When do wheels need balancing

Timing belt FAQ Timing chain: when to replace? Does your car need a tune-up? Balanced tire wheel. Technician balances tire on a tire balancing machine. Road Force balancer. Photo, courtesy of Hunter Engineering Company. Read Next: How often should the wheel alignment be done? When should tires be replaced? Why does the steering wheel shake when braking at high speed?

How often do brakes need to be serviced? But just like correct inflation pressure, regular tire rotations and precise alignment, periodically balancing your tires is a part of proper tire maintenance. When new, during rotation intervals and certainly any time a vibration is detected, your tires should be inspected for proper balance. For everything you ever wanted and needed to know about balancing, the information below is intended to help you get the best ride quality, longest tread wear and optimum safety out of your tires.

First and foremost, you have to start with a quality tire that possesses sound uniformity. Uniformity refers to how even and round a tire is manufactured. For example, a hard skid in a panic-brake situation can flat spot a tire.

A bent rim or the loss of a counterweight are other common causes of imbalance. Aggressive acceleration or braking can result in tire-to-rim slippage, which also affects balance. The photo above was sourced from High Velocity Diesel Performance , whose Ford Excursion was hit by another vehicle and suffered a bent rim among other damages.

This includes steering. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Tire balancing is a tune-up for your wheel-tire set.

It makes sure that weight is evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the unit. The common symptoms of out-of-balance tires are uneven and faster tread wear, poor fuel economy, and vibration in the steering wheel, the floorboard or the seat that gets worse at faster speeds.

When all areas of the wheel-tire unit are as equal in weight as possible, the tire will roll smoothly. This helps it wear evenly, for longest life. Book a Winter Car Service 09 Nov Auto Repair Shops: We are more than just Tyres! Enter your registration number below to find tyres for your vehicle. Need help? Phone FREE on The UK's largest independent tyre and autocare specialist. Toggle navigation.