Relativistic kinetic theory is applied to the study of the balance equations for relativistic multicomponent mixtures, comparing the approaches corresponding to Eckarts and Landau-Lifshitzs frames. It is shown that the concept of particle velocity relative to the center of mass of the fluid is essential to establish the structure of the energy-momentum tensor in both cases. Different operational definitions of the center of mass velocity lead either to the inclusion of heat in the energy-momentum tensor (particle/Eckart frame) or to strictly relativistic contributions to the diffusion fluxes (energy/Landau-Lifshitz frame). The results here obtained are discussed emphasizing the physical features regarding each approach.