Tire balance refers to the distribution of mass within a car’s tire or the entire wheel on which it is mounted. Car wheels and tires aren’t perfectly round, even when they are brand new. In addition to this, their weight isn’t evenly distributed which leads to them being heavier in certain spots. Both of these issues can cause vibrations which aren’t fun for anyone. Tires which are not balanced can also cause quick tire and suspension wear.
When new tires are mounted on wheels, mechanics do something called spin-balance. They do this to look for and eliminate vibrations before mounting them onto a car. A good amount of vibrations can be taken out of the equation by rotating the tire on the wheel. This is done so that heavy spots land up in a different location which matches up better with the wheel.
A wheel balance service includes tire and wheel removal, mounting each wheel on a balancing machine, spinning each wheel to ensure that the weight of the wheel and tire are balanced evenly around the axle, finding imbalances, attaching a weight on the opposite side to compensate for imbalances and remounting the tires and wheels.
Depending on the brand of tire you use, tires can go out of balance gradually or quickly. Most experts recommend that you should have your wheels balanced every 3,000 to 6,000 miles.
Your tires might need re-balancing if you experience any of the following symptoms.
- Vibration of the steering wheel at speed on a highway
- Floorboard or seat vibration at speed on a highway
- Cupped wear patterns on your tires
If you’re unsure whether you need a tire & wheel balance or not, you should ask Delray Cadillac certified service technicians. We are located in Delray Beach near Boynton Beach and Boca Raton and we can perform an inspection. Check our monthly offers page for valuable money savings coupons.