I called my mechanic back home and my RV dealer and both said that it would be no issue at all to repair the tire nd keep using it, as long as it was in the treds and not on the side wall ( in which case both of them recommended replacement)

So my question is can anyone shed some light on this? My plan was to mount the spare tire on my nice aluminum rim and mount the damaged one on my spare rim and get it repaired for use as the spare...


Thoughts and assistance please..and thanks

[fast murray]

I don't know but I ran into the same thing at a walmart and I also had to take it off and bring it in. I'm not even sure they wanted me to jack it up in their parking lot.

[TURBS]

complete non sense . just have it repaired and move on ! I repair recapped semi tires holding 110lbs of air driving hundreds of miles a day with no issues . a camper tire is a walk in the park !
happy travels !

[kozzy]

That's what I thought. Wal mart wouldn't even repair it...they were nice and let me use their jack and impact wrench to change to my spare...but so far I am not having any luck getting someone down here in Florida to plug the damn thing. Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow calling some places..

[TURBS]

plugging it should be a last resort . I have plugged a ton of tires only as a quick simple fix which will work but when the plug dry's out it will leak again . have it patched !
have a safe trip !

[kozzy]

My mistake. Correct I will have it repaired correctly. My mechanic back home said to have it removed from the rim and repaired on the inside of the tire...I tout that included plugging and a patch on the inside but i am no tire expert. I do want it repaired correctly though....there is an RV / Chevy dealer close to me....I'm going to call them tomorrow.

[TURBS]

well there is such a thing as a plug/patch which is fine .

[kozzy]

Whatever is gonna work and save me 150 bucks for buying a new tire to replace my already new tire

[amxpress]

f110turbo is correct (as usual)
ONLY use a plug/patch to repair your tire. I had the same thing happen on a TT. I used it as a spare and swapped rims. While you at it, why not have your tires balanced?

[kozzy]

That's my plan. To have the tires swapped and use the repaired one as my spare....

[fast murray]

Originally Posted by amxpress

While you at it, why not have your tires balanced?

I had a tire shop guy tell me that tire manufacturers don't recommend balancing trailer tires because of the clearance near the bead when the weights are mounted. He claimed that they can puncture the tire. Anyone ever heard of that?

[OldCoot]

Someone is blowing smoke! I think he just didn't want the job of balancing your tires. It is a lot more work on a trailer than a car or truck.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Someone is blowing smoke! I think he just didn't want the job of balancing your tires. It is a lot more work on a trailer than a car or truck.

Times two. Find another shop.

[kozzy]

Why are they not balanced from the factory? Just wondering.

[OldCoot]

Have never heard of any factory balancing tire/wheels. Takes too much time. lol In fact, we have had to make it part of the deal when we bought all of our trailers. Dealers don't like to do it either.

[kozzy]

I've never had any of my campers...my boat trailer...nothing comes balanced...never even thought of doing it on those I guess....

[TURBS]

I would venture to guess time and money .
I would bet forest river receives the tire and wheel all ready mounted and ready to go and spec them without tire balancing . why COST
I dont believe its 100 % mandatory to have them balanced but I also feel it couldn't hurt.
Now for example my trailers wheels will not except a normal pound on weight as there is no lip to accept it .
Mine would have to be balanced with stick on weights .

Could you imagine how many tires and wheel assemblies forest river would have to balance ? I think it would take two guys all day long 5 days a week to just keep up .

[Herk7769]

My opinion:

Campers do not have "shocks" (per se) and are heavily loaded so they do not tend to bounce from road imperfections. Thus the "general feeling" that trailer tire balancing does not have the payback that balancing the tires on a car or truck will.

Camper tires typically "age out" rather than "mileage out". UV cracking in the sidewalls and tread grooves kill most camper tires. If this is YOU, save your money for another case of beer.

However, if you "mileage out" rather than "age out" (like a snowbird or full timer) tire balancing will increase tire life; decrease camper bouncing and thereby increase frame life due to flex hardening resulting in cracking of welds and members.

[amxpress]

The factory tires aren't balanced for one reason...COST.
If it rolls, spins, or rotate; it should be balanced.
Your trailer will love you for it.

[OldCoot]

Amen, amxpress