Tire balance means to distribute the weight equally in each wheel. In the case of dis-balanced tires, you will notice a vibration in the steering, seat, or floorboard. Your car might get damaged if you do not get the unbalanced tire fixed as soon as possible. Moreover, the expense will also double.
The other parts which might get affected due to untreated balance include bearing, shocks, and whole wheel assembly. Treating the unbalanced tire is essential for the safety of drivers and passengers.
How Often Should I Balance Tires?
It is recommended to get your tires checked for balance every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Some places, like United tire recommend it every 4,000 to 6,000 miles. Either way, it lines up nicely with your oil change schedule, so have your service technician check your tires when they change your oil. Also, it is advised to balance tires when you rotate them as the balance procedure is economical so pairing it up with rotation is not a bad idea at all.
Benefits of Balancing Tires:
It is vital to get your vehicle updated and upgraded after a specific time like any other machine. Wheel balancing and alignment are a basic need of your auto to ensure a smooth ride. Besides, the other benefits include:
- A quieter ride
- Better handling
- Longer tire life – Save money!
Symptoms of Un-Balanced Tires
The tires will roll smoothly when they have a balanced weight; even a half an ounce weight is enough to generate a vibration. Further, the symptoms of unbalanced tires are:
- Faster and uneven tread wear
- Poor fuel economy
- Vibration in the floorboard or steering wheel
- Unusual and disturbing noise
- Poor handling
- Any humming or buzzing sound
How Are Tires Rebalanced?
A tire balancing machine is used in tire shops to rebalance the tires. This balancing machine measures a tire and pinpoints lighter and relatively heavier areas. Moreover, it also makes adjustments accordingly while bearing the weight difference into account.
Whenever you plan to rotate tires, getting them checked for balance is ideal as sometimes this weight difference is at the rear of the vehicle, so it isn’t easy to spot it on your own until it is visible in front.
When to Get Your Tire Balancing Done?
It’s recommended to get your tires checked for balance every 5,000 – 7,500 miles. You should also get them checked if you notice any of the following:
- You feel a vibration in the steering wheel, seat or floorboard while driving,
- You notice an increase in noise, especially at higher speeds
- You observe uneven tire wear
Do Rear Tires Need to be Balanced?
Yes, all tires are your vehicle will likely need to be re-balanced at some point. As already mentioned, the defective tire is spotted by the vibration of the seat, floorboard, or steering wheel. Also, it is advised to keep rotating the tires so that the rear tires would be soon front tires, so it is essential to balance all the tires.
Final Verdict
Up till now, you would be aware of how often you need to balance tires. Moreover, wheel balancing and wheel alignment might be done together but know that they are different services.
Both of the problems can lead to significant issues if not treated timely. It is advised to get the wheel balancing done every two years or whenever you plan to rotate the tires. Also, it is best to get the alignment and balancing done after an average of 5000 miles. Good Luck.
See also: The Best Tires for Subaru Crosstrek in 2022
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of an unbalanced tire?
- Faster and uneven tread wear
- Poor fuel consumption
- Vibration in the floorboard, set, or steering wheel
- Unusual and disturbing noise
- Any humming or buzzing sound
How to Know If the Front Tire or Rear Tire Needs Balancing?
It is crucial to observe if the steering wheel, seat, or floorboard vibrates to identify the defective tire. Suppose the seat is vibrating; it means your rear tire needs fixing. Similarly, shake or vibration in the steering wheel means you need to fix the front wheel.
Tire Balancing vs Alignment – Which One is Better?
Both services are crucial and depend on the vehicle condition to which one is better to have.
Do Tires Need to be Balanced When Rotated?
To keep the drive smooth, it is better to balance the tire after rotation. For more details about the above question, feel free to have a look at this guide.