How to Balance Trailer Tires
Many people do not use their travel trailers often, and they are allowed to sit for months or years at a time without being used. If your trailer has not been used for six months or more, it is a great idea to inspect your trailer's tires and balance them if needed before taking your trailer out onto the open road.
- Raise up your trailer using jack stands to support the tailor while you inspect the tires.
- Check the tire pressure of each tire to be sure that the tire pressure is at the recommended pounds per square inch for you trailer's tires.
- Check the sidewall of the tire to see what the recommended pounds per square inch is. This will be listed as PSI along with a number. The number that follows PSI is the amount of air pressure that each tire should have.
- Inspect each tire for any bulges in the treads or sidewall of the tires. This can often occur due to dry rot of the rubber over time. If you see any bulges in the tire you will need to repair or replace the tire.
- Spin each wheel to be sure that it is spinning correctly and that there is no misalignment in the spinning of the tire which could mean a bent axle.
- Drive your trailer to the nearest tire hop and have them balance your tires using a spin balance machine. This machine will evenly balance all of your tires so that your trailer drives smoothly.
- Drive the trailer close to home to test drive the vehicle to ensure that the tires are properly balanced. If you feel a shake in the wheel on an otherwise smooth road, this is a sign that your tires are not balanced correctly.