Community Forums

novagirlh2 · 04-23-2025, 03:42 PM

Has anyone put on Centramatic tire balancers on their front tires? My 2010 fleetwood bounder 38p shaking like crazy. We put new tires on and the place that put them on said they balance them with sandbags??? We want to take them sandbags out and put on Centramatic.

Skip426 · 04-23-2025, 07:30 PM

I believe the correct name of the product would be " balance beads " the beads come in a package and the package opened and poured into the tire during the mounting process ; the tire has to be dismounted and all the beads removed.

My last tires were installed with the beads and they've worked fine for 5 years.

I'd looked into Centramatics and couldn't get them delivered in time for the install.

Have you contacted the tire shop perhaps the installer didn't install the beads correctly.

d23haynes57 · 04-23-2025, 07:36 PM

Youi need to find a well-equipped tire shop that not only has truck tire balancing equipment but can also check for out of round conditions. It is very common for truck tires to be out of round. They should have a stand with a dial indicator that can check them for tread and side to side run out. It is also possible that you have damaged rims or another suspension issue.

NXR · 04-23-2025, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novagirlh2

Has anyone put on Centramatic tire balancers on their front tires? My 2010 fleetwood bounder 38p shaking like crazy. We put new tires on and the place that put them on said they balance them with sandbags??? We want to take them sandbags out and put on Centramatic.

Was it shaking like crazy with the old tires as well or just the new tires?

Some balancing beads can be poured into the valve stem. Some come in bags that are placed in the tire and the bag breaks open shortly after driving the first time. See #3: https://counteractbalancing.com/2023...-the-internet/

If the proper amount of beads were used for the tire size they should work fine. But often a filtered valve stem core is used to keep the beads and dust from getting into the valve stem. Did they install filtered valve stem cores?

I had Centramatics put on front and rear with our new Toyo 245/75R22.5 tires that replaced the Michelin 235/80R22.5 factory tires last year. There are no vibrations but there also was no vibration with the old tires.

Ray

novagirlh2 · 04-24-2025, 12:57 AM

We really never drove it on the highway till me moved from Michigan to Texas it was a nightmare on the highway. So we can't take it to the place we got the tires from because we're not in Michigan anymore. We put so much money into it before we moved. Put on sumo springs new Bilstein shocks and T-safe swaybar. It was so bad driving it shooked the screws out of the dash. We should of taken it back to the place we got the tires from they told us they put sandbags for balance but never noticed it that bad till we drove it on a highway. We just wanted a smooth ride down here 1700 miles. I will have to find a place down here to take it. We were just wondering if the Centramatic were a good option. Thanks

AlanTerry · 04-24-2025, 06:32 AM

I would find a Ford Big truck service center and have them inspect your alignment and front end suspension as well as balance the tires.

d23haynes57 · 04-24-2025, 06:54 AM

One thing with most cars but especially an RV is test driving in advance of a long trip. It is also a good idea for a good test drive anytime significant work is done. Tires are a significant change. For the Centramatics the tire will need to come off to have the balance bag stuff removed.

DarkSideJeep · 04-24-2025, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novagirlh2

We really never drove it on the highway till me moved from Michigan to Texas it was a nightmare on the highway. So we can't take it to the place we got the tires from because we're not in Michigan anymore. We put so much money into it before we moved. Put on sumo springs new Bilstein shocks and T-safe swaybar. It was so bad driving it shooked the screws out of the dash. We should of taken it back to the place we got the tires from they told us they put sandbags for balance but never noticed it that bad till we drove it on a highway. We just wanted a smooth ride down here 1700 miles. I will have to find a place down here to take it. We were just wondering if the Centramatic were a good option. Thanks

Where in Texas? If you are in the DFW area you could try Rush.

https://www.rushtruckcenters.com/ser...ce/dallas-ford

I never had work done by them, but the Parts department was very helpful in getting a new spindle and wheel bearings to me in west Texas after had a wheel bearing fail. Rush may have other locations in Texas as well.

US1 · 04-24-2025, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novagirlh2

Has anyone put on Centramatic tire balancers on their front tires? My 2010 fleetwood bounder 38p shaking like crazy. We put new tires on and the place that put them on said they balance them with sandbags??? We want to take them sandbags out and put on Centramatic.

I have them at all 4 corners.

SavnTheWales · 04-24-2025, 11:29 AM

Yes, I have Centramatics on all 4 wheels. I did have a problem as the lug holes were not drilled large enough on the Centramatics. I talked to Centramatic and they did not know why. Suspect a manufacture issue. I corrected them and installed and have been happy.

NXR · 04-24-2025, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novagirlh2

We really never drove it on the highway till me moved from Michigan to Texas it was a nightmare on the highway. So we can't take it to the place we got the tires from because we're not in Michigan anymore. We put so much money into it before we moved. Put on sumo springs new Bilstein shocks and T-safe swaybar. It was so bad driving it shooked the screws out of the dash. We should of taken it back to the place we got the tires from they told us they put sandbags for balance but never noticed it that bad till we drove it on a highway. We just wanted a smooth ride down here 1700 miles. I will have to find a place down here to take it. We were just wondering if the Centramatic were a good option. Thanks

Any truck tire shop can diagnose your problem fast. It could be something as simple as the bag never broke, they used the wrong amount of beads for the tire size, or even bad tires.

Beads and Centramatics do not really do anything until about 20 MPH. There are lots of bead users who are happy. Even motorhometires.com installers use balancing beads.

Heck, if you have Roadside Assistance call them to find a shop that can come to your location. Or even use the front jacks to lift the front tires slightly off the ground with the slides in and try spinning the front tires by hand to see if one has a heavy spot or a tire wobbles.

You could have a wheel bearing going bad or worn kingpins for that matter since it sounds like you may not have owned the motorhome since new.

Please report back with what is found.

Good luck,

Ray

Gary RVRoamer · 04-25-2025, 06:41 PM

NXR gave sound advice. There's nothing wrong with bead "sandbag" balancing nor with Centramatics either. Both work on the same principle. You have a problem such as the ones NXR described. Get it to a qualified shop to diagnose.

novagirlh2 · 04-28-2025, 12:36 AM

Thanks to everyone for the information I'm going to get in for a check up just to see what's going on with it causing all the shaking.

Jshealy · 04-29-2025, 02:21 PM

Last summer we installed 6 new Yokohama tires on our 2017 Pace Arrow. The shop recommended bead balancing. I was a little skeptical but said okay. The rig has never ridden as smooth as it does now! Even with the old Michelin's (which had balance weights) it never drove as smooth.