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Wheel balancing

Yahoo Message Number: 6825
I just had 6 new Toyos mounted on our Intrigue and it was yet another learning experience. My nearest Toyo dealer, only about 30 miles away, explained to me that they use a type of powder to balance the wheels, and they could not use it with the SmartTire sensors. So, I drove away with new, unbalanced tires/wheels.

I was totally unaware that a) a powder system of balancing existed (is it compatible with alloy wheels?), and b) SmartTire sensors would be an issue.

Has anyone else experienced this? I still don't know where I'll have the balancing done. We love NH, but sometimes it seems very remote!
Jon
#11020
PT

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6826
Jon, your dealer is mistaken. I have the powder ( really a granular substance which does not clump together when wet like the old stuff did ) in my front wheels and I too have Smart Tire. The dealer advised it would not be a problem because the ST sensors are strapped to the rims and centrifugal force keeps the " powder" away from the rims. I confirmed this with Jon at Schwab in Junction City. I've had this stuff in my front wheels for over a year and have had no problems.
Of course, the tire dealer can always balance the wheels the old fashioned way with weights. Sounds to me like he just doesn't want to fool with you.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6830
Your imput is much appreciated, Walt. The shop I used is very responsible and when they tried to communicate with SmartTire or Country Coach, it was morning here in NH and nothing was opened yet on the west coast. They just didn't want to get into a situation that might cause problems. I should have known better than schedule an AM appt.

How were your duals balanced? Just curious.

Jon
#11020
PT

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6840
Jon, I've never balanced the duals or tag wheels. Someone told me when I bought my first CC seven years ago that I didn't need to worry about the rear wheels. I haven't and have had no ride or tire wear problems.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6843
Walt, I was talking to a trucker today at the tire shop, and he said that he never balanced the duals on his trucks -- that the air ride took care of the vibrations, if there were any, and that like you, he never had a wear problem. It was all news to me. This is my second CC, but I never put new tires on the other one. I did put new Michelins on our first motor home, a Class B 26' Shasta, and I seem to recall that they were all spin-balanced.

I spoke with Rob at Les Schwab/JC this afternoon re the powder balancing -- actually the product used is called Equal. He said that they use it with success, and that they have had no problems with the SmartTire sensors when using Equal. He recommended the use of a specific valve stem when using Equal as well as a special adapter that should be used on the air nozzle when adding air to the tire. The valve stem and the portable adapter each have a built-in screen which helps prevent water/moisture from entering tires balanced with Equal. According to Rob, moisture in the tire can cause clumping of the product.

At this time, I've decided to have Equal balancing on the front tires. Again, thank you for your information. Much appreciated. I still want to talk with CC re balancing duals. I'll report their information. Where did you get the info on moisture not being an issue with the new products?
Jon

2000 Intrigue #11020
PT

Re: Wheel balancing and runout testing

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6844
We had all 8 tires spin balanced at Lazydays RV last year. We were experiencing a severe vibration problem. They told us that if a tire is more than 60 thousandths out of round (called runout) that there will be significant vibration even with the tires balanced. They have a runout gauge they use to test roundness. We had to have 2 of our new Toyo tires replaced because they were 100 thousandths out of round. A few of the tires took as much as 8 ounces of weight to bring them into balance. After the balancing and runout testing, the coach now rides smooth as silk. After 8000 miles, we have no unusual tire wear and everything still rides perfectly smooth.

Robert

2003 Intrigue

Quote from: carvedturn
Walt, I was talking to a trucker today at the tire shop, and he

said

Quote
that he never balanced the duals on his trucks -- that the air ride > took care of the vibrations, if there were any, and that like you, > he never had a wear problem. It was all news to me. This is my > second CC, but I never put new tires on the other one. I did put > new Michelins on our first motor home, a Class B 26' Shasta, and I > seem to recall that they were all spin-balanced.

I spoke with Rob at Les Schwab/JC this afternoon re the powder > balancing -- actually the product used is called Equal. He said > that they use it with success, and that they have had no problems > with the SmartTire sensors when using Equal. He recommended the

use

Quote
of a specific valve stem when using Equal as well as a special > adapter that should be used on the air nozzle when adding air to

the

Quote
tire. The valve stem and the portable adapter each have a built-in > screen which helps prevent water/moisture from entering tires > balanced with Equal. According to Rob, moisture in the tire can > cause clumping of the product.

At this time, I've decided to have Equal balancing on the front > tires. Again, thank you for your information. Much appreciated.

I

Re: Wheel balancing and runout testing

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6845
An additional comment on runout...
Normally a tire that is more than 60 thousandths out of round will be shaved. Shaving off the high side on a spin shaver makes the tire round again. Since my tires were brand new, Toyo opted to replace them rather than shave them. Shaving is great for bringing older out- of-round tires back into roundness. Runout is the most common cause of vibration. Equal powder won't fix an out of round tire. Lazydays has a spin shaver and they have it running 8 hours most every day shaving tires.

Robert

2003 Intrigue

Quote from: rvrobert2003
> We had all 8 tires spin balanced at Lazydays RV last year. We were > experiencing a severe vibration problem. They told us that if a

tire

Quote
is more than 60 thousandths out of round (called runout) that there > will be significant vibration even with the tires balanced. They > have a runout gauge they use to test roundness. We had to have 2

of

Quote
our new Toyo tires replaced because they were 100 thousandths out

of

Quote
round. A few of the tires took as much as 8 ounces of weight to > bring them into balance. After the balancing and runout testing,

the

Quote
coach now rides smooth as silk. After 8000 miles, we have no

unusual

Quote
tire wear and everything still rides perfectly smooth.

Robert

2003 Intrigue

[quote author=carvedturn"

> Walt, I was talking to a trucker today at the tire shop, and he > said

> that he never balanced the duals on his trucks -- that the air

ride

Quote
took care of the vibrations, if there were any, and that like

you,

Quote
he never had a wear problem. It was all news to me. This is my > > second CC, but I never put new tires on the other one. I did put > > new Michelins on our first motor home, a Class B 26' Shasta, and

I

Quote
seem to recall that they were all spin-balanced.
>

> I spoke with Rob at Les Schwab/JC this afternoon re the powder > > balancing -- actually the product used is called Equal. He said > > that they use it with success, and that they have had no problems > > with the SmartTire sensors when using Equal. He recommended the > use

> of a specific valve stem when using Equal as well as a special > > adapter that should be used on the air nozzle when adding air to > the

> tire. The valve stem and the portable adapter each have a built-

in

Quote
screen which helps prevent water/moisture from entering tires > > balanced with Equal. According to Rob, moisture in the tire can > > cause clumping of the product.
>

> At this time, I've decided to have Equal balancing on the front > > tires. Again, thank you for your information. Much

appreciated.

Re: Wheel balancing and runout testing

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6846
Robert,

I'm curious to know if you experienced the vibration at all speeds or at a certain range of speeds? I have a problem with vibration, but only between 65-70 mph. Of course, this is the speed I prefer to set my cruise. I also have the Toyo tires.

Rob

'02 Intrigue #11480

Re: Wheel balancing and runout testing

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6847
My vibration was barely noticeable at 55, but increased to a very noticeable level at 60 or higher. At 65, the vibration was so severe that the steering wheel shook and my body bounced in the drivers seat.

Just as an FYI... Based on my memory from last year, I think Lazydays charges about $100 a tire to remove, spin shave, spin balance and remount a tire. The shaving is a very slow process. It takes about an hour to 1.5 hours per tire for the full shaving and balancing process, so the price is mostly labor cost.

Robert

Quote from: rbessinger12
> Robert,

I'm curious to know if you experienced the vibration at all speeds

or

Quote
at a certain range of speeds? I have a problem with vibration, but > only between 65-70 mph. Of course, this is the speed I prefer to

set

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6862
Jon, I got my info from a local tire dealer. He stopped using Equal because of the clumping problems. What he put in my front tires is "Counter-balance" which is granular instead of a powder and does not have the clumping problem. I've had it in my front tires for at least 15,000 miles with no problems whatsoever.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6876
Thanks for the info, Walt.

Yesterday evening, when I talked with CC tech support, they recommended spinning and said that there may be a potential problem with Equal/aluminum alloy incompatability -- however they were going to do some homework and get back with me. I mentioned to tech that Rob/Les Schwab/JC said that they use Equal with success. The coach is pretty much winterized now, and I may wait until dewinterization until I pursue balancing.
Jon

2000 Intrigue #11020

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7155
The first thing we did when we bought our 96 Intrigue earlier this year was have the front end aligned and the tires balanced. We added Centramatics to all 4 hubs. Centramatics are steel rings with the balancing media inside. You can take them from tire to tire instead of losing the media when you change tires. They are made in Fort Worth, TX and guaranteed to work. Check them out at
www.centramatic.com. Several truck owners (18 wheelers) recommeded them. They have used them for close to a million miles.
Our coach rides smooth with no steering wheel vibration at all.
Can someone give me some additional info on the tire/wheel/label recall?

Tammy Toalson
'96 Intrique
10250

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7157
We tried Centramatics and they failed to solve our vibration problems. They were a royal pain and a waste of time.

Quote from: Tammy
The first thing we did when we bought our 96 Intrigue earlier this > year was have the front end aligned and the tires balanced. We

added

Quote
Centramatics to all 4 hubs. Centramatics are steel rings with the > balancing media inside. You can take them from tire to tire

instead

Quote
of losing the media when you change tires. They are made in Fort > Worth, TX and guaranteed to work. Check them out at > www.centramatic.com. Several truck owners (18 wheelers) recommeded > them. They have used them for close to a million miles.
Our coach rides smooth with no steering wheel vibration at all.
Can someone give me some additional info on the tire/wheel/label > recall?

Tammy Toalson
'96 Intrique
10250

Quote from: Spiker1029@a...
> Jon, I got my info from a local tire dealer. He stopped using

Equal

Quote
because

> of the clumping problems. What he put in my front tires

is "Counter-
 

Re: Wheel balancing

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7159
Really, did you solve you vibration problems and what was such a pain about them? We have had very good results, so far.

Tammy

Quote from: rvrobert2003
We tried Centramatics and they failed to solve our vibration
problems. They were a royal pain and a waste of time.

[quote author=Tammy"

> The first thing we did when we bought our 96 Intrigue earlier

this

Quote
year was have the front end aligned and the tires balanced. We > added

> Centramatics to all 4 hubs. Centramatics are steel rings with

the

Quote
balancing media inside. You can take them from tire to tire > instead

> of losing the media when you change tires. They are made in Fort > > Worth, TX and guaranteed to work. Check them out at > > www.centramatic.com. Several truck owners (18 wheelers)

recommeded

Quote
them. They have used them for close to a million miles.
> Our coach rides smooth with no steering wheel vibration at all.
> Can someone give me some additional info on the tire/wheel/label > > recall?

> Tammy Toalson
> '96 Intrique
> 10250
>

> -