Whenever an automotive technician does wheel, tire, or axle work, customers will find tire balancing on the list of procedures performed. Tire balancing refers to the attachment of small balancing weights to the wheels if a technician finds them to be out of balance. Over time, tires wear unevenly, and even the best quality tires can become unbalanced through ordinary use.
Why Should I Care About Tire Balancing?
If your tires are not balanced, you’ll notice that your steering wheel, seats, or floorboards vibrate at speeds between approximately 50 mph to 70 mph. A vehicle with balanced tires and no other problems will operate smoothly with no noticeable vibrations as you drive. Another effect of imbalanced tires is the uneven wearing of your tire treads. An indicator that your wheel may be imbalanced is that the wear on your tire forms a cup or scallop pattern.
Is This the Same Thing as a Wheel Alignment?
No. An alignment refers to making sure that the wheels are aligned with each other and that all wheels meet the ground at a perpendicular or exact 90-degree angle. If the wheels are out of alignment with each other or with the ground, this can lead to uneven wear on your tires.
So What Is Tire Balancing, Anyway?
When your auto technician balances your tires, he or she will first mount the tire on a balancing machine. The machine spins the tire and assesses how the mass of the tire and wheel are distributed. The machine detects areas where the tire and wheel seem heavier. Once these areas have been detected, the technician will put a balancing weight, usually made of lead or zinc, on the area of the tire or wheel directly opposite the heavy area to compensate.
How Can I Keep My Tires from Needing Re-Balancing?
Unfortunately, even the highest quality tires will need balancing after they’ve been driven on for a while. This is simply what happens to tires as they wear. Factories test their tires for balance before they sell them, and they throw out the ones that are highly imbalanced, so you won’t likely ever purchase a significantly imbalanced tire that’s new.