Tire balancing is the process of ensuring that the weight of a tire and wheel assembly is evenly distributed. Technicians use a balancing machine to identify heavy or light spots and correct them by adding small counterweights to the wheel rim.
Even new tires are rarely perfectly uniform in weight, and over time, regular driving and road hazards can further throw the assembly out of balance.
The purpose of tire balancing
- Smoother ride: The most noticeable benefit is a reduction or elimination of vibrations felt in the steering wheel, floorboard, or seats, especially at higher speeds.
- Extended tire life: When a tire is unbalanced, it can wobble or hop, causing the tread to wear down unevenly. Balancing ensures the tread wears uniformly, maximizing the life of your tires.
- Prevent suspension damage: Persistent vibrations from an unbalanced tire put extra stress on a vehicle's suspension and steering components, such as shocks and bearings. Proper balancing protects these parts from premature wear.
- Improved fuel economy: Unbalanced tires can increase rolling resistance, making your vehicle work harder and consume more fuel. By ensuring the tires roll smoothly, balancing helps maintain optimal fuel efficiency.
- Enhanced safety: By ensuring even contact with the road, balanced tires provide better traction and control, which is crucial for safe handling and braking.
How to tell if your tires are out of balance
You can often identify unbalanced tires by the following symptoms:
- Vibration: Shaking that becomes more noticeable as speed increases is a classic sign of unbalanced tires. Vibration felt in the steering wheel usually indicates an issue with the front tires, while vibration felt in the seat or floor points to a rear tire problem.
- Uneven tire wear: A visual inspection may show that some parts of the tire tread are wearing down faster than others, sometimes appearing as patchy wear or "cupping".
- Loss of a wheel weight: The small metal weights clipped or adhered to your wheel can be knocked off by hitting a curb or pothole. A sudden vibration may occur after this happens.
Do any of these sound familiar?
Book your Tire Balance with your on rim tire swap today for $49.99 +HST at Great Lakes Honda!
