Tire balance

[sawmillman]

I had terrible luck having my tires spin balanced on my last motorhome. Bought Centramatics and had no more issues. I also had issues getting proper spin balance on my current MH. Again added them to the front and great results. After all this, when I installed 12.5x 33's on my Jeep TJ, vibrations. I put them all the way around and it's smooth now. I had just as soon put them on and not have to ever have to worry about balancing tires again. I believe on these bigger tires they are worth while.

[twinboat]

I had tire seperation happen with balance beads in the tires.
I would feel something at low speed but it would clear up as I increased speed.

That happened a few times until it didn't stop shaking. Being concerned I headed, slowly, to a tire shop and had the front jacked up. Sure enough, the tire was coming apart. I replaced both front tires.

I took a chance getting from Georga to NY with the rears, but had to replace them in PA. for the same reason.

I will always spin balance my tires.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

So what happens with your balanced tire when it gets stones embedded in the threads or between tires?
?

I have had that happen. You know that right away. If you leave it in there, In ten minutes, the tires blow out and you replace them.

[Crasher]

I agree that the Centramatics work as designed, however, as Tireman said, they can and will mask or cover up a serious tire issue. Whenever I could not get a good spin balance, it was due to an out of round tire. As I mentioned before, the beads seem to work well in the back, but spinning the steers is the only way I will go.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

So what happens with your balanced tire when it gets stones embedded in the treads or between tires?
?

For smaller ones in the tread, as you're driving down the road you hear a really loud BANG like a gunshot just went off but it was just the rock leaving the tire and hitting the motorhome at high speed. Scared the **** out of me the first few times until I learned.

Ray

[Kahoona]

I prefer bead balancing. The beads will balance even after the tires have changed due to wear. I used to use lead. I was cheap ans it worked. My tire guy was good at it too. When he spun the new tires to balance he noted which had the least need for weight and the least "out of round" and put them on the front. No matter what though over a few years the tires wear and they need re-balancing. As far as I can see the beads are self adjusting.