Balancing Trailer Tires - yes or no
Replaced the tires on the trailer yesterday (Goodyear Endurance). After mounting the new tires, the guys were bringing them over to the trailer to install. I asked if they had been balanced and they...
Forum Discussion
If you are dead set on balancing them....Be sure to use a lug plate, as most all TT rims are lug centric, NOT hub centric.
What this means is that the large center hole in the rim that the hub protrudes thru is not necessairily in the center of the rim. So using this hole on the balancing machine (because it is faster) WILL NOT balance the tire. In fact it may well make it WORSE!!
That is a fact.
As for the debate to or not to.
When I was young and broke, a tire shop told me that I could save a few bucks by skipping the balancing on the rear solid axle of my truck. Said I would not be able to tell the difference.
I found his advice to be correct.
Though I do like the idea of balanced tires, none come from the factory that way.
So I no longer pay for it. I get the best deal I can, then when they present the bill, tell them I don't pay for it... Usually they remove the charge right away. sometimes they grumble about it. Twice I drove away, only to get a call from them to come back, as they changed their mind.
One thing that probably helps is I buy expensive tires. Michelin XPS RIBS. My last set for my TT was about 1300.00. I doubt they would be as agreeable on a cheaper set.
What this means is that the large center hole in the rim that the hub protrudes thru is not necessairily in the center of the rim. So using this hole on the balancing machine (because it is faster) WILL NOT balance the tire. In fact it may well make it WORSE!!
That is a fact.
As for the debate to or not to.
When I was young and broke, a tire shop told me that I could save a few bucks by skipping the balancing on the rear solid axle of my truck. Said I would not be able to tell the difference.
I found his advice to be correct.
Though I do like the idea of balanced tires, none come from the factory that way.
So I no longer pay for it. I get the best deal I can, then when they present the bill, tell them I don't pay for it... Usually they remove the charge right away. sometimes they grumble about it. Twice I drove away, only to get a call from them to come back, as they changed their mind.
One thing that probably helps is I buy expensive tires. Michelin XPS RIBS. My last set for my TT was about 1300.00. I doubt they would be as agreeable on a cheaper set.
