How important is 5'er (or TT) wheel/tire balancing?

[JyRO]

I need some input from my fellow towers. Let me break down the sit-chee-a-shun fer yee.



I recently had to replace a tire from my 5'er. And that was because the Carlisle tire I had, had developed a golf ball size bubble where the sidewall and tread meet. I replaced it with another Marathon (the other 3 on the camper are Marathons).



When I left the place where I replaced to the Marathon, I absent-mindedly forgot to tell those guys to air it up to 65 lbs. (Load Range D). While at a campground about 20 miles away from home, and taking a sharp left turn in the campground, I was watching the new tire on the left-rear. It looked almost flat because of the side-load put on it. To make a long story short, it turns out it only had about 32 psi in it.



So since my wife was too embarrased to help me (with radios) back it into the local gas station on the way home and air it up, I took it home and removed this wheel/new-tire. I have access to one of the latest and greatest wheel/tire balancers here at work. It also has an inflator, so I was going to air it up and make sure it was balanced real good.



Once I put it on, aired it up and watched it spin, I knew immediately it was not going to be balanced. Anyway ... the machine said it had a (I forget how the machine said it) severe overforce problem that was not correctable. The machine was able to analyze the wheel (as well as the tire), and determined the wheel was bad but the tire was good. It said that the imbalance was more than 90 lbs. (I messed with it, it was originally over 110 lbs. imbalanced).



So ... I feel like since that wheel is no good, the fact that it was, "throwing around," that Carlisle may have been the reason for the bubble. Basically the wheel was continually slamming a certain area of the tire into the pavement, like dribbling a basketball. And that can't be good. I couldn't see it shaking (its hard to see those tires while towing anyway), and I couldn't feel it, it just wasn't that severe, I guess. But evidently severe enough, and not correctable.



So today, I brought in the spare wheel and tire. I'll check the spare wheel/tire, and if the wheel is OK, I'll put the new Marathon on the good spare wheel. Then I'll put the spare tire (previously punctured and repaired) on the old warped wheel, as a temp spare. After doing that, I'm going to take the rest of the wheels off and ensure that they are OK, and replace as necessary.



I'd say tire shop guys would say something to me like, "its on your trailer, who cares about ride quality... " And they'd be correct ... to a degree. I don't care about the ride quality, cause nobody rides back there. But I care about tire life, tire safety, suspension/chassis components, and a problem free tow. And beating a tire up like that can't be good (for the tire, suspension/chassis, or frame).



Question: Do you guys feel I'm being reasonable, or do you think I'm being anal about this? How importanat do you think it is for your TT or 5'er wheel/tires to be balanced?



Any input you guys have is wanted ... and welcomed. Thanks.



- JyRO

 

[claymike]

Hey there Jyro, I have always had my trailer tires balanced. I don’t know if it helps or not but my thinking is look how an out of balance tire on your vehicle shakes you around. I don’t want or need four tires on my 5er doing the same thing, it takes enough beating the way it is. Plus I also feel you get better tire wear with them balanced. JMO



Mike

 

[BillZ]

Balance Trailer Tires?

When I first purchased my 5th wheel - I noticed that when towing, the tailgate of the truck was always bouncing. It wasn't much and to tell you the truth I couldn't feel it as much as I could see it bouncing.



At my first annual wheel bearing/brake inspection - I took the tires down and asked the tire shop to balance them. Although they didn't look at me like I was nuts - I did get the feeling that not many folks balance trailer tires. I later found out that the Nash factory does not balance their tires. After installing the balanced tires - I could certainly see and feel a smoother ride.



I'm sure the stuff inside the trailer is much happier. I'm happy the truck tailgate is not bouncing and I hope the tires last a little longer.



So, my 2-cents is that all trailer tires should be balanced.



Bill

 

[PHaller]

When I packed my bearings, rotated the trailer tires, and inspected the brakes, I also had all wheels balanced. I too thought that it might help save wear and tear on an expensive set of tires. That was 3 years ago and still going strong!!

-Paul R. Haller-Oo.

 

[Midnight]

Every tire should be balanced, whether trailer or vehicle. Not just to stop the shakes, but also to help keep the tire in contact with the road. If it is indeed out-of-balance in will eventually start cupping and wearing the tire.



Mike.

 

[clem]

Balanced tires last longer (They won't cup) the Wifes stuff stays put more, the trailer won't shake apart, the wheel bearings won't get beat up. For the little it cost to balance a tire and what you get back is a no brainier

 

[Okie-Go]

This makes sense. I guess I need to get this done.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

I also balance mine on my 5th wheel, better ride and I believe less wear and tear on the 5th wheel structure as well as the tires, wheel bearings and axles. It seems kinda like cheap insurance, I feel better knowing its done right the first time. And yea the tire store looked at me funny too, but after I explained why, they change their mind realizing I had given them a new sales idea .

 

[paccool]

I always have mine balanced. Just keep an eye out when going down the road and it won't take long to spot a trailer that has wheels out of balance! Especially the older ones as they didn't have shocks like most of the new ones have.



Stan

 

[Black Ram Alpha]

I dont think youre being unreasonable at all. Tire unbalance causes (tire "tramping") or a basket ball effect & Pre mature wearing out the tire and shaking the rv, (making more stuff hit the floor inside the RV. ) Ive been RVing for many years on long trips and have had lots of tire problems. (So I carry a 12 ton bottle jack and cross lug wrench) Ive learned that Goodyear Marathon (with the circle around the letter S ) is one of the best trailer tires avalible. Hope you have many miles of trouble free Rving.

 

[RustyJC]

If it rotates, balance it - regardless of what it's mounted on!



Rusty

 

[HPetrat]

JyRo, no you are not being anal about this, and I think Rusty has the best answer here.



All balance and vibrations should be kept to a minimum on anything moving for safety, wear and tear and operating cost(the smoother and easier it rolls, the less fuel to move it).



The importance of reduced imbalance and vibration is even more important to anyone that has an aluminum framed TT or 5th, as the welds will start to crack.



Harry

 

[GaryCarter]

I balance all my trailer tires.

Like Rusty said...



Gary

 

[Texas Diesel]

One more on the pile.



We balance all our trailer tires, yes it's a trailer but it has BEARINGS that suffer if the tire/wheels are out of balance.



We have seen many trailer tires going down the road exhibiting a good amount of tire hop. This causes tread seperation, heat build up and bearing/suspension wear.

 

[DLausche]

I'd really like to get my TT wheels/tires balanced but have not yet found a place that is capable of balancing the wheels I have. Where might I find a place that can balance the older Dexter style wheels? These are the wheels with the large "X" shape in the center as opposed to a circle in the middle. All of the local RV shops say they do not have the equipment to balance these and have told me to just run them unbalanced and hope for the best.



Thanks

-Deon

 

[ph]

Centramatics on 5'vers ?

Does anyone know if Centramatics will fit on Dexter 6 hole axles ? Or, maybe a better question is how do I measure the bolt circle ? I've contacted Centramatic and I'm waiting for their answer. TIA, ph

 

[Buffalo]

Another option for the wheels that can't be balanced is "balancing Beads", inserted inside the tires. Seem to work well.



Not only do I balance all trailer tires but, install shocks on trailers that do not have them. A number of my buddies & I have done this and have noticed that the stuff inside the trailer stays where you put it, with the shocks. Before the shocks, stuff would be all over the place because of the viabrations.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[BillGotthelf]

Buffalo has it right. Balancing beads are cheap and work very well. Aother good reason for balancing tires on a trailer is braking. When the tire is not balanced it basically hops up and down. Hit the brakes hard on a wet or slick road and they just lock up. Not good for control.