Get a quote today
Are you looking for Wheel Balancing for your vehicle?
Regular wheel balancing will increase tyre life
When the wheels are changed, it may be necessary to have them balanced. Because an imbalance not only leads to one-sided wear of the tyre profile, it can also cause damage to the vehicle and impairment of ride comfort. How to recognise that balancing is necessary can be found in the following article.
An imbalance arises when the mass of a rotating body is not distributed symmetrically to the axis of rotation. For car wheels, the tyres are the deciding factor. They run unevenly, creating an imbalance. Regular balancing counteracts this effect.
How does balancing work?
In order to balance car wheels, the stationary method is usually used. The wheels are hereby clamped in a special balancing machine and rotated. Sensors then determine whether an imbalance exists. If this is the case, small weights are attached to the rim, which compensates for the inequalities in the mass distribution of the tyre.
The second method of balancing is electronic fine balancing. Here, the rotation of the wheel is checked while it is mounted on the vehicle. Thus, it can be ruled out that small irregularities on attachments such as the brake drum or the wheel hub cause an imbalance.
The weights can be attached to the inside or outside of the rim and are either clamped or glued. An external attachment is often necessary when due to the small distance to the brake system there is a risk that internal weights would drag while driving on the brake disc cover.
How often do I have to balance my wheels?
In the frequency of balancing opinions differ. Many vehicle owners have the wheels balanced every six months; others use this service only when fitting new tyres. When buying tyres from us and you get them fitted in our Premier Tyre And Autocare workshop in Lathom, Skelmersdale, the wheel balancing is free of charge. If you come to us for this service only, a small fee applies.
It should be noted that an imbalance can lead to uneven wear of the tyres and damage of components on the steering and chassis (for example, the axle bearings). Besides, it affects the ride comfort.
At the latest, if you notice inconsistencies while driving, you should have your vehicle checked. Typical features are the following:
- The steering wheel "flutters" or vibrates at certain speeds.
- When driving, unusual noises or vibrations occur on the vehicle.
It is important to properly store unused wheels. In addition, you should check before every wheel change, whether there are still all balancing weights in place. If one is missing (has fallen off while driving), a new balancing becomes inevitable.
Conclusion
Those who regularly balance their tyres avoid the occurrence of harmful centrifugal forces. On the one hand, the life of the tyres can be increased, on the other hand, costly damage to the wheel bearing and suspension can be prevented.
Please come to see us at our Premier Tyre And Autocare workshop at any time that suits you. For wheel balancing, you don't need to book an appointment. Just come in, and we will take care of everything.