tire balancing

[motoman]

Awhile back, I had two new tires mounted on my 5th wheel travel trailer. The tire shop that did this also deals on a daily bases large truck tires and equipment tires. Ask about balancing and showed me the half cup of liquid he poured in prior to seating top bead and airing up tire. This, he said balances the tire and it also will run cooler. Took the trailer(and the trailer hauling the XS) to the DurangoRally. Once there, immediatly felt the front axle tires and the rear axle tires. The fronts were warm and the rear set were hot. Now, today went over to a shop that a very reputable bike mechanic has, and who previously has done the valve adjustment on my XS and changed out the ball type steering head bearings to tapered rollers on my Honda ST when he was working for a dealership. He now has his own business(been wanting to do this for years). He saw this balancing/sealer used in a demonstration at the dealership. Several large nails sticking out of a 2x6 and had someone on a crotch-rocket run across the nails, leaving several holes in the tires. He then rode out on the Interstate, came back and checked the tire pressure. They had lost 2lbs of air, lokely from the initial puncture. The shop then removed the wheels and attached to there spin balancer. Both were perfectly in balance. At his own new shop today, I ask him if he was able to mount and balance my scoot tires if and when needed. That's when the subject came up for the balancing as he does not have a spin balancer(costly item). After him seeing this demo in the past and that shop no longer using the weights/spin balanceer, this is what he uses. He also stated to me that he has used the Dyna-Beads in the past too. The problem with them is the amount to use and is a guess at best initially. This liquid product he stated to me is dead-on and spin balancing or dyna beads don't even come close to doing what this product does. The product is RideOn and if you Google it can read all about it. Thought this would be good info for those changing there own tires and don't have the capability of balancing them at home. Plus there's not the scun marks left using wheel weights. This product from what I've seen and experienced myself so far is NOT snake oil and DOES work. I thought this may be a good spot to post this with more readers, and if not the mods can edit and move this to be a tech tip or whatever. Thanks, Brant.

[Incubus]

Oddly, Brent, when I had to have new tires put on my 28-foot fifth wheel in August

(We were on the way to Durango. Lost one tire just this side of Sweetwater. Lost a second tire just the OTHER side of Sweetwater. Somehow, somehow first tire exploding DID NOT take out the plumbing, even though it bent both grey and black drain handles and ripped the molding from the side of the trailer. Long, long slow drive to Snyder)

the tire guy would not balance my trailer tires. He said it was a waste and no place balances trailer tires.

Just odd. No other comment intended.

Patrick

[motoman]

Interesting Pat. BTW, this particular tire place caps for big rigs and such. So they know there tire stuff. Made no bones in telling me Carlisle and such are junk for trailer tires. They only handle TowMax and in 10ply only as they are only $5 more than the 6ply.......go figure. These folks been around here for 40+yrs. and DO know there tire stuff! These were applied to my 27ft. 5th wheel. Figured the knowledge there could save me the damage you've encountered aside from the repair expense.

[Incubus]

I'm done with Goodyear.

[motoman]

That was also one they mentioned as junk...........