So i am about to go buy some new tires for my 5th wheel, and tire shop is saying dont bother pay to have them balanced , its not necessary.What does everybody do here? They are for 29ft 5th wheel 225-75-15

Balancing is good. They will also tell you no need to rotate, but I do that too. If you search the forum, you'll find out why it's a good idea.

Well it was like 6 or 7 years ago and i pretty sure i balanced mine too, trailers out at the storage yard at the moment.

Get them balanced, why wouldn't they need it?article

I balance mine, just be aware that many, (most?) trailer tires are lug centric and not hub-centric. So they will have to be able to balance them with the lugs and not the hub. Many car tire places don't have the adaptor to do that.

Tire Balance | Good Sam Community

63 Replies

Lynnmor
Explorer
May 27, 2020
Huntindog wrote:

How many people balance their drums?

I have gotten involved with this balance discussions for years and there has yet to be one person that checked the balance of the tire, wheel and drum assembly. We often here of using the lugs to locate the wheel, but nobody has ever checked to see if the cheap drum has lugs that are concentric. I have balanced my assemblies on many trailers for years and have seen unbelievable poor quality of trailer tires, wheels and hubs. Until one actually does a real check of what they have, and not just a tire "balance" they have no clue. For example; my utility trailer had hubs so bad I could not safely remove enough material to bring them into balance.
Huntindog
Explorer
May 27, 2020
Years ago when I was young and money was tight, I was springing for tires on my truck. The man behind the counter realized my situation, and told me that I could save some money by not balancing the rear tires... as solid axles do not need it... The downside would be that they could not be rotated to the front.

I took his advice, and it worked perfectly.

All new trailers come from the factory with unbalanced tires. I have never read here of any issues because of this fact. I have also never read of anyone taking their brand new trailer into a shop to have the tires balanced.... They just run them until it is new tire time, and then worry about it.

Having said that, I have since run them both ways with no difference in performance. When buying new tires, I cut my best deal and then at the last minute, ask for free balancing... They almost always agree. Once they did not. I drove away, got 2 miles up the road and my phone rang.... The tire shop, was calling wanting me to come back, as the free balancing was no longer a problem.

Balancing is a profit opportunity for them. They are paying the employees the same whether they do it or not.

As for how to have them balanced.... As has already been stated, most trailer rims are lug centric, not hub centric like most autos.
IOW, the center pilot hole is just stamped out roughly centered. So using this hole to mount them on a balancing machine will not balance them.. In fact it very eaisily can make them worse!

As far as the brake drums being unbalanced, I do not doubt this a bit, though I havn't verified it.... It does make sense though. The manufacturers will not pay for anything that is not needed. solid axles do not "need" balancing... If that works for the tires, then it will for the drums as well.

How many people balance their drums?
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 27, 2020
If it goes 'round' at 'speed' balance them.

Can't hurt and doesn't cost much

Sheesh!
time2roll
Nomad
May 27, 2020
Not just balanced but I make them use the lug centric hold down.
1320Fastback
Explorer
May 27, 2020
Never have balanced our trailers tires. Never have noticed any odd wear either. I guess if I didn't mount them myself I'd spring for the extra balancing fee. If your having a shop do it just have them balanced.
blofgren
Explorer
May 27, 2020
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Discount Tire balanced both sets of GY ENDURANCE tires I have purchased without asking to do so.

Discount Tire in Burlington gave me the absolute best service at a tire shop I’ve ever had by far. In and out in an hour with 4 new BF Goodrich Commercial T/A’s, balanced and dressed perfectly for a great price on my last fiver. I was totally impressed.
83trekker
Explorer
May 27, 2020
JIMNLIN wrote:
Never balanced a tire on 14-15 flatdeck trailers....three Stock trailers....four cargo trailer....one TT.....three 5th wheel rv trailers.....for several reasons that I and others have posted a dozen times on this website.

I'm happy...my tires and trailers are happy. I get 40k-55k miles a set. Tires wear even across the tread with no cupping.

What is your reasons for not balancing?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 27, 2020
Discount Tire balanced both sets of GY ENDURANCE tires I have purchased without asking to do so.
memtb
Explorer
May 27, 2020
JIMNLIN wrote:
Never balanced a tire on 14-15 flatdeck trailers....three Stock trailers....four cargo trailer....one TT.....three 5th wheel rv trailers.....for several reasons that I and others have posted a dozen times on this website.

I'm happy...my tires and trailers are happy. I get 40k-55k miles a set. Tires wear even across the tread with no cupping.

Do you balance the tires on your cars or trucks? memtb
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
May 27, 2020
Never balanced a tire on 14-15 flatdeck trailers....three Stock trailers....four cargo trailer....one TT.....three 5th wheel rv trailers.....for several reasons that I and others have posted a dozen times on this website.

I'm happy...my tires and trailers are happy. I get 40k-55k miles a set. Tires wear even across the tread with no cupping.

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Tire Balance

63 Replies

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