Balancing your trailer tires

[Redbug]

A lot of varied responses about balancing. I've been wondering. One thing I also do at home is cover up the tires with pieces of truck tarp material to stop UV sun damage. I use snaps between the fender frames and tarp material to hold them on.

Pat...
What is "balancing or silver powder"? I've never heard of anything like that. You mean the big trucks use a powder inside to balance the tires? Very interesting!
Tell me more...

 

[dullpain]

Redbug - Dealers do not balance trailer tires for the reason you state " to save money" Most people don't think about it , and if they do they don't think it is necessary on a Trailer / RV . Those that don't think tire balancing is necessary on big OTR trucks or Tractor/Trailers are wrong. A balanced tire/wheel assembly will run cooler, it will last longer, it is safer , and will prevent wear and tear on associated equipment such as spring mounts, shocks, etc.

If you have ever had an out of balance tire on a passenger car you know what it feels like - if its out of balance on a trailer it is the same effect. Most don't notice it as the trailer is somewhat isolated from the tow vehicle. I can tell when the tires on my trailer are out of balance but as my wife says "you are a sensitive guy" LOL.!!! I use balance beads in the 6 tires on my 1 ton diesel truck , and in my trailer tires. They work great , extend tire life, and if you rotate no need to re-balance - ever.... Work great for me.

Here is a link .. /www.innovativebalancing.com/index.html

That's MY opinion and it should be YOURS !

 

[Dusty]

I'll bet that there is some one on TBN that will claim to balance the tires on his tractor if you ask.
Dusty

 

[Redbug]

DullPain,

I looked at "Innovative Balancing". I am amazed! I guess I am still in the dark ages. I never knew about this new way of balancing. Veeery interesting! I am going to read more, now. I would guess an out of balance tire would be rough on the bearings/components, also.

Ohhhh Lordy Dusty...The can of worms has been opened. I just saw one crawl by. Now, food for thought...suppose you put some of those balancing beads in yer tractor tires... BUT...what if yer tires are "loaded"? Oppps....Another worm just crawled by....

 

[hudr]

I run Centramatic balancers on my truck and on my trailer. they are not cheap, but I do believe they pay for themselves in the long run. We proved they work on OTR trucks. We noticed considerably less dipping on steering axle tires. In fact, the last set of tires I put on my 3/4 ton chevy showed little to no dipping or cupping when I sold the truck. And I was lazy and only rotated the tires once in the past 20k miles. I may sound like an infomercial, but I believe they help.

 

[GIJOE]

My wifes cousin has a Jeep Wrangler with 38" Super Swamper tires. He always had problems with keeping the tires balanced and had vibration at any speed. He put three golf balls in each tire and the problem was completely eliminated. I'm sure it would work for trailer tires and would be much cheaper.

 

[bx23barry]

Caltrans gave up balancing all tires about 10 years ago. Saved alot of money and there were very few that presented any problem and needed to be blanced after use. Tires are alot better than they used to be. Of course the 38' tires on my jeep are a different story but they are missing some chunks/lugs.

 

[Dusty]

Caltrans gave up balancing all tires about 10 years ago. Saved alot of money and there were very few that presented any problem and needed to be blanced after use. Tires are alot better than they used to be. Of course the 38' tires on my jeep are a different story but they are missing some chunks/lugs.

That is one high Jeep. I don't think that I could get my Jeep that high if I filled the tank with Gin!!!

 

[machmeter62]

A lot of varied responses about balancing. I've been wondering. One thing I also do at home is cover up the tires with pieces of truck tarp material to stop UV sun damage. I use snaps between the fender frames and tarp material to hold them on.

Pat...
What is "balancing or silver powder"? I've never heard of anything like that. You mean the big trucks use a powder inside to balance the tires? Very interesting!
Tell me more...

I

I have aluminum balancing plates on my Ford 250 7.3 liter Diesel. They are a rim about the diameter of a disc brake, that slips onto the hub, prior to the wheel with an inter- core that's partially or mostly filled with a sand type substance. I think I paid $125 for a set of four. If you drive a lot, or keep your vehicle for many years, or trade for the same make vehicle or newer,they are a good investment. They always keep the tire in balance! I'm not sure if they sell them on any truck or van less than 3/4 ton? The lifetime wear is several hundred thousand miles!

 

[patrick_g]

We have more than one Pat but I will say that when I converted my 97 Dodge/Cummins one ton to Alcoa/Michelin 19.5 rims/tires the supplier sent the palletized delivery with the tires mounted on the rims and inflated. They included a silvery powder in the tires (at extra cost) which they claimed was used on big rigs to continuously dynamically ballance the tires as you drive. Since other users reported (through TDR) getting a couple hundred thousand miles on the Michelins with this setup, I gave it a whorl.

The powder works. It is also a PITA if you have to break the bead and reseal as the powder gets in the way, spills out, is assumed to be "dirt" and removed by a VERY EXPERIENCED good ole boy and... it may interfere with the seating/sealing of the Schrader valve at least sometimes. I would not use the powder again. Not because it doesn't work well but because of the lack of experience with it for the various maint guys and the above reasons.

I suspect the powder in the canister does the same thing without all the little nusiance shortcomings I mention. There are also add-on systems with ball bearings that distribute themselves and ballance the tire dynamically as you drive. This sort of system works. Hopefully they mount without changing the position of the rim more than a small fraction of an inch.

As tires wear, lead weights need to be repositioned. These automatic systems give great ballance that adjust over time and do not require removing and replacing weights, hoping the mech gets it right. I don't buy cheap tires for that truck. I paint the sidewalls with UV protectant (not some spritz on detailing goo but a brush on compound with UV inhibitors and ozone protection way beyone ArmorAll type products. (Sun Guard) As I approach 100,000 miles I can see that the tires will be too old to keep long enough to wear out the tread. Tires, irrespective of looks, should not be used where your safety is involved over 10 years (some say 7) These tires are about 8 years on this truck and have about 50% of the tread left. Except for some gravel damage to the lug tread they are wearing almost perfectly.

Pat