What Is Wheel Balancing?
Wheel balancing and wheel alignment are often confused, so here is a simple way to look at it. Wheel balancing makes sure each individual tyre is balanced how it should be, while wheel alignment ensures the car tyres are placed in the best positions relative to each other (on the 4 corners, obviously, but there is a bit more to it than that!).
If your wheels are out of balanced, you may first notice an uncomfortable wobble through the steering wheel above certain speeds, but on some cars this won’t be noticeable. Unbalanced wheels are not simply an inconvenience, but will prematurely wear the car’s tyres, suspension, certain components of the steering assembly and other rotating parts.
How are wheel’s balanced? On a wheel balancing machine, of course! The machine will rotate the tyre and wheel, then calculate where the balance counterweight should be placed, and what it should weigh. This needs to be carried out for both the front and rear wheels. It may seem like a small inconvenience, but in the long run you will find your tyres, and other crucial parts, will last longer.