do trailer tires need to be balanced??

[Mik]

just bought new 15" wheels and ST225/75-15 Carlisle tires for my 2000 24' FW (dry weight 4700lbs) the tires are load range D and have a 2540lbs capacity, 10,160lbs total capacity (i am hoping the extra capacity over my trailer weight will compensate for the Crap-lisle quality (i didn't read the tire posting before buying)

the axles/wheels where out of alignment and the old tires very worn and unevenly worn

got alignment done, bushings, brakes

i wanted the tires balanced but the tire shop said that the stiff sidewalls of trailer tires makes it unneccessary to balance them

so they are not balanced

is it neccessary? should i get them balanced?

[toalpi]

Need is often used as an auxiliary followed by an infinitive with or without to, meaning "to be obliged, must". Most trailer tires are not balanced. Some people don't balance their truck tires.

[Dualie]

In my opinion they run cooler wear better last longer if there balanced. Also less ware and tear on the trailer.

[Teebird]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Shiner Bock!

Ohhhhhh. When I have my trailer tires replaced, they'll be balanced. However, it seems as though you purchased bias plies, no R in the size, so maybe it is not as important as it is with radials.

[Dualie]

I remember reading some where that bias ply tires arnt actually "ROUND" something about they way there made that makes them have flat weird flat spots all the way around. Might be crazy here I don't know.


I do know that our boom truck with bias steer tires will pound your kidneys for the first couple of miles on a cold morning after sitting until the tire starts to warm and round up.

[SmokeyWren]

I have 4 trailers.

Two are used for low-speed, short-distance hauling such as running to the lumber yard or the landfill. The tires on those two trailers are not balanced.

But my RV and the tag trailer I often pull behind the 5er on long trips at interstate speeds have all the tires balanced.

Out-of-balance tires cruising at my normal 62 to 68 MPH will shake the reefer and other appliances in the RV trailer to death in a short time. And the generator and handicap scooter and other stuff in the tag trailer don't take too kindly to constant shaking and jolting and vibration, either. And probably cabinets and other parts of the RV will live longer without all that vibration caused by unbalanced tires.

So you can bet that I insist that my tires are balanced on those trailers.

It's easy to check. Have the tire guy mount the tire/wheel on the balancing machine and see how much weight it will require to balance the combo. If it's more than the size of a double-ought buckshot, then you decide. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[Rich807]

[ QUOTE ]
just bought new 15" wheels and ST225/75-15 Carlisle tires

Awe Mik, I'm sorry....ANY tire but Craplisle.

[ QUOTE ]


i am hoping the extra capacity over my trailer weight will compensate for the Crap-lisle quality


[/ QUOTE ]

I've been down that road....didn't work. I went from General Ameri-trailer load range D tires (that came on my 26 TT) to craplisle E rated. I never had a flat or blowout on the lower-rated Generals but within 6 months I had a craplisle E rated grenade on me and tear up my trailer. They wouldn't even reply to the web email claim I filled out. I've since swapped them all out for Greenball E-rated 225/75-15s and have been happy with them.

I know most toyhauler companies will not put craplisles on their products, matter of fact I couldn't find one with craplisles on them while recently out looking at the new toyhaulers.

But, to answer your balancing question I say most definetly yes on getting them balanced. I've seen plenty of trailers tearing themselves by wheels out of balance banging around at hwy speeds.

[pabrannan]

Yes, balance. I had the Crapisles, the same ones you have, almost had a blowup!! Traded(Discount Tire) to BFG Commercial T/As load range "E" in 16" wheels and tires. Had issues with Goodyear Marathons too.
Keep a sharp eye on them as I did everything right and still almost had trouble. I too was well under the weight cap of the tires.

Paul B

[wpetko]

Yes. Balance your tires. RV manufacturers & dealers do not have the tires balanced because you will never feel the vibration of unbalenced wheels from your seat in the tow vehicle, but the vibration in still threre. Counting the thousands of RVs sold every year and assume thar each one has four tires you can imagine how much money the RV industry saves every year by not balancing tires & wheels. You will save much wear & tear on your tires, wheels, suspension, trailer & RV applianced by balancing your wheels.

[Roadfrog]

I've never bothered. If I was riding in the trailer, definately. As for wear? Maybe... but these tires don't last long anyways. "Pounding the trailer to death"? I'd be more worried about the hwy expansion joints, potholes, etc than an out-of-balance tire.

[PerryB]

Sidewall stiffness and balance have nothing to do with each other. An unbalanced tire with stiff sidewalls will vibrate as badly as any other tire. I choose to balance the tires on my trailer as I figure it sees plenty of other road related stresses and doesn't need another.

[LMJD]

I agree, plus badly out of balance tires will start to cup and wear faster.

[Mik]

thanks guys

sounds like i got screwed

i asked this fella over the phone half a dozen times "are these radials? this quotte includes balancing?"

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
i asked this fella over the phone half a dozen times "are these radials?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's easy to tell by the tire size. You said "ST225/75-15", but that's not exact.

Bias ply tires will be size ST225/75D15

Radials will be size ST225/75R15

[Albin]

Any reason that 4-6 oz. of antifreeze wouldn't work to balance 15" trailer tires? At $12 a pop, I'd rather spend the $48 on something else right now.

Al