Centramatic
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 194
Likes: 135
From: North Central Washington
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 1,669
From: NW Wyoming USA
On pickup truck tires, Centramatics are a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.
Last edited by GAZZILLA; Apr 7, 2026 at 09:03 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,885
Likes: 778
From: SoCal/Wyoming
It’s not an issue of initially balancing the tire, it’s maintaining that balance throughout the life of the tire. Not many folks pay to get their tires rebalanced every time they do a tire rotation. I know I don’t because I do my own tire rotations. Centramatics maintain the balance of the tire while it’s in motion that results in reduced tire wear and improved ride quality. As a tire wears, it becomes unbalanced, these compensate for those changes. I have them on the 350 and my Gold Wing.
Last edited by SARDiverDan; Apr 7, 2026 at 10:04 AM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 194
Likes: 135
From: North Central Washington
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 1,669
From: NW Wyoming USA
Walmart, $15 a tire for lifetime balance and rotation. I’m sure other tire shops that have similar deals.
Centramatics will eliminate the need to balance tires but you will still need to rotate them.
Centramatics will eliminate the need to balance tires but you will still need to rotate them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 1,172
From: East TN
$60+ every time I want to rotate, plus my time, plus dealing with the monkeys at Walmart?
Just 4 rotations and balances and you are spending more than the Centramatics - not including your time.
I'm guessing you will still not see the tree because of the forest that stands in the way...
Just 4 rotations and balances and you are spending more than the Centramatics - not including your time.
I'm guessing you will still not see the tree because of the forest that stands in the way...
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 1,669
From: NW Wyoming USA
$60+ every time I want to rotate, plus my time, plus dealing with the monkeys at Walmart?
Just 4 rotations and balances and you are spending more than the Centramatics - not including your time.
I'm guessing you will still not see the tree because of the forest that stands in the way...
Just 4 rotations and balances and you are spending more than the Centramatics - not including your time.
I'm guessing you will still not see the tree because of the forest that stands in the way...
You don’t have to go to Walmart, I’m sure other tire shops have similar deals.
Usually if you buy the tires from the tire shop they throw in free lifetime balance and rotation.
Last edited by GAZZILLA; Apr 7, 2026 at 09:51 AM.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,298
Likes: 2,197
maybe ….for non commercial tires on small to median rims.
both on my 19.5’s with stock tires and 22.5’s with mixed use tires…no one could balance them as most shops are only setup for passenger tires and small trucks with non commercial tires.
with beads (since weights do not work) I always had vibrations starting at 60mph
put on balancing rings on both trucks and no vibrations up to 70mph.
so yes, if you can get tire balancing ng that works and tire rotations for life free or cheap….thats super cool.
notbing is free or cheap here in nyc and the drop off at 7:30 and maybe get it back at 4;30 is a PIA.
so balancing ng rings work form for the vibrations and I rotate my tires in my driveway every 10k miles.
every one has to find a solution that works for them.
my solution may not be your solution and vs versa
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 132
Likes: 46
Walmart wouldn't touch my truck for balancing citing uneven tire wear and no lift rated for truck. I think the Walmart goons didn't want to work on my truck...
I have centramatics with factory wheel weights and tires. After 50k, something was off with vibrations 65-70mph.
Took balancers off, still had vibration.
Took all the weights off and balancers back on, still had vibration.
Got a balance at a local tire place for $40. All is good now. I probably have another 20k left in the tires...
I have centramatics with factory wheel weights and tires. After 50k, something was off with vibrations 65-70mph.
Took balancers off, still had vibration.
Took all the weights off and balancers back on, still had vibration.
Got a balance at a local tire place for $40. All is good now. I probably have another 20k left in the tires...
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,477
Likes: 4,971
I still maintain that one of the biggest advantages of the Centramatics is that they constantly adjust the balance as the tires wear, without needing to go back to the tire store to get the tires rebalanced, saving time and effort, just put the balancers on and forget them.
And, personally, I do not get the tires rotated, except when the rears wear out I rotate the front to the rear and install new tires on the front.
I get over 80K miles from my tires operating this way, have been doing this since my 2011 F250.
So, free lifetime balancing and rotation adds zero value to my tire purchases.
And, personally, I do not get the tires rotated, except when the rears wear out I rotate the front to the rear and install new tires on the front.
I get over 80K miles from my tires operating this way, have been doing this since my 2011 F250.
So, free lifetime balancing and rotation adds zero value to my tire purchases.
Last edited by Ltngdrvr; Apr 7, 2026 at 12:10 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,963
Likes: 2,662
From: The Great State of Texas
I've never had a need for cetramatics. If you got good tires, rims and suspension is not wore out, I don't see why one would need them. I'll run tires through the entire life span with the original balancing weights. About 3 months ago I needed to rotate my tires and didn't feel like messing with it, so I took my truck to Discount Tire to have the rotation done and told them they didn't need to re balance them.
Last edited by FishOnOne; Apr 7, 2026 at 03:30 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 314
Likes: 90
I installed them for my winter tires that the shop had a hard time balancing. They seemed to do the job. My A/T summer tires seem fine, but started leaving the centramatics on year round. The onky downside it the swishing noise. I don't notice it in the cab unless in a drive thru. I'm sure some bystanders might wonder what it is.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,204
Likes: 513
I still maintain that one of the biggest advantages of the Centramatics is that they constantly adjust the balance as the tires wear, without needing to go back to the tire store to get the tires rebalanced, saving time and effort, just put the balancers on and forget them.
And, personally, I do not get the tires rotated, except when the rears wear out I rotate the front to the rear and install new tires on the front.
I get over 80K miles from my tires operating this way, have been doing this since my 2011 F250.
So, free lifetime balancing and rotation adds zero value to my tire purchases.
And, personally, I do not get the tires rotated, except when the rears wear out I rotate the front to the rear and install new tires on the front.
I get over 80K miles from my tires operating this way, have been doing this since my 2011 F250.
So, free lifetime balancing and rotation adds zero value to my tire purchases.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,963
Likes: 2,662
From: The Great State of Texas
Actually it's the opposite. Fords Twin I Beam suspension (2wd) is the worst suspension design for tire life span.