Are you confused about what exactly is wheel balancing? Worry not because we are here to help you answer all your questions. Wheel Balancing is a maintenance procedure performed for evenly distributing the weight of the tyre. When the tyre is new, its weight is uniformly distributed, but over time, after usage, the weight gets unbalanced, resulting in various issues which we will discuss later. It is not a mandatory service, but it should still be performed by the mechanic every 3000 to 4000 miles.

How to find out if your car tyres need Wheel Balancing?

There is no thumb rule of when you should get your wheels balanced. However, it is suggested that wheel balancing is required every 7000 to 8000 kilometres. Calculate the distance covered by your car by using an odometer. Other reasons for a need for wheel balancing are vibrating and wobbling tyres, resulting in unsteady and noisy driving.

What are the symptoms and dangers of unbalanced wheels?

Wheel balancing has various symptoms that might unnoticed at first, but you will realize them by seeing the change in the performance of the vehicle. Some of the indicators of unbalanced tyres are as follows:

  • Vibrating tyres: Tyres will vibrate because of the increased pressure while speeding the vehicle and on rough surfaces. It can lead to uneasy rides and increased in-cabin noises.
  • Wobbling motion: Tyres will spin ‘to and fro’ in unsteady motion causing inconvenient driving. Initially, it can be ignored, but it might lead to an accident if not repaired.
  • Increased fuel consumption: Fuel efficiency will decline drastically due to increased rolling resistance and tyre pressure. The vehicle will consume more fuel as the tyre will drag instead of moving freely.
  • Patches in tread wear: There will be patches in the tread wear, resulting in reduced traction and braking response.
  • Bulges on tyre surface: Bulges look like a pimple on the tyre surface and could result in wavering and breaking in the cord.

What are the causes of unbalanced wheels?

Tyre imbalance could have several reasons. However, the common ones are driving at high speed on rough surfaces and hitting cars with objects such as sidewalks or potholes. Although, it also depends on the driving habits, road conditions, tyre model and age. Some of the other factors are as follows:

  • Improper installation of tyres causes the wheel to be unbalanced due to improper mounting.
  • Uneven tread wear due to continuous use.
  • Heavy loads in the vehicle could cause the weight of the tyres to fluctuate, resulting in unbalanced wheels.
  • Damaged tyres due to hitting the roadsides, rocks, sharp corners or any harsh object cause the tyres to be imbalanced.
  • The suspension system ensures the tyres stay and move steadily. However, loose or faulty suspension system parts such as coil springs, strut rods, and shock absorbers would be responsible for unbalanced wheels.

Can I Do Wheel Balancing at Home

Yes, you can balance wheels at home, but it can be a long tiring process. You must have background knowledge of a mechanic and tools. It can be done using a bubble balancer machine or manually. Do not worry if you do have a bubble balancer. We will also teach you how to balance without any additional equipment.

Wheel balancing using a Bubble balancer:  

  • Take off your tyres and clean them thoroughly.
  • Put the tyre on the balancer individually. The balancer will turn in motion to balance the tyres.
  • Once the tyre stops moving, it means it is balanced.
  • Mark and put the weight on the points which seems unstable.
  • Keep on adding weight to the points and inspect at last. If the tyres do not vibrate, it means you did a good job.

Wheel Balancing without a machine: 

  • Clean the tyres without removing the tyres of the vehicle.
  • Locate and mark a 12-clock position using chalk.
  • Attach a weight to the marked point.
  • Speed the car gradually and attach another weight to the 45-degree angle of the marked point.
  • Keep repeating this process until the tyres stop vibrating.
  • At last, inspect the performance of the tyres.

Are Wheel balancing and wheel alignment the same thing?

No, Wheel balancing and alignment are not the same services. In Wheel alignment, the angle of the tyre to the ground is checked, while in Wheel Balancing Merthyr Tydfil the weight is uniformly distributed of the tyres using a balancing machine.

How Mechanics Do Wheel Balancing? 

Wheel balancing is a usual service offered by car service stations. They have the right machinery, tools and skilled mechanics to solve the problem in 1 to 2 hours. The local garages charge 10 pounds per tyre which is 40 pounds for a vehicle.

Balancing wheels at service stations may appear simple, but it is more complex. The computer screen records and tells the vibration and its source points. Then weights are added on either side of the tyre and concerning points.