Balancing Trailer Tires - yes or no

[PeteK-Hou]

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 said they usually didn't balance trailer tires as the vibrations wouldn't be felt in the tow vehicle. I thought that was a bit strange so I asked them to balance them anyway, which they did. A balanced tire has to be better then one that isn't...right?

[Lynnmor]

dodge guy wrote:
You may want to take a look at those drums again. They balance them by machining a spot of the heavy side. Rotors are the same way.

Please point out these machining marks. photos

[dodge_guy]

You may want to take a look at those drums again. They balance them by machining a spot of the heavy side. Rotors are the same way.

Can’t believe the people that wouldn’t spend $10 more to do a proper job!

[dodge_guy]

Take a look at those drums again. They machine off material from the heavy side to balance them, same for rotors.

I’m shocked at the number of people that won’t spend $10 more to do a proper job!

[Lynnmor]

hawkeye-08 wrote:
If balanced properly, nothing to lose. For those saying the drums are not balanced, I don't disagree, but why would I add to it with unbalanced tires?

I have a tire/wheel that is unbalanced, I also have a drum that is unbalanced. By orienting the heavy spots opposite each other the assembly needed no weights. In this case, any added weights would have made things worse. Once again, if you are not balancing the assembly you are only doing a feel good thing.

But you are correct, by not checking the balance of the drum you have a better chance of getting a better result and a lesser chance of making it worse. You do have no way of knowing the result.

[hawkeye-08]

If balanced properly, nothing to lose. For those saying the drums are not balanced, I don't disagree, but why would I add to it with unbalanced tires?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

PeteK-Hou wrote:

HuckleberryHunter wrote:
... Can’t do any harm.

And that was my thought also. But to read some of the posts in this thread, there are those out there that do think you can do more harm than good by balancing.

I've tried and tried to explain why this is not true but some just don't get it. I race cars so I know a LOT of tire experts and every single one of them say it's useless to balance trailer tires. Every single one of them can make money doing it but they say there is no need to. That says volumes to me. Unless the whole system is balanced you're wasting your time. Your time, your money; have at it. :R

[Lynnmor]

PeteK-Hou wrote:

HuckleberryHunter wrote:
... Can’t do any harm.

And that was my thought also. But to read some of the posts in this thread, there are those out there that do think you can do more harm than good by balancing.

If you never checked the balance of the drums, you have no way of determining if you did good or harm. I know where the heavy spot is on my drums and tires so that I can mount them opposite each other. I have never heard of anyone doing this, but have heard of many giving advice without that information.

[PeteK-Hou]

HuckleberryHunter wrote:
... Can’t do any harm.

And that was my thought also. But to read some of the posts in this thread, there are those out there that do think you can do more harm than good by balancing.

[HuckleberryHunt]

When I replaced the tires on my old trailer I got the same response from the tire guy at Les Schwab about not typically balancing trailer tires. I told him to balance them. They charged a small additional fee, but I paid it because I wanted them balanced. Never had any problems with those tires in the 8 years before I sold it. Can’t do any harm.

[Walaby]

I say balance them. Especially when it should be free with purchase of the tires (from Discount Tires).

Mike

[AJR]

I live close to and drive the interstate in Wisconsin. I have seen new TT with tires bouncing the full length of the springs on new units being transported west of here. Most do not have that problem.

The last one I saw was gone before my turn off.

Yes balance them.

[2012Coleman]

PeteK-Hou wrote:
they said they usually didn't balance trailer tires as the vibrations wouldn't be felt in the tow vehicle. I thought that was a bit strange so I asked them to balance them anyway, which they did. A balanced tire has to be better then one that isn't...right?

They just didn't want to do it. I had Maxxis tires installed at Discount Tire, and didn't have to ask for them to balance them.

[rbpru]

I am with the group that has the TT tires balance. TTs get enough shake, raddle, and roll without adding unbalanced tires.

The tire dealer thought it was odd, but it was cheap enough.

[MitchF150]

How many green valve stem caps are out there too... 🙂

[FrankShore]

Agree, Balance them!