Occasionally a discussion arise about balancing RV tires and wheels. Some say "don't bother, you will never notice anything", and others say "absolutely balance them". Then the balance fans ask what kind of balance should I have done?" Here is a description I posted some time ago.
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Hub Centric Vs. Lug Centric. Hub Centric Wheels are centered by the center bore of the wheel and the hub flange. Lug centric wheels are centered by the torque of the lug bolts; rather than the center bore of the wheel and the hub flange. There are two distinct types of wheels found on today's cars and light trucks
The easiest way to
tell the difference between the two designs is to look at the
hub of a
hub and
wheel assembly.
If the hole in the center of the
wheel fits snugly against the
hub, then it is
hub-
centric.
If there is a gap between the center hole of the
wheel and the
hub, then it is lug-
centric.
Many of today's aftermarket wheels are Lug Centric in design. The center hole of a Lug Centric wheel is not the true center. These wheels cannot be properly mounted and accurately balanced using the normal cone mounting system that came with your wheel balancer.
Many Lug Centric wheels may appear to be mounted correctly with the center cone system, but they cannot be accurately balanced. The wheel balancer will continue to either "chase weights" or the wheel will show signs of imbalance when re-mounted on the vehicle.
To ensure an accurate balance, Lug Centric wheels must be mounted on the balancer through their lug bolt pattern. Lug Centric wheels, when mounted on the vehicle, are centered by the torque of the lug bolts and not the center bore of the wheel.
The only way to properly balance Lug Centric is through their lug bolt pattern. This style wheel must be mounted to the computer balancer in the same manner as it is mounted on the vehicle...through the lug bolt pattern.
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Being a tire balance fan and having heard the Sailuns are heavy and hard to balance, I had all of mine balanced when I recently replaced them. I was in a hurry and couldn't find anyone around with a Lug Centric adapter, so I went with a Hub Centric balance. And sure enough they took a fair amount of weight
I removed one wheel and tire for another project and decided I would have that tire re-balanced with a Lug Centric adapter at a shop I found with the right knowledge and tools. I expected a little (maybe a lot less) weight would be needed. To my surprise they actually took even more weight. But the tech assured me they are dead on balanced. I will wait to see how this works out before I do all the other wheels. It does affirm my belief that the wheels and tires need to be balanced.
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