Blancing of Tires

ROYBUCK wrote:
Getting ready to install 4 rear Tires, do most of you balance your rear tires. Is it necessary. Thanks Roy

I always do, but have never figured out why it costs more to balance than to mount them. Maybe to pay for the machine or to recoup what they would have liked to have gotten for the mounting.

Balance them

Roybuck,
Well, as you can see and read, about 99% of the folks balance tires on their coach. Now, just how and what method they use, is subjective. Many are trying the powders, beads, equal and whatever else is that type. Some are using the "Centramatic" balancing system. While many, including myself, use the old fashioned way of balancing, and that's the use of either clamp on or, stick on weights.

I've been driving now for, oh about 45 years and have probably had maybe ONE, weight either fall off or, was thrown off. So, the balancing method is up to you. But, let me throw one more item into the blend. One of the things that a very large amount of guys fail to either check on or, observe is, "out of round" tires. It happens more so on the larger, RV, big truck, type tires than it does on the smaller auto types.

It seems some of the manufacturers, even the big name ones, still, on occasion, FOREGET how to make tires round. I've seen that, many times in the past and, even recently. The last time I talked with Discount tire on the issue, they, (the most experienced tech there, at the time) told me that .060" was the max run-out that's allowed before they declare it an "Out of round tire". And, when that happens, they sh.. can the tire and, get a new one.

Now, if your tires have been on for a bit, and still have a zillion miles of tread left, there are places that "trim" or, "shave" the tires while on the coach, and make them perfectly round. From that point on, you need way less weight to balance that tire and, it rides absolutely smooth and flawless. You see, if you're riding around on eggs, (out of round tires), you can balancing them 'till your 100 years old, but, THEY'RE STILL OUT OF ROUND! You can't balance an egg.

It is rare that you find them but, it does still happen from time to time. And, it don't matter what kind of balancing system you use, an egg is an egg. So, this is just a bit more info for you to ponder. And, when you decide to balance, balance ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE REARS, EVEN WHEN IT'S A DUAL WHEEL SITUATION! The reason is, when you see how much weight is used to balance the fronts, what makes people think that each tire on the rear, is any different?

And, just because there's more weight, and more mechanism to suppress the out of balance issues on the rear, that does not stop the fact that, those out of balance, sometimes rather large tires, are still trying to shake things apart back there. It's just more wear and tear on the shocks, sway bar bushings, suspension parts and more when those rotating monsters are shaking. Good luck.
Scott

Centramatics all the way around,for the last 7 years and no issues with balance, just put a set on my nephews 39L discovery on front (l/f wheel had 160z of weights added by tire shop that spin balanced them, pulled all weights and installed centramatics, all front end shakes magically disappeared!! I vote Centramatics!

tommy g wrote:

OhhWell wrote:

timmac wrote:
Have them put Equal in the tires, better than weights.

From recent personal experience, I'm thinking that might not be true. No pun intended.

Also....what was your experience? Does your Bounder have 16" tires?

Nope, 19.5" tires on the bounder. I had a tire that just wasn't quite balancing out with the equal. I had to take it to a shop that could spin balance larger tires. After that, it rides much better.

I am not saying the equal doesn't work well, just that I think spin balancing is better. That's what the shop that put the equal in told me as well and they couldn't do the spin balancing.

It looks like we have very similar coaches. 1998 was a transition year for the chassis and they dropped mine on the newer V10 powered F53.

timmac wrote:

OhhWell wrote:

timmac wrote:
Have them put Equal in the tires, better than weights.

From recent personal experience, I'm thinking that might not be true. No pun intended.

What was your issue with Equal, seems to be working good for me, however I do have Centramatic balancers as well..

No problem with equal but from before and after experience, I still think spin balancing is a better balance even though there was only one place local here that could do it on 19.5s.

Equal sure is easier and obviously can't fall off like a weight.

Did not balance the 6 Hankook's I recently put on the back of my DP. No bounce or shake. Yes, I put balancing items in the front tires when I replaced them.

Roy, for the ride & tire life, balancing would be good to do, but when you leave the house & head up 70 & get to the rail tracks & the bridges in NC, balancing wont make any difference at all.

I had all of mine balanced with wheel weights, on a spin machine, but would have rather had them balanced while still mounted on he coach, just dont know anywhere that does that anymore.
I did drive a friends DP coach a few years back, that had the sand balancing in the tires, went up to west of Philly PA & back, so I know what that was like, thought I was back driving trucks again with recaps all around it rode so ruff.
A salesman would have to be a mighty slick salesman to talk me into using that stuff.

The Centramatic balancing sounds pretty good.
Neil

OhhWell wrote:

timmac wrote:
Have them put Equal in the tires, better than weights.

From recent personal experience, I'm thinking that might not be true. No pun intended.

Also....what was your experience? Does your Bounder have 16" tires?

OhhWell wrote:

timmac wrote:
Have them put Equal in the tires, better than weights.

From recent personal experience, I'm thinking that might not be true. No pun intended.

What was your issue with Equal, seems to be working good for me, however I do have Centramatic balancers as well..