Balancing Trailer Tires - yes or no

My Goodyear Endurance tires were balanced. That's a pretty weak and uneducated response from the tire installer. Though we may not feel in in our tow rig, the trailer feels it and anything to lower the shaking in the trailer is better for the longevity of the rig. Also, I'll bet the mount and install price included balancing...............

Yes, you did the right thing by having them balanced. Balancing should be included in the cost of the tire and installation. They were trying to cheap-out of you. Sure, you won't feel the out-of-balance tire in the tow vehicle, but the trailer will sure vibrate and bounce and shake things inside!

You did the right thing. Good for you for insisting they do it right!

My trailer tires are all balanced. But I have had to ask them (Discount Tire) to do it before.

Bionic Man wrote:
My trailer tires are all balanced. But I have had to ask them (Discount Tire) to do it before.

This was Discount Tire also..

PeteK-Hou wrote:
A balanced tire has to be better then one that isn't...right?

YES!

By all means, have trailer tires balanced.

My opinion that all trailer tires should be balanced began back in 2008 when I bought a flat bed car hauler trailer (new from a dealer).

The trip home was about 30 miles. On the interstate, the vibration was so bad that it could be felt in my truck.

I took the tires off the trailer and went to a tire shop to have them balanced. Several of them were so badly manufactured (out-of-round) that the tire store was not able to get them balanced properly.

I took all 4 tires/wheels back to the trailer dealer and asked for new ones.
The sales guy looked at me in disbelief that I was "balancing" my trailer tires. He made some totally off the wall comment about it.
They did get me new tires/wheels, which balanced fine.

Since then, I've always balanced my trailer tires.

Last year I bought a utility trailer. It also had vibrations I could feel in the truck prior to getting the tires balanced.

Here's a video I made of those tires.

Here's a video I made comparing Goodyear Endurance tires to another brand of ST tire

You'll find most tire sales businesses are use to mounting tires on small utility trailers that may carry a landscapers equipment to the tiny 4" X 6" trailers. I have had the same funny look and response from local tire dealers, but when you run a TT at highway speeds the balancing is a bit more critical.

Yes! Ballance

jerryjay11 wrote:
You'll find most tire sales businesses are use to mounting tires on small utility trailers that may carry a landscapers equipment to the tiny 4" X 6" trailers. I have had the same funny look and response from local tire dealers, but when you run a TT at highway speeds the balancing is a bit more critical.

This was my thought also. They are more used to utility trailers than travel trailers.

I used to do it but the installer (more than once) told me it isn't needed on a heavy TT. I looked at my new Jayco with the Goodyears and nope they are not balanced.
Ask yourself have you ever seen a TT tire with wear spots on the tire from being out of balance????? Me neither!

Mechanics get lazy and used to skimping where possible. I found the same poor logic on my motorcycle. They claimed they didn't balance rear tires. They had zero reason except that's the way they were taught.
Makes no sense at both wheels are turning at the same speed etc.
I have had tons of issues even getting my tow vehicle wheels balanced properly, having to stop on a long trip to rebalance and fight with first shop over the botched job.