Wheel balancing

[djnott]

Do any of you have your trailer wheels balance?

[MtnTrek]

Welcome to the forum.
Balanced during initial tire mounting, or do you mean routinely after so many un-injured miles with a position rotation? Not sure we understand your question.

[xrated]

A better question would be.....Is there any good reason to NOT have them balanced?

[djnott]

Routinely as in yearly.

[xrated]

Ah, I got cha now. Personally, I have never done that, and here's why. Unless a wheel weight has fallen off or there is obserable damage to the tire from cupping, chuckng, whatever, the tire, in my opinion will still be balanced. If a tire is wearing evenly, but there is just less of it because of use, to me there is no reason to have it taken off and rebalanced. Technically, yes there is probably some very small/slight change in balance over the life of the tire, but it's not something that I worry about or would be willing to have rebalanced.

[djnott]

How about rotating front to rear?

[Twilightzone]

>"How about rotating front to rear?"

As long as the trailer is er... 'balanced' (front to rear)... there won't be much difference in wear on the tires. If one tire is wearing much more than the other, look to your trailer axle alignment.

Supposed to replace trailer tires on a regular basis.

[Cumminsfan]

Very few 5th wheels or TT's come with balanced tires. At least from my observations. I recently put 4 new tires on my 5er and had them balanced. From a towing standpoint I noticed zero difference. No doubt the tires and suspension should last longer with balanced tires. I don't re-balance them or rotate them. They're not like a car or truck where one set is pulling/pushing or steering. I suppose the rears may wear out a little sooner since they tend to get scrubbed in tight corners more. After putting 10,000 miles on my last two sets I didn't see much difference between the fronts or the rears as far as wear was concerned.

[beipers]

I've never seen a significant difference in wear on trailer tires due to position, so I've never rotated trailer tires. If your concerned about rebalancing over time, find a tire shop that will put in balance beads. They automatically balance the tire in varying conditions and would keep you from having to rebalance until the tires need replaced.

[PhoneDude 8289]

I do have the trailer tires balanced when purchased and installed. As for rotating front to rear I don't think it makes much difference. I do rotate front to rear each year when I inspect, hand pack bearings, clean & inspect brakes.

[Whitewolf]

Had Carlisle tires installed last year. I requested the weights be installed on the inside of the rim, out of sight. I don't plan on rebalancing since I don't do that with my truck. I'll rotate front to back each year as now I have wet bolts installed and it's easier to grease with the tires off. Otherwise I'd probably just keep an eye on the back tires.

[Zigeuner]

Yes. My kitchen table was screwed to the floor directly over the axles. After my first trip down the interstate three of the four screws holding it down were pulled loose. There was a good bump or two from construction, and the screws weren't in very deep, but I guessed it was most likely from tire vibration as they had never been balanced. After balancing they each had about 4-6" of weights on the rims, I forget the actual weight. Nothing has shook loose since and I have hit much worse bumps. On a side note, I never screwed the table back down and like it much better being able to move it around.

[jacknife]

I rotate them because the tires scrub differently relative to where they are on the axles
Balance also.

[egwilly]

I always balance mine at least once when new. Out of balance can cause cupping and tread separation. Don't ask how I know.
Since you are not traveling in the trailer, you do not know if tires are oob.