What Is Tire Balancing?

What Does Balancing Tires Do?

Balancing the tires of your car not only helps lead to a smoother ride, but also helps extend the treadwear of the tires and eases the strain on the drivetrain.During a tire balance service, a technician mounts the tires and wheels onto a tire balancing machine. The machine spins the tire and wheel assembly to gauge the amount of imbalance. The technician then gets rid of any imbalance by installing wheel weights.

Where Can I Get My Tires Balanced?

When it's time to have your tires balanced, schedule an appointment at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for professional tire balancing services.

How Can You Tell When Your Tires Are Out of Balance?

Your tires and your car typically tell you when the tires are out of balance. Signs that your tires need balancing can include vibrations in the floorboard, seat or steering wheel.

Pay close attention to where the vibrations are coming from, as this can signal whether the front or rear tires need to be balanced. If you feel trembling in the steering wheel, it’s probably time for your front tires to be balanced. But if the seats are vibrating, it’s likely that the back tires need to be balanced. We always recommend balancing all of your tiresat the same time to ensure a smooth ride. Tire imbalance also seems to be at its worst at about 55 miles per hour.

What Causes Tires to be Out of Balance?

Several things can lead to your tires being out of balance, including:

• Uneven treadwear.
• Loss of a weight wheel when a rim hits a pothole or curb.
• Flat spots on the tires after the car has been parked for a long time without being moved.

How Often Should You Balance Tires?

Generally, you should have your tires balanced every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. However, we recommend reading the owner’s manual to find out how often the automaker advises balancing your car’s tires. You may also want to get the tires balanced during scheduled routine maintenance services, after a flat tire repair, or during a tire rotation.

How Long Does Tire Balancing Take?

Tire balancing typically takes 45 minutes to two hours. The appointment may be shorter if your tires are newer, for instance, and may last longer if tire balancing is needed after your car hits a pothole.

Additionally, your driving habits, the climate where you drive most often, and the condition of the tires can contribute to the time it takes to balance the tires. Call your local Firestone Complete Auto Care to schedule your tire balancing appointmentand have a professional technician assist you with your service length questions.