3 Signs That It's Time To Get Your Vehicle's Wheels Balanced
Posted on: 9 November 2015
Changing the tires on your car seasonally and ensuring they're properly filled with air are two simple tasks that are important for safe driving. Another critical duty is to get your wheels balanced when needed. While you can change and air your tires on your own, getting your wheels balanced requires a visit to a certified tire and wheel shop. There, a technician will use advanced machinery to ensure each of your wheels is properly balanced. Not sure when it's time to get your wheels balanced? Here are three indicators that you should schedule an appointment.
Distance Driven
A common guideline is to get your tires balanced once you've driven between 4,000 and 6,000 miles. This guideline doesn't have to be challenging to remember. Because you should already be keeping track of when you need other regular maintenance work done on your vehicle, such as changing the oil, you can note your mileage at the time of your last wheel balancing and keep track of when you're due for the next balancing.
Driving Signs
If your vehicle's wheels are out of balance, you'll often get some subtle -- or, in some cases, very overt -- signs that it's time to make an appointment with your local tire and wheel shop. At high speeds, wheels that aren't properly balanced will generate a vibration. In many cases, you'll notice an overall vibration in the vehicle and in other cases, you'll subtly see that the steering wheel has a slight shake. In either case, you're getting a sign that your wheels need balancing. It's best to avoid ignoring these symptoms. If left unfixed, the vibration can cause premature wear in other elements of your vehicle, such as the suspension and joints, which can be costly to get fixed.
Visual Signs
It's possible to get visual signs that indicate that your wheels are in need of balancing. Visually inspect your tire treads and look for any irregular markings. If there's a need for balancing, you'll often notice wear patterns on your treads that appear cupped. You don't have remove the tires to conduct this visual inspection, although using a high-powered flashlight can be helpful, as the underside of your vehicle is shadowy. Don't just inspect one tire during this process -- it's vitally important to thoroughly check all four tires, given that only one or two of the tires could be out of alignment
If you need your wheels balanced, visit a shop like Henry's Tire.
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