Tire Shop Guide To Understanding the Basics of Tire Balancing

Tire balancing and tire rotation at tulsa tire shop

As every Tulsa, Oklahoma, motorist knows, tires can’t function independently. Instead, each wheel on your vehicle is designed to work along with three other tires. Since these wheels need to be nearly identical to deliver exceptional performance, the weight of your tires is more important than you might initially assume.

Every tire in a set of four newly manufactured wheels will weigh the same amount as its counterparts. However, that may not be the case indefinitely; as tires deal with tread wear, their weight can slowly change. And when tires lose their balance, they can develop uneven tread wear and other issues. 

The good news is that there’s a simple solution to this problem: visiting a tire shop for tire balancing service. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how tire balancing works and how to find a shop that can handle this task for you.

Tire Balancing 101

When you visit a tire shop in Tulsa for tire balancing, the mechanics working there will hook your tires up to a device known as a wheel balancer. This piece of equipment won’t just weigh your wheels — it’ll also provide detailed information on how that weight is distributed.

If your shop’s wheel balancer determines that one or multiple wheels on your car are out of balance, its technicians will work on resolving this problem. To do that, they’ll attach small weights to your underweight tires with bonding cement. By doing so, they’ll bring each of your wheels back into balance.

The Benefits of Tire Balancing

Prioritizing tire balancing is an excellent way to protect your wheels’ well-being. If you take care of this service on a regular basis, you’ll benefit from:

  • Safety on the road. Unbalanced tires can easily suffer from uneven tread wear and bald spots. On the other hand, tire balancing can lower your risk of encountering these safety hazards.
  • A smooth drive. When your tires are balanced, you’ll keep vibrations in your vehicle to a minimum.
  • An extended tire life span. If your tires develop uneven tread wear, you may need to replace them earlier than expected. Since tire balancing can promote even tread wear, it should also help your tires last as long as possible.
  • Better gas mileage. Poorly balanced tires can put a strain on your vehicle’s performance, which means taking care of tire balancing can help you save money on fuel.

When Should You Balance Your Tires?

If you’re worried about keeping up with your tire balancing schedule, don’t be — you can simplify this by arranging tire balancing alongside other tire service appointments. Specifically, you can ask your tire shop to handle this task whenever you come in for tire rotation (which you should take care of every 3,000-7,000 miles or during oil changes).

Of course, there are situations where your wheels can lose their balance ahead of schedule. If you’re wondering whether you need tire balancing between one service appointment and the next, look out for red flags such as:

  • Feeling vibrations in your vehicle. If you notice vibrations while driving, you can use them to help determine what tires on your car are no longer balanced. For example, you might notice steering wheel vibrations if your front tires are out of balance. Meanwhile, poorly balanced tires on a vehicle’s rear axle can contribute to vibrating seats.
  • Hearing unusual noises. Strange sounds can indicate that your vehicle is having trouble, and tire balancing issues can certainly create unusual noises. Sounds originating from balancing problems tend to be extremely loud and come from under your vehicle.
  • Bouncing when you drive. If your car is unusually bouncy, your tire balancing may be to blame — especially if you’re driving on smooth surfaces such as paved roads.

Tire Balancing vs. Other Tire Services

While tire balancing is something you can’t afford to ignore, it isn’t the only maintenance service your wheels will need. Therefore, it’s wise to understand exactly what separates tire balancing from tire maintenance tasks, such as:

Tire Rotation

The main goal of tire rotation is moving each tire on your car to a different spot. When professional mechanics follow the correct pattern for this work, they can lower your tires’ chances of developing uneven tread wear.

Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignment focuses on the angles at which your tires meet the road — if these angles aren’t where they should be, your tires will have trouble functioning normally. Since you can get this service at any reputable tire shop, Tulsa residents should check their wheel alignment annually.

How To Choose a Tulsa Tire Shop

Because tire balancing relies on extreme precision and specialized equipment, this isn’t the type of maintenance job you can take care of on your own. Whenever your tires are out of balance, you’ll need to set things right by visiting a reliable tire shop.

Tulsa drivers looking for the best auto shop in the area should prioritize businesses that offer:

If you’re interested in getting all these advantages and more, request a quote for tire balancing service from Tate Boys Tire & Service today!

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