Balance New Trailer Tires??

[Al Kungel]

I just purchased new 8 ply trailer tires and galvanized wheels for my boat trailer. The old tires were balanced and I asked a local tire shop about balancing the new tires and they said "NO save your money".

What do you guys suggest, should I have them balanced?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

definately. a unbalance tire is hard on the bearing, and can cause handling problems, and excessive wear.

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

definately. a unbalance tire is hard on the bearing, and can cause handling problems, and excessive wear.

X2

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

You absolutely want to balance them.

 

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Don't take your business to that shop. They are suppose to be professionals

 

[OlsenG_360]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

if it makes any difference to this crowd...i work at a tire shop. and we are trained NOT to balance tires smaller than 12". full size trailer tires, no problem...but anything smaller than a 155R12 and we won't touch it, same goes for atv tires.


and on a side note...i balanced my own trailer tires and a noticable vibration over 55mph went away immediately afterwards. i think any tire that spins over 30mph NEEDS to be balanced. shhh...don't tell the boss.

 

[dse]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Would you even suggest balancing the small tires-4.80~12 also? Just put two new ones on my trailer and didn't really give it a thought because the other one weren't balanced

Doug

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Thanks for the reply. Took them to another tire shop and had them balanced.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Al,

What size were your tires?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Boat trailers rarely are fitted with shock absorbers so any serious unbalance in a tire regardless of size can impart vibration. The smaller the tire the less rotating mass there is so the need for balancing an 8-inch wheel is probably not as important as for a 13-inch or larger wheel.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

The tire size is 185/80/13

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

The tire size is 185/80/13

That size was worth balancing.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

coming back from delivering a boat to N.C., i saw a probably 24' i/o being trailered, pass me and i was running 70mph. trandem axle, 3 tire running smooth 4 one bouncing for all heck, just shaking that trailer. then i saw a fishing boat 8"ers, one side just doing the jumping up and down. this can not be good for your boat.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

the bouncing could also be out of round condition or even a tire bead not properly seated on the rim.

 

[Morpheus]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Speaking of tires, what does everyone think about putting nitrogen in them?

 

[Rob454]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

Speaking of tires, what does everyone think about putting nitrogen in them?

Dont waste your $$. but for balancing definately. All my tires on my trailers get balanced. I mean you babance the tires on your car why not the trailer.
Rob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

who wants to feel that vibration coming the the hitch. how do you know when you have a problem. i want my trailer to ride as quiet as it can, so when a bearing or tire, or lug nuts loosens i can here it. you hear a strange noise you stop and check it out. it may be excessive, but on a long haul, every potty, food, gas stop, the 1st thing i do is get out of the tow vehicle, and walk back and feel the bearing and tires for heat. then check the load. also check the load before pulling away, if i been away from the trailer. you never know when some idiot, wants punk you.

 

[Pony]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

who wants to feel that vibration coming the the hitch. how do you know when you have a problem. i want my trailer to ride as quiet as it can, so when a bearing or tire, or lug nuts loosens i can here it. you hear a strange noise you stop and check it out. it may be excessive, but on a long haul, every potty, food, gas stop, the 1st thing i do is get out of the tow vehicle, and walk back and feel the bearing and tires for heat. then check the load. also check the load before pulling away, if i been away from the trailer. you never know when some idiot, wants punk you.

I think most of us do that.............at least I do. I also just quickly check the safety chains and that the lights are plugged in. That may seem excessive to many, but I have an RV plug on the truck end, with an adapter to a flat 4-pin, and then the actual trailer lights. That adapter can shimmy loose on occasion. As far as the tires go, the psi gets checked before every trip, and like tash at ever stop I make sure they dont look low and that the hubs arent hot.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

pony, on the surburban i have the rv hook up and had the same problem, i found some large rubber bands, my adapter has a wing type i drilled a hole thru them and inserted the rubber band, and slip it back behind the truck recepticle. has worked great..

 

[Pony]

Re: Balance New Trailer Tires??

pony, on the surburban i have the rv hook up and had the same problem, i found some large rubber bands, my adapter has a wing type i drilled a hole thru them and inserted the rubber band, and slip it back behind the truck recepticle. has worked great..

Thats a good idea. Mine has the wings as well, so that would work perfectly. Thanks Tash.