Trailer Tire Balancing

Sean Marconette · 04-21-2015, 02:50 PM

I am getting ready to replace the tires on my trailer, and after pulling all 6, I found none are balanced not even the spare? Here's the scary part, these are the original tires for the trailer. They are date coded late 2005.

Is this common for factory trailer tires to not be balanced? These are on aluminum wheels. I guess having the trailer inside, out of the weather and sun has made a difference on tire life since I have owned it. I am the 3rd owner and the previous owners did not travel far with it.

The trailer is a 2006 48' LQ Classic Dominator.

Sean

tj310 · 04-21-2015, 07:14 PM

Quality tires shouldn't need balance , if you check them and they'r not out more than 3 oz should be good, on a trailer ---Trevor

Run to Rund · 04-21-2015, 10:40 PM

Since no one rides in the trailer, and your poor car can't tell you about the rough ride, many companies don't spend the time and money balancing the tires. I always have the tires balanced.

Bob Mulry · 04-22-2015, 10:39 AM

With no shocks on the trailer wheels to control any imbalance the tires will show excessive wear and beat up everything inside.........

Quality tires or not, have you ever put 4 tires on a spin balancer and not have to add weight?????????????

It seems that balance is the last item needed to complete the job and protect your investment....

Bob

Fireofficer5 · 04-22-2015, 10:53 AM

When I was a tire monkey in 1977, every truck tire and trailer tire was balanced.
There were four and eight ounce weights.

Sean Marconette · 04-22-2015, 02:17 PM

I thought it was very odd to find this too! After searching the internet on trailer tires it is not an uncommon practice from new manufacturers.

So buyer beware! The time and money for whats riding in the trailer bouncing down the road is too important. Everything being beat to death is not worth it.

Sean

MR DERBY CITY · 04-22-2015, 05:48 PM

What Bob Mulry said.....M.J.

tj310 · 04-24-2015, 11:34 PM

Sorry I was forgetting not everyone has an electronic balancer at home . I just put 4 new 16" tires on my trailer 3 came up at 1 oz or less and got no weights one got about 3oz. If you jack your trailer up and let gravity find the wheels heavy spot you can add weights to the top which will be the light spot. ---Trevor

Dick Butler · 04-26-2015, 03:24 PM

You probably did even better since you balanced the drums with the tire/wheel combination.

04-21-2015, 02:50 PM	#1
Sean Marconette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 976 Likes: 780 Liked 274 Times in 76 Posts	Trailer Tire Balancing I am getting ready to replace the tires on my trailer, and after pulling all 6, I found none are balanced not even the spare? Here's the scary part, these are the original tires for the trailer. They are date coded late 2005. Is this common for factory trailer tires to not be balanced? These are on aluminum wheels. I guess having the trailer inside, out of the weather and sun has made a difference on tire life since I have owned it. I am the 3rd owner and the previous owners did not travel far with it. The trailer is a 2006 48' LQ Classic Dominator. Sean __________________ Sean Marconette 84 Mustang 5060 SS/N

04-21-2015, 07:14 PM	#2
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing Quality tires shouldn't need balance , if you check them and they'r not out more than 3 oz should be good, on a trailer ---Trevor

04-21-2015, 10:40 PM	#3
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing Since no one rides in the trailer, and your poor car can't tell you about the rough ride, many companies don't spend the time and money balancing the tires. I always have the tires balanced.

04-22-2015, 10:39 AM	#4
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,016 Likes: 57 Liked 319 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing With no shocks on the trailer wheels to control any imbalance the tires will show excessive wear and beat up everything inside......... Quality tires or not, have you ever put 4 tires on a spin balancer and not have to add weight????????????? It seems that balance is the last item needed to complete the job and protect your investment.... Bob __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports

04-22-2015, 10:53 AM	#5
Fireofficer5 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 89 Likes: 36 Liked 33 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing When I was a tire monkey in 1977, every truck tire and trailer tire was balanced. There were four and eight ounce weights. Last edited by Fireofficer5; 04-22-2015 at 10:56 AM.

04-22-2015, 02:17 PM	#6
Sean Marconette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 976 Likes: 780 Liked 274 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing I thought it was very odd to find this too! After searching the internet on trailer tires it is not an uncommon practice from new manufacturers. So buyer beware! The time and money for whats riding in the trailer bouncing down the road is too important. Everything being beat to death is not worth it. Sean __________________ Sean Marconette 84 Mustang 5060 SS/N

04-22-2015, 05:48 PM	#7
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,562 Likes: 1,057 Liked 7,574 Times in 1,460 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing What Bob Mulry said.....M.J.

04-24-2015, 11:34 PM	#8
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing Sorry I was forgetting not everyone has an electronic balancer at home . I just put 4 new 16" tires on my trailer 3 came up at 1 oz or less and got no weights one got about 3oz. If you jack your trailer up and let gravity find the wheels heavy spot you can add weights to the top which will be the light spot. ---Trevor

04-26-2015, 03:24 PM	#9
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Trailer Tire Balancing You probably did even better since you balanced the drums with the tire/wheel combination.