How To Check Wheel Balancing

Ever wondered when you are driving your car, you feel that the steering wheel is vibrating at certain speeds? Or, one fine day you feel vibration around your seat or you see tyres getting worn out around the edges? Nah, it’s not the time to sell your car. Instead, all these are the warning signs that the tyres of your car are out of balance and begging attention. This shouldn’t be confused with the alignment of the wheel as there is a world of difference between the two. Although, the fact is that unworkability of both affects the ride quality.

Why balancing of tyres is important?

Car wheel balancing should be conducted every time you mount a new set of tyres. It not only increases the life of your car tyres but also, in the long run, help you save a lot of money. Imbalanced wheels can cause your car to give poor mileage besides, putting you in an unsafe driving situation. Ideally, balancing should be done at every 4000-6000 miles.

How to check wheel balance?

It is checked on a wheel balancing machine which spins the tyres and calculates the amount and spot of the imbalance. Even one ounce of unevenness on the front tyre can cause obvious vibrations. For wheel balancing check, the tyre is mounted on a wheel-balancing device and the heavier side is identified. Once done, the technician (or you, if you have this device) will then attach a lead weight on the opposite side to balance the wheel. The rim weight has to be balanced on all the wheels of your car so as to ensure a smooth ride on the go.

Once the wheel is mounted on the machine, it asks about the height and width of the rim. Some machines have a feature of choosing the vehicle type, which then automatically put the appropriate amount of road force it needs when undergoing the test. Next is the tyre pressure check, before it goes for a spin. Once the machine has finished rim balancing, it will tell you how much weight it needs and on which side.

Finally, after adding the appropriate weight, the wheel will have to be taken through the same process again i.e. spinning the machine again. This is done to examine whether the needed amount has been added or not. It is to be noted that wheel balancing and alignment are two crucial factors for keeping your vehicle healthy when it comes to wheels and tyres. Undoubtedly, tyres are one of the most ignored parts of a vehicle. We should do a regular check on these things to ensure safe and smooth ride.