Balancing trailer tires

[Dianekane]

Just bought new tires and they said they don’t get balanced. Is that correct

 

[NavyLCDR]

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f24/are-trailer-tires-balanced-244293.html

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f219/to-balance-or-not-to-balance-239286.html

50% say balance, 50% say no need.

It won't hurt anything to balance them.

I predict this thread will probably hit 5 pages and go on back and forth for at least 3 weeks.

And there will be 5-10 posts regarding the mostly myths surrounding hub-centric v. lug-centric wheel mounting and balancing techniques. (Hint: The lug holes on a wheel are completely 100% concentric with and evenly spaced around the hub bore, therefore balancing a tire using the proper fitting hub attachment is just as accurate to balance a lug-centric mounted tire as it is to balance a hub-centric mounted tire.)

In summary, take your pick:

 

[TitanMike]

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f24/are-trailer-tires-balanced-244293.html

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f219/to-balance-or-not-to-balance-239286.html

50% say balance, 50% say no need.

It won't hurt anything to balance them.

I predict this thread will probably hit 5 pages and go on back and forth for at least 3 weeks.

And there will be 5-10 posts regarding the mostly myths surrounding hub-centric v. lug-centric wheel mounting and balancing techniques. (Hint: The lug holes on a wheel are completely 100% concentric with and evenly spaced around the hub bore, therefore balancing a tire using the proper fitting hub attachment is just as accurate to balance a lug-centric mounted tire as it is to balance a hub-centric mounted tire.)

In summary, take your pick:
View attachment 270690

 

[Mike134]

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f24/are-trailer-tires-balanced-244293.html

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f219/to-balance-or-not-to-balance-239286.html

50% say balance, 50% say no need.

It won't hurt anything to balance them.

I predict this thread will probably hit 5 pages and go on back and forth for at least 3 weeks.

And there will be 5-10 posts regarding the mostly myths surrounding hub-centric v. lug-centric wheel mounting and balancing techniques. (Hint: The lug holes on a wheel are completely 100% concentric with and evenly spaced around the hub bore, therefore balancing a tire using the proper fitting hub attachment is just as accurate to balance a lug-centric mounted tire as it is to balance a hub-centric mounted tire.)

In summary, take your pick:
View attachment 270690

X2!! You don't balance any other wheels do you? Or do you? hmmmmmmmmm!!!

 

[D W]

Just bought new tires and they said they don’t get balanced. Is that correct

I chuckle every time I see the term "they". These people say and do a lot of things. Some of the things "they" don't do is buy your tires, or pay for the replacements. Until that happens, "they" remain nameless and faceless people who are irrelevant.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I chuckle every time I see the term "they". These people say and do a lot of things. Some of the things "they" don't do is buy your tires, or pay for the replacements. Until that happens, "they" remain nameless and faceless people who are irrelevant.

As a matter of fact, I am paying "them (they)" to do whatever the heck I tell them to do. I don't give a rat's fart if "they" don't think it needs to be done or not.

 

[NavyLCDR]

My first TT was single axle and came with Castle Rocks. One went flat in my driveway, so I replaced both tires with Costco tires. They were delivered to my door. I took the wheels off the trailer and down to a local, no brand name tire shop (which is an extremely reputable shop based on the work I have watched him do). He didn't ask me, he just automatically balanced them.

My current trailer still has factory tires/wheels on it, I am 99% certain not balanced. This is my second season coming up. It has Trailer King tires on it. When I lube the bearings, I will probably take the tires/wheels to the same shop and have him put metal valve stems on them and balance. I had my TPMS show 40 psi in one tire the other day. I reinflated to 65 psi and watched the pressure closely and it has held, so I think the external sensor attached to the rubber valve stem was leaking.

 

[Flybob]

So as not to solicit arguments from either side, I will not answer the question, but rather provide some data for you to make your own decision.

Trailer tires are generally smaller diameter than TV tires and as such spin faster and create more vibration when out of balance.

Trailers are generally considered more susceptible to damage from vibration than TVs.
Balancing a tire is a minimal cost.

 

[TitanMike]

As a matter of fact, I am paying "them (they)" to do whatever the heck I tell them to do. I don't give a rat's fart if "they" don't think it needs to be done or not.

The tire store I deal with doesn't even ask "do you want them balanced". Every new tire they mount gets balanced before installed on the vehicle with the exception of lawnmower, garden tractor, and ATV tires.

With modern equipment it adds less than a minute to the process and heads off a lot of complaints from customers. Having a "no exceptions" policy means his employees don't have to think "does this one get balanced? Or not?.

 

[Capacitor]

I’m on the balance side of the aisle, both TT and boat.

 

[NavyLCDR]

i’m on the balance side of the aisle, both tt and boat.

???

 

[Chuck_S]

I'm on the ain't necessary and may be harmful side of the argument as I'm not convinced steel trailer wheels are hub centric, i.e. the hole is in the middle of the wheel, not the exact center so it fits on a tapered spindle.

My argument is currently being tested as I just had new tires fitted last weekend and there's a plethora of weights on the rims from balancing.

-- Chuck

 

[NavyLCDR]

And there will be 5-10 posts regarding the mostly myths surrounding hub-centric v. lug-centric wheel mounting and balancing techniques. (Hint: The lug holes on a wheel are completely 100% concentric with and evenly spaced around the hub bore, therefore balancing a tire using the proper fitting hub attachment is just as accurate to balance a lug-centric mounted tire as it is to balance a hub-centric mounted tire.)

And my first prediction has just come true:

I'm on the ain't necessary and may be harmful side of the argument as I'm not convinced steel trailer wheels are hub centric, i.e. the hole is in the middle of the wheel, not the exact center so it fits on a tapered spindle.

My argument is currently being tested as I just had new tires fitted last weekend and there's a plethora of weights on the rims from balancing.

-- Chuck

The hub bore is the center of the wheel on all wheels. The difference between hub-centric mounting and lug-centric mounting is not the location of the hub bore (which will be the exact center of the wheel), but it is the SIZE of the hub bore:

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2016...bbub-argument-using-hub-centric-rings-wheels/

And we should start on the second page of posts by the end of today....

 

[TitanMike]

And my first prediction has just come true:



The hub bore is the center of the wheel on all wheels. The difference between hub-centric mounting and lug-centric mounting is not the location of the hub bore (which will be the exact center of the wheel), but it is the SIZE of the hub bore:

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2016...bbub-argument-using-hub-centric-rings-wheels/

And we should start on the second page of posts by the end of today....

There's 8 more hours to the day out here on the Left Coast so your prediction may be a little conservative

 

[jchris-FRF]

Balance or not, I passed a TT duel axles and it was getting shaken to death. The tow rig was pushing 65 with no cares in the world. Mine aren't balanced but I just might check now. No sense in shaking my trailer to pieces.

 

[Homebrew]

I’m for balance, Makes no sense not to do it.

 

[elephantrider]

balance!

 

[Theb2b]

There's 8 more hours to the day out here on the Left Coast so your prediction may be a little conservative

I thought left coast and conservative where two concepts that did not go in the same sentence?


Balance here also.

 

[5picker]

Balance.

 

[AZ Pete]

balance