Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Keystone Questions
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-07-2018, 11:14 AM   #1
sstedman
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Full timers
Posts: 12
Balancing Cougar Xlite 30RLI tires

I have recently purchased Goodyear Endurance tires for my TT. The mobile RV service company told me that travel trailer tires do not have to be balanced. This does not sound right. Anybody have any information on this subject.
sstedman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2018, 12:23 PM   #2
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,839
Typically ST tires do not come from the factory balanced. That does not mean they "shouldn't be properly maintained" .... If you've ever seen a car or truck with a "bad shock" travelling down the road with "one wheel bouncing", it's because the shock is bad (unable to control hopping) and the tire is not balanced. Since there are no shock absorbers on most trailers, an unbalanced tire would "hop and bounce" very much like the tire in this example.

Sidewall flex is one of the biggest problems facing any tire (heat buildup from flexing) and any unbalanced tire would have greater sidewall flex and a properly balanced tire. Just because we don't see it or feel it (inside the tow vehicle) doesn't mean that the tire isn't hopping or bouncing as we tow.

I strongly suggest properly balanced tires for any RV. As another example, trailers don't come from the factory with food in the refrigerator, but we all "fill it up before the first trip".... Balancing tires is one more thing we need to do before setting out for a campground.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2018, 12:39 PM   #3
vampress_me
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 777
When we bought our 28RDB, before the third trip down to the campground 3hrs from home I had the camper tires balanced. All I can say is that third trip down felt much smoother towing the camper than the first two. And MN sure didn’t fix the roads in the meantime!
__________________
--Lynette

2019 F-350 diesel 4x4 CC LB DRW, not the mom taxi anymore...
2021 Alliance Paradigm 340RL
2016 F-350 diesel 4x4 CC LB SRW, mom taxi - sold
2014 Cougar XLite 28RDB - sold
vampress_me is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2018, 11:47 PM   #4
bobbecky
Senior Member
 
bobbecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,897
You should try to find a shop that has the capability to balance trailer tires. It is suggested to lug-centric balance them instead of the normal way using the center hole of the wheel, hub-centric balancing. Because the wheels on most trailers use the lug studs to place the wheel in position on the hub, instead of a machined and perfectly centered hole that fits snugly onto a machined hub, the hole in the wheel most times is not centered properly. With a proper attachment for the balancing machine that supports the wheel by the lug holes, you will get a good balance job.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
bobbecky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2018, 09:03 AM   #5
CWtheMan
Senior Member
 
CWtheMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Taylors, SC
Posts: 3,031
Here is a reference to use in what to look for.

http://www.gtradialtrucktires.com/en...ation-2012.pdf

Here is a reference about hub & lug centric tire balancing. Almost all trailer wheels are lug centric.

CWtheMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cougar, tires

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.