Balancing trailer tires?

[Bayside]

Does anyone know is it worth having your trailer tires balanced by a tire shop? Or does it not make any difference? Any thoughts or opinions would be helpful.

[Phil T.]

My trailer tires have never showed any cupping, so I've never had them balanced. The outer edges wear more than the rest of the tire, but that's caused by going around corners and curves, and by the toe-in built into the axle.
Have your tire shop look at the wear pattern of the tires and let a pro (if he's trustworthy) make the judgement.

[REW]

It is always a good idea to balance trailer tires.
Many trailer tires and wheels, since they don't have to meet the same standards as auto tires, can be very badly out of balance.
A good balancing job can extend the life of the tires many times, reduce uneven wear patterns and point out any tire and or wheel irregularities.

Again, because of the difference in auto and trailer standards, it is suprising what some of the trailer wheels do on a balancer. i.e. I have seen trailer wheels built with a sever bend in the rim, with off set weights on the wheel, and other somewhat suprising irregularities. A good balancing shop will show up these problems.

If you happen to have a new trailer, and if you go in and find that there is a sever problem with a tire/wheel combo - most trailer manufactureres ( when confronted with the evidence from a balancing shop) will replace the wheel/tire combo with no further questions.

Another thing that folks should so - is to rotate their trailer tires, as you would your auto tires, every 5000 miles. i.e. use the spare and use a circular rotation betwen the spare, left side of the trailer - left tire to right side, and right side to spare position. This will equalize the tire wear between the three tires, and will also even out any side to side wear that might be happening on a particular side.

Also pay attention to any wear patterns. If you find that you are getting unusual wear patterns on a tire, take the trailer in and have the trailer alighned, much as you would do with an auto. Some trailers are manufactured with a misalignment of the trailer axle and trailer frame. Other trailers simply have axles that either were not made correctly, or became bent due to use, sudden impact or other conditions. A good alignment shop can easily find and repair any trailer wheel alignment problems and save lots of tire and trailer trailability issues.

Take care

REW

[AquaMan]

Get them balanced. They are spinning faster then your vehicle tires, so you can imagine the damage to those tires if they are out of balance not to mention the vibration your trailer and boat will take. $15 for a lot of security. No question!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Dan]

A balanced tire & rim is much more wheel bearing friendly than one that is not. $15 for the cost of balancing is a small price to pay for extra wheel bearing security for they take the most abuse throughout the year.

[GORD]

Some say yes. Some say no. Balancing wheels is cheap. I go for it, just to be on the safe side. Once you have ballanced your wheels you'll feel better and your mind will be free to think about more important things.