I'm currently on a trip in the SW (St George, UT) and towing a 2014 Honda CR-V. My Road-Master Even-Brake system locked up the wheels on the CR-V and squared off the tires trying to stop the MH. It continued with the CR-V brakes engaged even after I had released the MH brakes? Lots of smoke from the CR-V tires and a real jerk to the MH.I quickly got to the shoulder to determine what happened. I have no idea what went wrong? Everything seemed OK with the configuration of the set-up, and it returned a positive System OK when I re-tested the system. I removed the braking system and have been traveling without it. I would be more concerned if I did not have an Allison transmission with a grade brake, but after several 6-7,000 foot high passes, and a few 10,000 passes ahead I would like to have the system perform well. Today I will find a large gravel lot to test the system (without squaring the tires again) to see if I can get it to work again?In driving the CR-V now, it seems that the tires indeed do have flat spots as noticed by the vibrations while driving. Can tires be shaved or trued to correct this. This used to be done by tire dealers for extra $$$, but it seems that it is only done for race car tires now? The Bridgestone tires only have 1,800 miles on them. Am I damaging the CR-V by towing or diving it? I've read that re-balancing the tires can help, but that seems unlikely to me?Any thoughts?

Some of the smaller private tire shops do still true and balance the tires on the car. I've had it done. I guess you could google tire trueing and see what comes up near you. Good luck.

Doubt whether you are going to find a place to true the tires. You may want to contact the Even brake people at Roadmaster. If the brake unit failed and caused the problem, they may help with replacement tires.

I doubt you are going to find anywhere to shave out the flat spots. Balancing may help. The good news is it won't hurt the CRV. If it is an unacceptable about of noise/vibration then you are likely going to need to replace them.

You need to set the sensitivity way down LOW on the brake controller,so that the car brakes only come on in an emergency stop,Not going down a mountain.

My brother used to do competition driving and sometimes had new tires "shaved" at a Les Schwab in the Portland area. Purpose in that case was to improve traction by removing some of the new tread, but if you can find a shop that does it I'd think results would be the same. I s'pose it really depends on how much tread is gone in the flat spots- there must be some limit to what they'll take off. Anyway, since it sounds like you're in Les Schwab country you might stop at one of their shops and ask.

Flat-spotted Dinghy Tires. | Good Sam Community

willald
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2014
I can't really offer much advice on how to fix the damage to the tires, as shaving or fixing out-of-round tires is not something I've ever had any experience with. However, I will offer this:

What happened to you here highlights perfectly the biggest reason why I will not trust ANY electronic supplemental braking system. Potential is always there for it to malfunction and over-brake your toad. And, in many cases, by the time you realize its happening, major damage has already been done to either your tires and/or your toad brakes.

Once you resolve the tire issue, my suggestion is that you dump that braking system you have and get you a Readybrake. Simple, very cost effective cable operated braking system, that is just about impossible for it to ever over-brake your toad (once installed and set up properly).
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
My brother used to do competition driving and sometimes had new tires "shaved" at a Les Schwab in the Portland area. Purpose in that case was to improve traction by removing some of the new tread, but if you can find a shop that does it I'd think results would be the same. I s'pose it really depends on how much tread is gone in the flat spots- there must be some limit to what they'll take off.

Anyway, since it sounds like you're in Les Schwab country you might stop at one of their shops and ask.
siggyd777
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
You need to set the sensitivity way down LOW on the brake controller,
so that the car brakes only come on in an emergency stop,Not going down a mountain.
shutdown
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
I doubt you are going to find anywhere to shave out the flat spots. Balancing may help. The good news is it won't hurt the CRV. If it is an unacceptable about of noise/vibration then you are likely going to need to replace them.
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 12, 2014
Doubt whether you are going to find a place to true the tires.
You may want to contact the Even brake people at Roadmaster. If the brake unit failed and caused the problem, they may help with replacement tires.
dockmasterdave
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
Some of the smaller private tire shops do still true and balance the tires on the car. I've had it done. I guess you could google tire trueing and see what comes up near you. Good luck.

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