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PharmGeek · 08-05-2013, 06:44 AM

For folks that get new AS's - does the factory properly balance the wheels?

dznf0g · 08-05-2013, 11:42 AM

I don't think so....mine wasn't. I'd recommend balancing and Centramatics.

Bluto · 08-05-2013, 11:56 AM

I think they are delivered to the Jackson Center plant balanced from a tire and wheel shop who sells them to Airstream and just mounted at the plant on the trailer. I've never seen a balancer in the plant during any tours.
My wheels and tires were balanced OK, but the tires were defective and needed to be replaced within the first year.

PharmGeek · 08-05-2013, 02:50 PM

Michellins were defective?

PharmGeek · 08-05-2013, 02:51 PM

How much do these centramatics cost on average including install?

gmw photos · 08-05-2013, 03:23 PM

You'll know when you look at them if they have been balanced or not. Just look for some weights.

switz · 08-05-2013, 03:40 PM

The part number "200-221 special" for 15" and larger wheel Airstream specific 6 bolt pattern Centramatic wheel balancers are $199 for the set of four plus about $15 or so in freight charges coming from Texas via UPS. Note that the word "special" denotes the units for the 6 bolt wheels used on newer Airstreams. The part number "200-221" is used on older 5 bolt Airstream wheels.

BTW. The Dodge 2500HD uses part number 300-318 Centramatics at the same price of $199 and both sets of four were shipped to me in one box for $22.45 in UPS charges.

One jacks up one side of the trailer and removes the lug nuts on one tire, removes that wheel and puts the Centramatic disk, ring side in, onto the hub lug bolts and puts the wheel back on the lug bolts along with the lug nuts and torques them to the proper value. Repeat this process for the three other tires. I use a socket ratchet to gently seat the lug nuts and then switch to my torque wrench and bring the torque up in several rounds in 10 pound increments.

Then recheck the torque on the lug nuts at 10 miles, 25 miles, 50 miles and 100 miles and you should be good to go.

I will personally install mine on the new trailer along with the new tires and new lug nuts. Too many grease monkeys use impact wrenches which can warp the brake drums as they are in a hurry and it is not their trailer...

Bluto · 08-05-2013, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

Michellins were defective?

No, I should have been more clear. They were 15" GYM's. That's the original brand that came on my new Classic in 2010. They were replaced under the original tire warranty by Discount tire with Carlisle's since I didn't want GYM's anymore. The Carlisle's are doing a fine job but,,
Since then, I have bought a new set of 16" wheels and new set of lifetime lug nuts, and when the Carlisle's need replacing I'll just buy 16" Michelin's.
I am doing this in baby steps to spread out the cost of the changeover.
I guess with your new unit it comes with the 16's already. You lucky dog!

PharmGeek · 08-05-2013, 09:50 PM

It is an additional cost option - 15 Gyms standard otherwise....but I but the bullet

Bluto · 08-05-2013, 09:57 PM

It sounds like the way to go. I know if it were an option on mine, I would have done it. I'm glad to see it as an option today. It will save poople money in the long run. You'll be happy you chose it.

PharmGeek · 08-06-2013, 09:06 AM

yep, and they look purty too

rperrym · 10-03-2013, 12:41 PM

I just received 4 new Michelins with the 16 inch wheels. The fifth one has not arrived yet. As I was unwrapping them, I noticed three of them had small flat weights on the inside of the wheel and one had none. None of them had weights on the outside of the wheel. I was wondering if others had noticed this on their new 16 inch wheels.
Appreciate any replys.
Thanks,
Rick

dkottum · 10-03-2013, 12:58 PM

I bought my 16" Sendel T02 wheels and Michelins from Discount Tire. They had the flat weights on the back side of the wheel (is that what you mean?). I assumed Discount Tire put them on when balancing the wheels.

**jcanavera** · 10-03-2013, 01:03 PM

My original 15" Airstream supplied wheels and Marathons were balanced by the hammered on weights on the inside rim. When I replaced the Marathons the folks who mounted them used the stick on weights on the inside of the wheel. My current Sendel's and 16" Michelins were also balanced with the stick on weights on the inside of the wheel.

I'm not sure today if the folks balancing the wheels for Airstream are using sticky weights or the old weight hammered on to the rim method.

I know when I called Airstream for a quote on 16" EB wheels and Michelin tires to be shipped to me, they noted that they would be balanced.

Jack

**jcanavera** · 10-03-2013, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rperrym

I just received 4 new Michelins with the 16 inch wheels. The fifth one has not arrived yet. As I was unwrapping them, I noticed three of them had small flat weights on the inside of the wheel and one had none. None of them had weights on the outside of the wheel. I was wondering if others had noticed this on their new 16 inch wheels.
Appreciate any replys.
Thanks,
Rick

That always spooks me to see a tire and wheel with no weights. Hard to believe that the wheel and tire are perfectly in balance without weight. If I got one like that I'd probably bring it somewhere to be checked. I hate to assume, especially when you weren't there to see them balance the wheels. If you find it's out of balance, send the balance bill back to who ever you purchased them from.

Jack

idroba · 10-03-2013, 01:16 PM

On my 2014 FC the wheels (15", GYM tires) came balanced from the factory. I changed them to the 16" with Michelin's and had them balanced where I got the tires (Costco).

I am pretty sure AS balances all wheels and tire assembly systems.

gmw photos · 10-03-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcanavera

That always spooks me to see a tire and wheel with no weights. Hard to believe that the wheel and tire are perfectly in balance without weight. If I got one like that I'd probably bring it somewhere to be checked. I hate to assume, especially when you weren't there to see them balance the wheels. If you find it's out of balance, send the balance bill back to who ever you purchased them from.

Jack

That's funny you say that, because I was watching the fella at the tire store balance my LT tires when they were installed on the Sendel wheels. One of them he was working on required no weight ( the other three did ). When he saw that one was not going to need weight, he called me over there and showed me it was perfect as it was, and he said, "I didn't want you to think I missed balancing one of the four".

robert claus · 10-03-2013, 08:26 PM

The GYMs and wheels that were on my trailer when I bought it were as supplied by the factory. The PO had never put new tires on. There was no sign of them ever being balanced. One of the first things I did was put new tires on - GYMs from Tire Rack - and I had them installed and balanced by an independent shop I've dealt with for years (they are also a recommended Tire Rack installer). They balanced with hidden stick on weights. If properly balanced by a good shop for around $15-18 each wheel, there's no need to spend $50 each wheel for Centramatics.

daveswenson · 10-03-2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert claus

The GYMs and wheels that were on my trailer when I bought it were as supplied by the factory. The PO had never put new tires on. There was no sign of them ever being balanced. One of the first things I did was put new tires on - GYMs from Tire Rack - and I had them installed and balanced by an independent shop I've dealt with for years (they are also a recommended Tire Rack installer). They balanced with hidden stick on weights. If properly balanced by a good shop for around $15-18 each wheel, there's no need to spend $50 each wheel for Centramatics.

You assume that your hub and brake assembly are balanced. And that your stick on weights, never come off. And that mud, dirt, rocks, etc don't get stuck on things, throwing them out of balance. If a $50 centramatic helps keep a tire from failing and causing hundreds of dollars of damage, it is cheap insurance.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 10-03-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert claus

The GYMs and wheels that were on my trailer when I bought it were as supplied by the factory. The PO had never put new tires on. There was no sign of them ever being balanced. One of the first things I did was put new tires on - GYMs from Tire Rack - and I had them installed and balanced by an independent shop I've dealt with for years (they are also a recommended Tire Rack installer). They balanced with hidden stick on weights. If properly balanced by a good shop for around $15-18 each wheel, there's no need to spend $50 each wheel for Centramatics.

Hi, this would be true if trailer brake drums were balanced, but they are not. Therefore I have Centramatics.