Why Wheel Balancing Is Necessary For Vehicles

The smooth functioning of your vehicle is dependent on every part of the vehicle working properly. A car is a mechanical system composed of many parts. When one part suffers, it can affect the pleasure of your ride or the general operation of the car. Amongst the many car problems you can experience with one car, nothing triggers annoyance or a scare when your tire or steering wheels suddenly start vibrating. These vibrations can be so intense that you find it hard to speed as you would like. You can even notice that your tires are beginning to wear out unusually. When you start experiencing incidences like this with your, what you need to get done is Wheel Balancing.

What Is Wheel Balancing

In a balanced tire/wheel, weight is evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the unit. Tire balancing is done to compensate for any weight imbalances in the tyre/wheel combination.

Signs That Your Car Needs Wheel Balancing

1. Irregular Vibrations In Your Car

The most potent sign that your vehicle needs wheel balancing is that it vibrates irregularly. These vibrations are usually felt on the steering wheel, the seats and the floor of the car. The vibrations tend to increase with speed. If the vibrations are more intense on the steering wheels, then it’s likely an indication that the front wheels need balancing. Instead, if it’s more intense on the seats and floor of the vehicle, then it can be predicted that back wheels need balancing.

2. Uneven Wearing Out Of Tires

Unbalanced wheels will cause your tires to wear out along their edges instead of wearing out from across the thread when balanced.

3. Noise When Driving

Vibrations tend to generate noise which can be an irritation when driving. Noises like humming or buzzing sounds get more heightened with speed.

How To Get A Wheel Balancing Done On Your Vehicle

Wheel balancing is part of routine maintenance done on a vehicle. Usually, you will need the services of a mechanic to get your tires balanced.

Wheel balancing is done by putting the wheel-tire unit on a tire balancing machine that takes measurements to pinpoint lighter or heavier areas and making adjustments to account for these weight differences.

Why Wheel Balancing Is Important

1. Wheel balancing ensures you have a smoother ride.
2. It reduces the risk of accidents on the road.
3. It reduces fast wearing out of your tires.
4. Wheel balancing ensures your vehicle is stable especially when driving at high speeds.

Wheel Alignment Vs Wheel Balancing

Wheel alignment and wheel balancing are sometimes assumed to mean the same thing, but actually, they are different. Wheel alignment is about adjusting the angles of the tires which affects how they hit the road. It is an adjustment to a vehicle’s suspension – the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Common symptoms of wheel misalignment are vibrations on the steering wheels, the car pulling to either side (i.e not maintaining a straight path), and uneven wear on the tires. Most times, wheel alignment is usually performed with wheel balancing.

What Causes Improper Wheel Alignment

Improper wheel alignment is not a stranger vehicle problem. Depending on the terrain in which you regularly ride and your driving habits, improper wheel alignment can happen to any car. A common cause of this is the sudden impact when the wheels hit something at enough speed. This impact could be a result of sudden hits with potholes of varying depths.

When Should I Get Wheel Balancing Done On My Vehicle

There are no hard and fast rules on when to balance your wheels. As mentioned earlier, wheel balancing is part of regular car maintenance. A general rule of thumb is to get your tires serviced after every 5000-6000 kilometres. Also, it’s necessary you get your wheels balanced if need be after you replace your vehicle’s tires or wheels.

Notwithstanding, anytime you experience any signs that your vehicle needs a wheel balance is a good time to get it done.

CONCLUSION

Wheel balancing is one of the important maintenance any driver should do on their vehicle. It ensures you have a smooth ride and also guarantees your safety behind the wheels.