How Trailer Tires are Balanced and Recommended Trailer Tires for Small Boat Trailer

Question:

I have a small boat trailer with 4.8/400 - 8 tires. The ride is a bit rough and I cannot balance them. I think I read somewhere on your web site months ago that you make a special effort to match tire and rim for minimum balance problems. How so? Would I be better off to spend a few more dollars and buy the 5.7 or larger width. Trailer and boat only weigh about 400 lbs.

asked by: Ed G

Expert Reply:

Trailer tire balancing is different than vehicle tire balancing that use weights to ensure an extremely smooth rotation. Trailer tires are made different with stronger sidewalls and they don't use weights or ball bearings to balance them. Instead the tire has a high spot and a low spot (heaviest and lightest point) that are indicated normally by a mark on the tire. Then you simply match the valve stem of your trailer wheel with the high/heavy spot on the trailer tire.

Trailer tires can be balanced with weights if desired, but the balancing machine used needs to have a pin plate adapter to ensure the wheel is mounted correctly for balancing in that way. I've attached an article to assist with other frequent questions about trailer tires.

I recommend sticking with the same tire size and using either the Kenda 4.80/4.00-8 Bias Trailer Tire w/ 8" White Wheel - 4 on 4 - Load Range B # AM30000 or # AM30060 if you have 5 lug hubs. These wheel and tire combinations will work well.

With a small boat trailer, you will want to make sure the tires are inflated to their max psi cold and because the trailer will be light you may want to make sure to account for wind and weather conditions a little more cautiously when determining safe speeds. Light trailers typically have more sway issues simply due to wind and passing traffic.

expert reply by: Jason S