While we have yet another tire discussion going on :) ... let's throw this into the mix also, since it often comes up: balancing.
I always get my trailer tires balanced. While getting the new Wrangler HT's mounted the other day on the horse trailer, I asked the store owner to comment about the difference or "need" to use a lug plate to balance these lug-centric wheels, vs simply mounting them to the balancer "hub-centric".
His opinion is that for trailer use, there is essentially no difference in the end result. But he did instruct the tire mounting fella to go ahead and use the lug plate for this job.
I have read the manual for Hunter wheel balancing machines and they do state the correct way to balance a lug-centric wheel is in fact to use the lug plate.
There you go, take it for what it's worth, I'm just passing along what a store owner said to me. I've known this man for 25 years as a solid and honest businessman with a lot of experience in his shop.
