Sometimes confused with wheel alignment, tire balancing is the process of making sure your wheels and tires are working perfectly with one another. This is done by placing weights rim on the tire opposite heavy spots, so the weight is distributed evenly across the entire tire and wheel.
Every single time a new wheel is fitted onto a rim with a tire, wheel balancing is necessary. This is to ensure that even with new tires, the weight of the tire, wheel, and rim are all equal and equally distributed.
When you have your wheels balanced at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair in Willoughby Hills, OH, we place your vehicle on a wheel balancing machine. This machine can sense differences in weight down to 1/4 of an ounce, so you know that we will have your tires in perfect balance. Why worry about 1/4 of an ounce? That small amount of weight travels around your axle each time your wheel makes a full rotation, and that makes even the slightest bit of weight difference a big deal. Unbalanced tires wear unevenly – and quickly – if not balanced correctly, and can even affect how well your car drives.
Even when we balance your tires at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair, it isn’t a “one and done” thing. The minute you drive out of our bays, your tires begin to lose their balance. Every curb or pothole you hit further undoes the work we do, so it is important to have your tires balanced regularly.
If my tires need balancing, what are the warning signs?
The two main warning signs that your tires need balancing. First, you’ll notice uneven wear on the tires. Second, you may notice vibrations or shaking when you drive over 40 mph. These are both excellent signs you need a tire balancing.
When should I be getting my tires balanced?
If you are a typical driver, it is a good idea to have your tires balanced and wheels rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. So at every other oil change (for most non-European vehicles), you should have your tires rotated and balanced.
TPMS – Tire Pressure Monitoring System
As part of the effort to increase awareness of the need to maintain proper tire pressure, the U.S. government has taken steps to make it easier for drivers to be aware of potentially unsafe low pressure in their tires. As of the 2008 model year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now requires that all passenger cars and light trucks feature the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). In conjunction with the new requirements, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) has initiated a consumer safety campaign focusing on the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure.