Balancing Wheels: Lead on Rim or Taped Inside

[deasertman]

Hub centered wheels are all mounted with flat lug nuts or washers, and have no tapered lug holes. All wheels that have tapered holes and tapered nuts are all lug centered wheels. It doesn't matter if the vechicl came with hub centered wheels when ever the wheel is replaced with a wheel that now is held on using tapered nuts it is now lug centered. Use the internal balancing media it will balance all tires.

[GCinSC2]

deasertman,

Lug nuts with washers, you've added a new element to the discussion but was that type lug nut ever used on an Airstream?

Readers, if you're not familiar with this type the only place I've run into it was on the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 I used to own, a dually. This is an example https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-160...origin=keyword Vehicles with (and I'm limiting my comment to pick ups, 1 ton dually) the wheels must be reversible. One the rear one wheel faces in and one wheel faces out. And all wheels must fit in any location. Completely different design from Airstream.

Tapered lug nuts and flange washer lug nuts are not interchangeable with each other.

Gary

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by deasertman

X2 I use Equal 4 oz per tire in all my tires. For those not in the knowledge these are for putting inside the tire when mounting. I have never had any problems with tire pressure sensors eather. I used 8 oz in the big truck too. $2.00 to $4.00 per tire far cheeper than balancing tires over and over through out there life span.

If that works for you, OK. Just be sure you realize that adding balance fluid or tire sealant to a tire can:
1. Void the tire company warrantee
2. Make it difficult or impossible to do a proper, long term tire repair.

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

deasertman,

Lug nuts with washers, you've added a new element to the discussion but was that type lug nut ever used on an Airstream?

Readers, if you're not familiar with this type the only place I've run into it was on the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 I used to own, a dually. This is an example https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-160...origin=keyword Vehicles with (and I'm limiting my comment to pick ups, 1 ton dually) the wheels must be reversible. One the rear one wheel faces in and one wheel faces out. And all wheels must fit in any location. Completely different design from Airstream.

Tapered lug nuts and flange washer lug nuts are not interchangeable with each other.

Gary

Lug nuts with washers are also used on my wife's 1974 MGB.

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by Shacksman

Lug nuts with washers are also used on my wife's 1974 MGB.

Someone has the unique one, always happens! Lucas electrics too I assume?

[deasertman]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

If that works for you, OK. Just be sure you realize that adding balance fluid or tire sealant to a tire can:
1. Void the tire company warrantee
2. Make it difficult or impossible to do a proper, long term tire repair.

Equal is a brand name of dry ceramic beeds that are installed inside the tire before mounting (it comes in different size bags) and it is approved by all tire manufacturer as an alternative to balancing tire and wheel assemblies.

Desertman

[deasertman]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

deasertman,

Lug nuts with washers, you've added a new element to the discussion but was that type lug nut ever used on an Airstream?

Readers, if you're not familiar with this type the only place I've run into it was on the 1997 Dodge Ram 3500 I used to own, a dually. This is an example https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-160...origin=keyword Vehicles with (and I'm limiting my comment to pick ups, 1 ton dually) the wheels must be reversible. One the rear one wheel faces in and one wheel faces out. And all wheels must fit in any location. Completely different design from Airstream.

Tapered lug nuts and flange washer lug nuts are not interchangeable with each other.

Gary

The only AS I have seen with the hub centered design wheels are the big motor homes, however that being said I have seen aftermarket wheels on AS TTs made for GM and the import light trucks that do use nuts with washers.

I had a hard time finding hub centered wheels for my Ram 3500 drw.

Desertman

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by pcskier

Let's start a thread of "Options JC should offer". It will be a long list!

Ray I went through this a year ago. Took my wheels to the tire shop to mount tires and balance, they came back with weights hammered on the outside and looked like CRAP. I'm sorry, it's an Airstream. No acceptable. I took them back and they gave me the same nonsense they gave you. My question back was: "Every car on this lot has Aluminum wheels, and every one has stick-on weight INSIDE the wheel. Why is it ok for car wheels but not these?" Blank look. It's because car owners would not accept that 'look' on their cars. The response was "If you prefer, we'll re-do them with stick-ons. If you had askd, we would have done so in the first place." I responded, "You don't ask me that for my car, what would make me think I needed to ask for these trailer wheels?" More blinking of eyes. Anyway, they changed them and I was happy. (The smaller wheels I removed were inside stick-ons too.)

Meanwhile, like Ronnie I installed the Centramtics. Yes you are thinking too hard. The offset is virtually negligible. Check out the videos on their website on how they work. I can tow now and when I get to where I'm going, the lounge pillows are usually still on the lounge, not on the floor. My passengers have reported that sleeping in the trailer while under tow is now like sleeping on a 747-- Smooth as can be. Because of, or in spite of? I don't know, but the system seems to make sense, plus it's something else to spend money on! Isn't that what Airstream ownership is all about?

How does your local law enforcement feel about that?
In many states / jurisdictions, it is illegal to allow any passenger in a moving trailer ... mohos - OK, but not connected trailers. There are many reasons to not do that, but the primary one to observe is that it is against the law.