What Is Tire Balancing : Symptoms, Causes & Balancing Cost

wheel balancing

Tires are extremely useful parts of all vehicles because they allow the vehicle to move, and the tires balance and control the weight of the vehicle.

Tires also play an important role in the brake system of the vehicle. But sometimes the tires of the vehicle become unbalanced, which causes vibrations and jerks in the vehicle. If the tire is unbalanced, then you may have to face many problems related to it.

In this article, you will learn about tire balancing in detail, such as: What is tire balancing and why is it important?

What Is Tire Balancing?

Tire balancing is a technical procedure performed on vehicle tires to ensure that weight distribution is equal around the entire circumference of each tire and to prevent tire wobble while in motion.

The tire balancing process involves placing small weights at specific locations on the sides of the tire rim. These weights balance out any irregularities in the tire and ensure that the tire rotates smoothly. Tire balancing is usually performed when vibration is sensed in the steering wheel of a moving vehicle or through the structure of the vehicle.

The best way to balance tires is to use a special machine that rotates the tire and wheel assembly, measures the tire imbalance, and indicates where counterweights should be added. Weights can be attached to the inner or outer surfaces of the rim or tire as needed.

Tire balancing is done to eliminate vibrations caused by the uneven distribution of weight in the tire and wheel assembly of the vehicle. Because when the tire and wheel assembly become unbalanced, it can cause uneven tire wear and stress on the vehicle’s suspension system.

Types of Tire Balancing

Tire balancing of vehicles is generally done in two ways.

  • Static Tire Balancing
  • Dynamic Tire Balancing

The Static Balancing process involves placing the tire and wheel assembly on a balancer without moving and measuring the imbalance at a single point. This process places the tire and wheel assembly in a stationary position on the balancer.

The Dynamic Balancing process involves rotating the tire and wheel assembly and measuring the imbalance at several points. Dynamic tire balancing is done with the tire in motion. Dynamic balancing results are more accurate and effective because, in the process, they take into account the forces that occur when the tire is in motion.

Symptoms of A Bad Tire Balancing

If a vehicle’s tires are unbalanced, common symptoms can be uneven tire wear, steering wheel or vehicle vibration, unusual noise while driving, and reduced fuel efficiency. These problems can negatively impact vehicle performance and safety.

1. Vehicle Vibration

If your vehicle’s tire balancing is poor, then due to this, you may feel a vibration or even a slight jerk when driving the vehicle at a certain speed. Because the tire of the vehicle is unable to walk in a straight line at speed,

Due to which you feel vibration in the cabin or steering wheel of the vehicle. However, tremors can have many other causes as well, for which it is better to check it.

2. Uneven Tire Wear

Poor tire balancing can cause uneven tire tread and rapid wear on your vehicle. Because of poor tire balancing, the tires are unable to run at the right angle and in a straight direction during the vehicle’s motion, which leads to excessive friction between the vehicle’s tires and the road surface at an angle.

Due to which poor balancing causes tires to wear unevenly and faster. If this problem is not taken care of in time, even the new tire on the vehicle can be completely damaged due to poor balancing.

3. Pull A Side While Driving

Another symptom of poor tire balancing in a vehicle is the vehicle pulling to one side in either direction while driving. because this badly affects the steering system of your vehicle.

However, there are other reasons why a vehicle may pull to one side while driving. For this, it is necessary to investigate the causes of this problem.

4. Tire Wobble

Often, the symptom of poor tire balancing in a vehicle is a wobbly movement of the vehicle’s tires while in motion. If your vehicle’s tire balancing is bad, then you will find the vehicle bouncing during speed. Because of this problem, the vehicle may not run smoothly during motion.

5. Unusual Noise While Driving

Unusual noises coming from any part of the vehicle during motion can also be a symptom of poor tire balancing. Because poor tire balancing affects more of your vehicle’s suspension system and steering system, unusual noises may start coming from any part of your vehicle’s suspension or steering system.

Tire Imbalancing Causes

There can be many different reasons for the deterioration of the tire balance of any vehicle.

  • Uneven tire wear: If your vehicle’s tires have uneven wear, then the tire balance may be out of whack. because an unevenly worn tire moves along the road surface by bouncing, which can affect the tire’s balance during motion.
  • Improper Inflation: Improper air pressure in the vehicle tire affects the actual condition of the tire. Due to which the balance of the tire may deteriorate during speed. because improper air pressure in the tire can deflate or inflate the tire.
  • Bent or Damaged Tire Rim: Sometimes, during high-speed vehicle travel, the tire of the vehicle may hit a pothole on the road, due to which the tire wheel of the vehicle may be bent or damaged in some other way. So a bent tire wheel or a damaged wheel can throw the tire out of balance.
  • Improper installation: If the tire is installed after the mechanic has removed the wheel from the vehicle, sometimes the tire is not installed properly in the wheel. That is, the edge of the tire can be inside or outside when fitted to the wheel. Due to this, the tire balance gets spoiled.
  • Suspension problem: Some part of the vehicle’s suspension has been damaged. So the balance of the wheels of the vehicle may be out of order. Because the poor suspension is unable to control the condition of the tires of the vehicle during speed.
  • Improper Tire Alignment: Wheel alignment provides stability and balance to the vehicle’s wheels when turning at every angle and when travelling in a straight line. But sometimes the alignment of the tire is out, due to which the balance of the tire is bad.

How To Balance A Tire?

For this, you have to follow the following useful process mentioned below, so that you will be able to balance the tire in a perfect way.

  • First of all, you will have to detach one tire from the vehicle, so that the tire and wheel can be installed on the balancer.
  • Next, install the tire with the wheel on a balancer, a machine that spins the tire wheel at high speed to make sure there are no abnormal loads or spots on the tire wheel.
  • Then mark the tire’s heavy point so that you know its location.
  • You then add the proper weight opposite the heavy spot on the wheel, so that each part of the wheel is balanced.
  • After this, to check the tire balance, put the tire wheel again on the balancer machine, so that it can be sure that the balance of the tire wheel is correct.
  • After this, install the wheel in the vehicle.
  • After this, this procedure can be repeated with each wheel of the vehicle.

Additional Testing Process

  • Check for bent or damaged tire rims.
  • All parts of the suspension should be checked. because bad suspension can spoil the wheel balance.
  • Check or redo the wheel alignment.
  • Check for proper tire air pressure.

Tire Balancing Cost

Tire balancing usually depends on many factors. Like balancing weight and how many tires to be balanced.

The cost of tire balancing for a typical car’s four tires can range from $40 to $120. And the balancing cost per tire wheel can be expected to be around $15 to $20.

One thing must be kept in mind while getting tire wheel balancing done. that it may cost more at a certified car dealer than at a new tire shop, an alignment shop, or an independent mechanic shop.

 

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