How to search for tires?

[K3WE]

I don't want this to be a tire bashing thread, ALTHOUGH, I may have purchased my last ever TRAILER tire. :M

This is for a utility trailer (not a camper).

As I've searched around, I find the search engines lacking because NOT EVERYTHING is width, aspect, diameter...especially when it comes to 15-17" rims.

There's a bunch of passenger car tires, and a bunch of light truck tires, but no way to filter out the wrong load ranges.

Also, I could care less about the width and aspect ratio- pretty much anything will work for my application. I want to find a cheaper, load range E LT tire.

I'll probably just drop by a couple of stores, but with all of our modern computing power, it's not that bizzare of a search to ask for Load Range E 16 and get a list, rather than going one by one AND having to double check where they sneak in P (or even lighter tires with no designation.

/rant. 🙂

[fj12ryder]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Dirtdog said "Nah, it was a simple objective question, that resulted in you saying you haven’t done it because a shop told you a long time ago it didn’t need to be done. And you haven’t had issues.
So same question, asked a different way. If you now or or a while have felt certain that balancing highway speed light duty tires is not necessary (on your trailer) then why do you not forego tire balancing on your vehicle(s) that weigh similar amount, and drive similar speeds on the same roads?"

Bonus points if you provide more of a reason besides “that’s what the shop said.”
Don’t worry about the name calling. I know you can’t help yourself so it doesn’t offend me."

Poor old obsessive Dirt dog that is anal about any of my comments or post. You are cracked and in need of MH medication. Others here have also said their TT tires did not need balancing based on shop recommendations just like me.

Also we and I do not owe you any explanation as to why the shops said no need for balancing. None of your bully business. You and your attitude and many excessive replies are desperate and pathetic. It is obvious you suffer from DS over my username but that is again your hangup as I have never done against you. You are the ultimate forum troll. I am not changing it for you or your few lapdogs. Get a life and go fishing. May save your sanity and soul.

May you have a successful MH recovery. Cheers to good fishing and camping. Life is good, all is good.

I have no use for the aforementioned obsessive, but you have consistently sidestepped the question why your car/truck tires need balancing, but your trailer tires don't. So just go ahead and put it out there: Why do you bother to balance car/truck tires and not trailer tires? If trailer tires are built so they don't need/require balancing, how are car/vehicle tires built differently?

[NamMedevac_70]

Dirtdog said "Nah, it was a simple objective question, that resulted in you saying you haven’t done it because a shop told you a long time ago it didn’t need to be done. And you haven’t had issues.
So same question, asked a different way. If you now or or a while have felt certain that balancing highway speed light duty tires is not necessary (on your trailer) then why do you not forego tire balancing on your vehicle(s) that weigh similar amount, and drive similar speeds on the same roads?"

Bonus points if you provide more of a reason besides “that’s what the shop said.”
Don’t worry about the name calling. I know you can’t help yourself so it doesn’t offend me."



Poor old obsessive Dirt dog that is anal about any of my comments or post. You are cracked and in need of MH medication. Others here have also said their TT tires did not need balancing based on shop recommendations just like me.

Also we and I do not owe you any explanation as to why the shops said no need for balancing. None of your bully business. You and your attitude and many excessive replies are desperate and pathetic. It is obvious you suffer from DS over my username but that is again your hangup as I have never done against you. You are the ultimate forum troll. I am not changing it for you or your few lapdogs. Get a life and go fishing. May save your sanity and soul.

May you have a successful MH recovery. Cheers to good fishing and camping. Life is good, all is good.

[bucky]

I've been a car guy since I was 15 and brought home a 59 Tbird I bought and drove home with no tag for $15 dollars. Dad was NOT happy.
I went to work on the shop side of GM dealerships for 44 years. I don't know how many of you here have ever heard of static balancing, and I don't know that it still exists so I'll explain it.
In 1972 we had an electric wheel on a dolly that spun the tire and wheel while it was on the vehicle with a hand held strobe light that indicated true rolling mass balance when the strobe flashes stabilized on a specific lug nut or wheel weight. We marked the wheel and a specific lug stud so that any time a wheel/tire was removed it could be put back correctly. It was true rolling mass balance. To this day any slight vibration drives me nuts and must be corrected.
Now retired and having to rely on others to do what I can't do in my driveway kills me but I won't cheap out on tire balance on cars, trucks, OR trailers.

[Grit_dog]

^Ok, maybe you can shed some logical light on this since you have a ton of trailer experience and are more calm.
Why?
And why don’t you forego balancing your vehicles’ tires?
Are you saying the stiffer suspension (what about when trailers are loaded up to max capacity?) negates any wear n tear on the trailer?
I mean, many times a vehicle wheel only needs minimal weight to balance out. Why not just run em all un-balanced and just take in the ones that vibrate real bad? U know, save a buck….right?

I know you can run un-balanced wheels on trailers and not “feel” it. I’m sure I’ve towed a hundred of ‘em. But the logic defies me.
Or do un-balanced wheels not affect anything else besides the occupants “comfort?”
That was a rhetorical question…
All the care and paranoia about trailer tires and blowouts and damage to trailers and “discussions” about using LT tires and bearings and how expensive campers are, and, and, and……and why would one try to save $10/year by not balancing the high speed spinny things that keep the camper on the road or put it in the ditch or repair shop?

[JIMNLIN]

A trailers suspension (short spring length) is very stiff and rough riding vs twice as long LDT truck rear suspensions.

Best way to tell if a tire has a balance issue is read its tread wear pattern. If any odd wear then check for a tire tread that maybe starting to separate in spots....bent wheel (radial runout).
A tire..any tire that is jumping up and down on a trailer is most of the time a defective tire. Time for a replacement tire.

I, as others, don't balance any of our rv or non rv trailers tires nor have any abnormal wear patterns for not doing so.

If you feel the need or simply want a balance job done on the trailers tires as "insurance" or "peace of mind" no one is going to think badly of you for doing so.

[Grit_dog]

To add, anyone who’s seen a bouncy out of balance tire on a vehicle, raise your hand.
Anyone who has felt that sensation in their own vehicle and having the wheels balanced cured the problem, raise your other hand.
Ok now that most people have raised both hands….put them down.
How many have seen a bouncy out of balance trailer tire/wheel? raise your hand again.
Im sure some, maybe half, depending how observant the responders are, raised your hand.
Now who’s SEEN their own trailer tire bouncing from improper balance? Raise your hand.

Ok I’m sure that last one was zero or very few. And only if it happens to be a front axle wheel and way out of balance.
Point made.
Just because you can’t see or feel it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

[Grit_dog]

^Nah, it was a simple objective question, that resulted in you saying you haven’t done it because a shop told you a long time ago it didn’t need to be done. And you haven’t had issues.
So same question, asked a different way. If you now or or a while have felt certain that balancing highway speed light duty tires is not necessary (on your trailer) then why do you not forego tire balancing on your vehicle(s) that weigh similar amount, and drive similar speeds on the same roads?

Bonus points if you provide more of a reason besides “that’s what the shop said.”
Don’t worry about the name calling. I know you can’t help yourself so it doesn’t offend me.

[NamMedevac_70]

Well 2flyer I clearly stated that for over 15 years no need for TT tire balancing and never any uneven tire wear or problems with flats or blow outs except for one slow valve stem leak. The shops said the tires did not need balancing Mr. Slow.

If it bothers you I did not need TT tire/rim balancing then that is your hangup and frankly none of your business sport and you need to over come this.

Some folks just simply don't understand what they read. Maybe slow learners.

[MFL]

fj12ryder wrote:
Ah, life is short. But for some people it's not short enough. 🙂

Ouch! Sounds like something I may have said.:)

I was wondering how the centramatic dynamic balancing rings were working for you? Unless you have someone ride back there, near the axles, you likely can't tell from the truck.

Had my partner ride in FW for about 30 miles, after putting my new tires/wheels on, to check out ride, and balance. She said ride/bounce is horrible, can hardly stand up! Huh? What she talkin bout? Felt just fine for me in the truck! Next time she can drive, I'll ride in trailer. She said "that'll kill us both". Sooo, good to go I guess.

Jerry

[fj12ryder]

Ah, life is short. But for some people it's not short enough. 🙂

[fj12ryder]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
In 17 years I have placed new Goodyear and Maxxis tires on my TT by shops and myself and no wheel or tire balancing was needed. Never any tire wear or problems during those many years. I do not know so called lug centric balancing. My simple RV life has been great fun and rewarding with no complicated equipment, toys, etc. Plain is good and comfortable. Object focus was camping and not Others have gone dus

Cheers to the comfortable good life and 4 Rs

So you don't balance your car/truck tires either?

As I stated in my comment I was clearly referring to trailer tires KH. Of course my truck tires are balanced at the shop by whatever method they choose. I have had very good service from Walmart, Sams Club and Tires Plus.

Cheers to clear reading and good eye glasses.

So if your car/truck tires need to be balanced, why wouldn't your trailer tires? Just wondering at the inconsistency.

[Grit_dog]

bucky wrote:
Grit, besides being my hero for that epic post are you a writer/comedian as well?

Haha, no hero, and I’m in construction, not comedy!
Glad you enjoyed though.

[Grit_dog]

NamMedevac 70 wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

NamMedevac 70 wrote:
In 17 years I have placed new Goodyear and Maxxis tires on my TT by shops and myself and no wheel or tire balancing was needed. Never any tire wear or problems during those many years. I do not know so called lug centric balancing. My simple RV life has been great fun and rewarding with no complicated equipment, toys, etc. Plain is good and comfortable. Object focus was camping and not Others have gone dus

Cheers to the comfortable good life and 4 Rs

So you don't balance your car/truck tires either?

As I stated in my comment I was clearly referring to trailer tires KH. Of course my truck tires are balanced at the shop by whatever method they choose. I have had very good service from Walmart, Sams Club and Tires Plus.

Cheers to clear reading and good eye glasses.

Totally serious question here. I’ll keep any/all sarcasm or introspection out of it.
What makes you feel or know that your car tires need to be balanced and your trailer tires don’t need to be?
Fair question that you must have a plausible objective answer for I’d presume.

[Grit_dog]

^Believe it or not, while it’s hard to turn off the sarcasm in my replies here sometimes, you know it’s hard to not hit dinger after dinger when getting lobbed grapefruits every inning….,
I am hoping for a couple things.
1. That those who truly have a valid question will not be swayed by the backwards bs theories that seem to flow like water out of some (quite a few actually) members keyboards. And
2. Those who are upside down, backwards in their understanding of something may actually be prompted to stop n think about it and maybe realize they could be doing whatever it is, correctly, or better, thus saving themselves the time money and frustration of their current methods. (Not just tire shopping or balancing)

[NamMedevac_70]

Dirtdog I see from your book length reply that few will read that I am still living rent free in your small little mind and that is most generous of you. I thank you most kindly tho. I just skimmed your long blow hard post as I knew you just had to mention me as usual.

You can't help yourself and keep reading the threads you like to criticize. Unlike me and others your comment provided no helpful insight to the OP for his question but that is you as normal.

Cheers to your long winded blow hard post and self love.