Tire and Alignment Questions

7/28/2015

Tire and Alignment Questions

Tire and Alignment Questions

Scubadave
30 May 2011
08:53 AM
I know with my old car if I want to have the axles aligned I have lots of choices from the dealer to a local tire supplier.  Is this the same with an HDT or should I stay with a dealer?  Since my steers are about six years old I am going to replace them.  I attempted to follow the HHRV link for tires titled "Tire Balancing Options," but it did not work.  Then I tried the link in the Escapees HDT Resource Guide and it did not work.  So what do I ask for to make sure the new tires are properly round and in balance?

Thanks
Dave

Mark S
30 May 2011
09:11 AM
I bought new steers for mine a few months ago.  My recommendations are based on limited knowledge but the guy that minted the tires gave me an education.  There are dots on the tires.  They are the light spot and should line up with the stem.  I would stand over them as they balance the tires.  When they spin them you can tell if the tire is round.  The first one they mounted on mine was kind of an elliptical oblong square shape.  I'm not so sure but what a less experienced tech might have tried to pass it off.  This guy said that it would not do and got another tire.

They have laser alignment available in some locations.  Given the low number of miles an RV goes each year I don't know if that's necessary.  A full service tire shop can probably do a truck alignment.  Check your shocks.  If they are leaking or need replaced this is a great time to do it.  Don't pay anyone to change them.  It takes less than 15 minutes and requires two wrenches and only one brain cell.

HERO Maker
30 May 2011
09:27 AM
Dave,
About the only way to know if they are round (true) is to look at them while they are on the balance machine.  Something can be moved close to the tread of the tire while it is slowly spinning to see if the tire actually moves back and forth from that fixed point.

My opinion of a tire balance machine is they are great for balancing the wheel and tire, but a more perfect balancing job wood be one done while the wheel is still on the truck.  That way you are balancing the hub as well.  Be aware, some hubs are purchased unbalanced and it doesn't cost that much more for a balanced hub!  Again, a close look at the tire while on the balance machine will tell you if the tire is not true.  Reject it and have them mount another one.  They might claim it is your wheel, so then have them spin just your wheel while on the machine and test it the same way as the tire.

For a more complete thread on trueing the tires, look at this thread. Good Vibrations

SuiteSuccess
30 May 2011
05:22 PM
Scubadave,
Got mine aligned at "Best One Tires" in their commercial section.  Cost about $225 if I recall correctly
Letz4wheel
30 May 2011
05:23 PM
A lot of commercial trucks are now using "equal" only.  Equal is something that looks like sand.  They throw the bag in as they mount the tire, with use the bag will abrade open and dump the sand.  The theory is that the sand will seek the out of balance areas and balance your tires as you drive.  As tire wear changes the low and high spots the equal dynamically balances it.  That said....it seems to work.  I didn't get any more wear out of a set of steers but I didn't get any less either.  I really don't know if they use it wear I work currently but the last place I work at used it in every
steer tire they mounted.

Equal Tire Performance

Hogrydr
31 May 2011
10:05 AM
Dave
If you had uneven wear on the old tires ...check out the Volvo or Mack dealer or a good independent tire shop and get a laser alignment.. !!!!  It'll drive so good !!!!