Is It Recommended To Balance A 13" Trailer Tire?

Updated 06/27/2025 | Published 06/26/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Karrier ST185/80R13 Radial Trailer Tire - Load Range D

(2230)

$87.50

Counteract Tire Balancing Beads Single Pack for Trailers - 4 oz

(16)

$7.10

Question:

Would you recommend balancing a 13 tire and if so are weights or needs a better choice?

asked by: Blake

Expert Reply:

Hello Blake, thanks for reaching out. So trailer tires typically are not balanced the same way as vehicle tires. With trailers every wheel and tire has a high (heavy) and low (light) spot. The manufacturers offset the high spot on the tire with the low spot on the wheel to balance them. They are not spun on a machine like car tires and they do not use weights.

Any shop that does trailer tires should be able to adequately balance a trailer tire and wheel. All of our tire and wheel combos come pre-balanced in the manner I described. You can take them to a shop to have them balanced additionally on a machine but it is not necessary. An easier way to add balance to a trailer tire is with balancing beads like part # CA66VR. That is what I recommend using if you want to add balance. Typically I would not recommend balancing trailer tires beyond that, unless you want to do so purely out of an abundance of safety.

What kind of trailer do you have? Are you needing wheels too? Or just tires?

expert reply by: Jesse M

Blake

6/26/2025

Which set of beads would you recommend for a 13" wheel? I took tire weight listed at 20lbs rim weight listed at 13lbs for a total of 33 lbs for each wheel.thah divided by 13 for a total of 2.538 oz of weight from the beads.is this correct?which set do you recommend?

Jesse M.

6/27/2025

@Blake What size tires are you running? The # CA66VR Balancing beads I mentioned will be enough for 175/80-R13 or 185/80-R13 tires. It is one bag of beads per tire. It is a 4 oz bag.

Blake

6/26/2025

Thank you so confusing I opened up a form on Facebook to balance or not to balance in RV repair. Everyone is telling me possible bearing damage to shake the camper apart to tire blowouts. They are all asking why would you not balance. My understanding is unless they are spun using a finger plate and spon to the lug nut center. You might as well not even bother.i like the idea of the beads

Jesse M.

6/27/2025

@Blake Yes, it is confusing because lots of people have different opinions on this. Think of it this way: vehicle tires are designed for ride comfort, so balancing them is required to prevent vibration and help with ride quality. Trailer tires are designed to carry weight, so they do not need to be balanced the same way as car tires. You absolutely can take the trailer tires to a shop and have them balanced. A lot of people do this. This would be more out of an abundance of safety than out of necessity. You are right that trailer wheels are lug centric for the most part. I agree that as long as your trailer tires are balanced high to low, they do not need to be balanced beyond that on a machine. Adding balancing beads will give you all the additional balance you need. Ultimately it comes down to your preference and what you feel most comfortable with. Feel free to reach out anytime with any other questions.

Blake

6/26/2025

Jayco Jfeather 19H