Tire balance with Equal

[Rit]

Time to change out tires --245/70 R 19.5 XRV. Has anyone use Equal. Have some concerns about moisture with my small compressor. Checked out two dealers. Both quotes were close, but one suggested to just balance the front at $25 a pop. The second dealer didn't have the capability to balance that size other than using Equal. Checked all my tires and the rears have weights on them. So my ultimate question is: Have any users of Equal encountered any problems?

[Joe-K]

When I purchased new tires a few years ago for our Winnebago Journey, I had Equal installed in all 6 wheels. As far as the balancing I was happy, although I had some issues with the equal causing slow leaks occassionally in my valve stems.

It is required when Equal is installed that the Equal filtered valve stems are installed (I did have them) because the Equal particles will prevent the valve stem from sealing. Even though I had the filtered valves, an couple times I still occasional issues with my valves having slight leaks which I felt was caused by the Equal.

[BZam]

I have had Equal in my front tires for several years with no problems. You will know its there with little thumping for a few miles when coming from long storage but it goes away a soon as the powder get distributed.

I have never seen any need to balance rear duals on either of the coaches I have owned.

Bob, 99 Dutch Star DP

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rit Time to change out tires --245/70 R 19.5 XRV. Has anyone use Equal. Have some concerns about moisture with my small compressor. Checked out two dealers. Both quotes were close, but one suggested to just balance the front at $25 a pop. The second dealer didn't have the capability to balance that size other than using Equal. Checked all my tires and the rears have weights on them. So my ultimate question is: Have any users of Equal encountered any problems?

[abarkl]

I've had both in my 22.5" tires in the past 5 years and there's no substitute for the tried and true method of lead balancing. Anything else is Snake Oil!

[Capt Joe]

Very recent experience....
I have the same size 19.5" tires. Put new set on last year and had Magnum Plus put in all 6 of them. I have heard from some folks about some clumping of the powder type of balance material but the Magnum Plus is a small plastic type of bead that does not get wet and clump like the powder types such as Equal...(so I'm told). Well, I kept getting a vibration through my steering wheel. My tire dealer took both fronts off my MH, broke them down to make sure the Magnum Plus wasn't clumping and rotated them 180 on the wheels, but the vibration was still there. Finally, yesterday after I got my MH out of the shop for the third brake failure , my tire dealer took the front ones off again and took out the Magnum Plus. We then spin balanced them...took over 8 oz on each tire...and....the vibration was gone on the short run I was able to make that afternoon. Headed off for a weekend trip of about 300 miles round trip and will have some Interstate running to do so I will have a better feel on Monday but as of now, I am MUCH happier with my tires.

I do have to add that I am VERY HAPPY with my tire dealer. He was and is willing to do whatever is necessary to make these tires work for me. Local tire shop that makes dealing with local folks a pleasure.

[Max Hubrich]

I have Equal in all of my tires (7) 22.5".

Works fine for me, no vibration, no clumping up. I just came out of 5 months parked in coastal Maine. I have had no leak down problems.

[Rit]

Well now I have a dilemma almost even on negative and positive reviews of the use of Equal. If I was to go with the spin balance do see the need to balance the rears? Dealer said just the front. I see one comment from Bob stating he never had the rear tires balanced.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rit Well now I have a dilemma almost even on negative and positive reviews of the use of Equal. If I was to go with the spin balance do see the need to balance the rears? Dealer said just the front. I see one comment from Bob stating he never had the rear tires balanced.

Currently - All six of my tires are mechanically balanced using dynamic spin balancing. That said I had pretty good results using equal until one of the tire dealers changed the valve stems and didn't re-install the Equal valve stems.

I wound up having two deflated tires however that wasn't a big problem until I lowered my MH off its jacks. Never knew the tires deflated until it was time to leave. Just simply inflated the tires and the cores cleared and held air all the was back home. You should have seen me on the ground with a spray bottle full of Dawn and water checking for leaks. None found.

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rit If I was to go with the spin balance do see the need to balance the rears?

If it rotates, balance it. Just because you might not be able to feel it, the unbalanced forces from the rear tires will hammer away at the suspension and chassis just as much (if not more so - you're dealing with 2 tires per side instead of 1) as an unbalanced front tire would.

Trailer manufacturers don't normally balance the wheels and tires, either - their rationale is that the driver doesn't know what's going on back there. Mine are balanced.

Rusty

[two gone rvn]

I just put Continental 255x75x22.5 tires on my MH and the dealer said to throw away the bead balancers and spin balance them. The most weight was only 3oz on two tires and 1.5 oz on the others . I took it for a high speed ride and its perfect at 75 which is 15mph faster then I'll drive. I was impressed with the Continental tire to say the least. So I would spin balance if you can.
George

[depchief]

Capt Joe I would like to know what tire manufacturer you used. 8 oz in my opinion is way to much. I would reject the tires.

[Capt Joe]

depchief,
Tires are Bridgestone R250's. I think they will be fine now. Going to run them a few miles over the weekend to make sure before we take off over Thanksgiving for about 1400 miles.

[LVJ58]

Has anyone ever used the Centramatic system on their front wheels? I'm considering ordering a pair from the company in TX.

[abarkl]

I tried a set on both the front and rear wheels. They didn't change a thing and I only fixed my vibration with the tried and true lead weight balance of all 6 tires. Luckily the manufacturer accepted them back with a refund after 60 days.