Keeping your car running smoothly involves a lot of moving parts, all working together in unison. When one system is off, issues can arise in other areas that can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. One lesser-known service you should be aware of as a car owner is tire balancing.
Here’s what you need to know about the important maintenance service and how it makes a difference for your vehicle.
WHAT IS TIRE BALANCING?
Tire—or wheel—balancing is a service that corrects uneven distribution of weight on the wheels. Tire balancing and wheel alignment services are often performed during the same appointment, but they have different purposes. Tires can become unbalanced due to everyday wear or after hitting a curb or pothole.
Signs that you need tire balancing services include:
- Vibration in the steering wheel, floorboards, or seats.
- Uneven or fast tread wear
TYPES OF TIRE IMBALANCES
There is more than one way for tires to be unbalanced: static and dynamic. Static imbalances occur when a light or heavy spot prevents the tire from rolling evenly on the road, which causes the tire to vibrate in an up-and-down motion. Dynamic imbalances occur when unequal weight on either side of the tire’s lateral centerline causes a side-to-side vibration. Often both types of imbalances are happening simultaneously.
HOW ARE TIRES BALANCED?
Attaching traditional weights made out of metal to the inside or outside of the wheel is how we balance your tire and wheel assembly. A technician will use a machine calibrated to measure tire balance to determine the amount of weights to add and precisely where on the wheel.
Properly balanced tires can provide a smoother ride, slow down tire tread wear, and ensure there’s no unnecessary strain on other parts of your vehicle. A wheel alignment service can be the perfect time to check your tire balance in case any adjustments need to be made.
