I just realized that the 4 trailer tires I have or had never had any balancing weights. Is this not necessary in trailers? Why, because vibration is purely aesthetic?
trailer tires need no balancing?
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Costs less not to balance them.
I haven't seen weights on big rig tires either-- when I do, on, say, a bus with 22.5" wheels, it really stands out.
I figure with the size, they'd have to get up to around 100 to hit their harmonic frequency and start shaking.
As for trailer tires, they can shake all they want but you'll never feel it through the tongue. Look at how many bozos drag *flat* tires without noticing.
I figure with the size, they'd have to get up to around 100 to hit their harmonic frequency and start shaking.
As for trailer tires, they can shake all they want but you'll never feel it through the tongue. Look at how many bozos drag *flat* tires without noticing.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I haven't seen weights on big rig tires either-- when I do, on, say, a bus with 22.5" wheels, it really stands out.
They are balanced. You just have not looked hard enough. Most guys use stick on weights on the inside of the rim others use a ring gizmo thats supposed to balance them as you drive.
I haven't seen weights on big rig tires either-- when I do, on, say, a bus with 22.5" wheels, it really stands out.
They are balanced. You just have not looked hard enough. Most guys use stick on weights on the inside of the rim others use a ring gizmo thats supposed to balance them as you drive.
I was talking about small trailer tires, like my boat trailer.
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
I was talking about small trailer tires, like my boat trailer.
The larger the tire, the more difficult it is to make the tire within a given tolernce for balance.
For small trailer tires, the amount of imbalance will be small, and the resulting vibration will only be uncomfortable if you are in the trailer at speed - a definite no-no.
I was talking about small trailer tires, like my boat trailer.
The larger the tire, the more difficult it is to make the tire within a given tolernce for balance.
For small trailer tires, the amount of imbalance will be small, and the resulting vibration will only be uncomfortable if you are in the trailer at speed - a definite no-no.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
I got a pretty crazy vibration on my 4-wheeler trailer when accelerating over the weekend, but only when up north of 100Km/h. It'll vibrate (a little) when at speed 90+, but really feels like something going wrong when you are passing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I got a pretty crazy vibration on my 4-wheeler trailer when accelerating over the weekend, but only when up north of 100Km/h. It'll vibrate (a little) when at speed 90+, but really feels like something going wrong when you are passing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
Are your running radials or bias-ply? Bias ply need to warm at first.
I got a pretty crazy vibration on my 4-wheeler trailer when accelerating over the weekend, but only when up north of 100Km/h. It'll vibrate (a little) when at speed 90+, but really feels like something going wrong when you are passing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
Are your running radials or bias-ply? Bias ply need to warm at first.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: FordFocus
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I got a pretty crazy vibration on my 4-wheeler trailer when accelerating over the weekend, but only when up north of 100Km/h. It'll vibrate (a little) when at speed 90+, but really feels like something going wrong when you are passing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
Are your running radials or bias-ply? Bias ply need to warm at first.
They are (tiny) bias-ply tires. These things are like max 12" tall.
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I got a pretty crazy vibration on my 4-wheeler trailer when accelerating over the weekend, but only when up north of 100Km/h. It'll vibrate (a little) when at speed 90+, but really feels like something going wrong when you are passing.
It was so noticeable I thought it was the truck. But dropped the trailer, and vibration was gone. So definitely the trailer. Going to put a new set of tires on and grease the wheel bearings before its next outing.
Are your running radials or bias-ply? Bias ply need to warm at first.
They are (tiny) bias-ply tires. These things are like max 12" tall.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: FZ1
Check out the prices on Trailerparts.com. Dunno re the cost of shipping,but a new 4.80 X 12 wheel with the tire already mounted is about $35 U. S.
Thanks!
-Chris
Check out the prices on Trailerparts.com. Dunno re the cost of shipping,but a new 4.80 X 12 wheel with the tire already mounted is about $35 U. S.
Thanks!
-Chris
I'm guessing balancing trailer tires is the exception more than the rule. I bought a spare tire for my trailer the other day and I had a [censored] time finding place that could balance it. I'm not gonna bother with it anymore.
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The last time I was shopping for trailer tires the tire shop guy asked if it was for a horse trailer. "No," I said. "Why?" He said that they only balance horse trailer tires, I guess because the vibration upsets the horses. No one feels the vibration in most trailers, it just wears out bearings, suspension parts, and maybe shortens tire life.
Find a shop that has a lug-centric adapter for their balancing machine. Many trailer wheels are so cheaply made (like everything else on a trailer) that the center pilot hole is punched out, not machined in the true center of the wheel. These cheapo wheels, like mine, must be centered on the balancer by the lug holes, not the off-center pilot hole.
Or, use an internal balancing medium like Dynabeads or equal. They work great in 75 series and taller tires.
Find a shop that has a lug-centric adapter for their balancing machine. Many trailer wheels are so cheaply made (like everything else on a trailer) that the center pilot hole is punched out, not machined in the true center of the wheel. These cheapo wheels, like mine, must be centered on the balancer by the lug holes, not the off-center pilot hole.
Or, use an internal balancing medium like Dynabeads or equal. They work great in 75 series and taller tires.
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