Tire balancing, also known as wheel balancing, is a type of tire maintenance that involves measuring the weight distribution of a tire and wheel assembly and adding weights to correct any imbalances. This process helps to eliminate vibrations and reduce wear and tear on suspension components.
A trained technician can balance your tires by following these steps:
- Mount the wheel and tire assembly onto a tire balancing machine
- Spin the wheel and tire assembly at high speeds to determine its heaviest point
- Take vibration measurements to determine if the weight is spread evenly
- Install the correct wheel weights to properly balance the wheel and tire The technician may need to add more weights, reposition the tire on the wheel, or both to correct the imbalance. For example, if a heavy spot on the wheel and on the tire line up together, this can cause a greater imbalance that needs to be corrected.
The technician may need to add more weights, reposition the tire on the wheel, or both to correct the imbalance. For example, if a heavy spot on the wheel and on the tire line up together, this can cause a greater imbalance that needs to be corrected.
Some common signs that your tires might need balancing include:
- Steering wheel, seat, or floorboard vibrates while driving at highway speeds
- Irregular or uneven treadwear
Some other methods of balancing tires include using balancing beads, which can improve fuel economy and constantly readjust to keep the tires balanced, or dynamic balancing, which can be used for complex or severe imbalances.