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Regular
Posts: 51
Location: VA | Trailer tires, at least all of the ones I had with new trailers, don't come balanced. A discussion with the tire dealer when getting new tires (they were not ST) lead to horses would feel fewer vibrations, so got the tires balanced. It would seem like a small expense for trailer makers to balance tires, unless there is some reason not to balance ST tires? To balance or not to balance? | |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
   
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Balance... You know what your truck feels like with a tire out of balance. Sometimes you can feel a trailer tire out of balance through the truck... Trailer mfgs. probably save $5.00 dollrs a tire by not balancing, multiply that time five tires per trailer times the number they sell a year.... The savings adds up. Same goes with them using the cheaper Chinese built trailer tires. Some may save as much as $800.00 to $1000.00 per trailer by useing the cheaper tire. Goodyear G614RST are running about $400.00 each, can buy a Chinese tire for less than $200.00 each. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Trailer wheels are lug centric, opposed to automotive wheels which are hub centric. IF you can even find a tire monkey who knows the difference, the chances of finding a shop that can balance l/c wheels is virtually nil. Be warned, any shop will take your money and balance them via h/c. That accomplishes nothing, save your time and money. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 800
Location: Tenn/Ala. | Both previous posts are correct. Chad's notes are spot on, and this issue is usually overlooked. We frequently see trailers roll through that have new tires, with 1-2# of weights on them. They are almost certainly better off not balanced, than to be mis-balanced via a hub centric balancer. Modern manufacturing technology produces tires that are fairly uniform now, hence they don't require much to balance them, once you find the proper equipment to do so.
To clarify- almost all of the aluminum wheels used on trailers can be balanced at the typical local tire shop. Almost all of the steel wheels cannot. If I'm not mistaken, Retento has his done on the trailer, which can be one of the best ways, there just aren't many left who have that equipment. | |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Hub-Centric-Vs-Lug-Centric | |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
Location: Sumas Washington | I have always balanced the tires on my trailers, I have had alloy rims though.. I would never pull one of my trailers without balanced wheels... MUCH EASIER ON THE CARGO.. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1871
Location: NY | after reading a similar post on here about balancing trailer tires I had my done and noticed a big difference the trailer pull better | |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Originally written by loveduffy on 2012-03-11 8:57 PM
after reading a similar post on here about balancing trailer tires I had my done and noticed a big difference the trailer pull better Unless the tires were square, it's all in your head. Sort of like a freshly washed and waxed truck drives "better".  | |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | In the "old" days, many boat trailer tires were about the same size of wheelbarrows. Balancing them was a waste of time. Today with larger boats and multipe axles, and full sized tires, things have changed. Todays' trailer tires are typically 15" or 16" and weight ~35#. They are the same diameter as used on many vehicles. I wouldn't consider using a tire on any vahicle, without it first being balanced. With these diameter tires, spinning at highway speed for any distances, any imbalance can affect the longevity of not only the tire, but the mechanicals to which they are affixed. An inbalance of only an ounce or two, can create a resonant frequency that can easily cause a vibration. This vibration can cause the tire to wear unevenly, and can cause harm to wheel bearings, suspension bushings, and produce an uncomfortable ride as well. There is no special "trick" to having steel trailer wheels balanced. When I last restored a steel trailer, I had the tires removed from the rims and the wheels were media blasted. After I painted them, I had the tires remounted and balanced. The final ride was smooth and vibration free. When I purchased my last set of "E" range LT 16" tires for our Exiss, the cost included mounting, balancing and new valve stems. The wheel weights, necessary on all four wheels, sit neatly under the bolt on SIMS and are unobtrusive. The tires are wearing very slowly and evenly, and result in no road vibration or unnecessary noise. They were installed by our local tire shop, which has the same equippment as do most similar tire dealerships. Any hesitancy in having the tires balanced, is a misguided attempt to save a few dollars. If you would not drive your car with unbalanced tires, why would it be proper to subject a trailer and its occupants to the same affects? Steel or aluminum trailer wheels can be as easily balanced as automotive rims. When the cost of balancing is usually included in the purchase price, it would be foolish not to avail yourself of the service. | |
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Regular
Posts: 51
Location: VA | This discussion comes back to "hub" vs "lug"centric balancing that unless the tire installer can balance steel "lug" centric wheels, as stated above", it's not going to help. That is one argument. The other being balance them regardless of the method. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE | With $200-$400 cost per tire, to me, it doesn't make sense not to spend an extra $5 or so to "help" them wear better. Even if it is not "ideal", it seems to be a good investment IMO.
I do know on the last new Hart and Cimarron trailers I bought, they both came with balanced tires........
I did just put new 19.5s on my 4500. They didn't balance-when asked why, they didn't have the equipment for that size. Not complaining as this shop got me new Michelin's for $80 after they went to bat for me on a warrenty that was expired. Have noticed no difference yet, but plan to get balanced at first rotation. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1871
Location: NY | Originally written by Gard on 2012-03-11 12:50 AM In the "old" days, many boat trailer tires were about the same size of wheelbarrows. Balancing them was a waste of time. Today with larger boats and multiple axles, and full sized tires, things have changed. Todays' trailer tires are typically 15" or 16" and weight ~35#. They are the same diameter as used on many vehicles. I wouldn't consider using a tire on any vehicle, without it first being balanced. With these diameter tires, spinning at highway speed for any distances, any imbalance can affect the longevity of not only the tire, but the mechanicals to which they are affixed. An imbalance of only an ounce or two, can create a resonant frequency that can easily cause a vibration. This vibration can cause the tire to wear unevenly, and can cause harm to wheel bearings, suspension bushings, and produce an uncomfortable ride as well. There is no special "trick" to having steel trailer wheels balanced. When I last restored a steel trailer, I had the tires removed from the rims and the wheels were media blasted. After I painted them, I had the tires remounted and balanced. The final ride was smooth and vibration free. When I purchased my last set of "E" range LT 16" tires for our Exiss, the cost included mounting, balancing and new valve stems. The wheel weights, necessary on all four wheels, sit neatly under the bolt on SIMS and are unobtrusive. The tires are wearing very slowly and evenly, and result in no road vibration or unnecessary noise. They were installed by our local tire shop, which has the same equipment as do most similar tire dealerships. Any hesitancy in having the tires balanced, is a misguided attempt to save a few dollars. If you would not drive your car with unbalanced tires, why would it be proper to subject a trailer and its occupants to the same affects? Steel or aluminum trailer wheels can be as easily balanced as automotive rims. When the cost of balancing is usually included in the purchase price, it would be foolish not to avail yourself of the service. | |
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Worth Balancing Trailer Tires?
