To help your vehicle drive in the safest and best condition possible, it is important to make sure that you have the wheel alignment and the wheel balancing checked on a regular basis. Many drivers ignore the signs of a lost alignment or balancing, and as a result, they will find their vehicles are difficult to keep going straight down the road.
Imperfections, blemishes in the rubber, and damage to a tire or rim can throw a wheel "out of balance." That means that one section of the tire or rim is heavier than another. Some of the signs to watch for include swerving from side to side while driving on a straight road, feeling every little rock on the road, vibrations in the steering wheel, and the feeling that the steering wheel is too loose. At higher speeds, an unbalanced tire will begin to shake and cause vibration in the steering wheel. This will eventually damage your tires, your suspension system, and steering system.
How is a tire balanced? One wheel at a time is removed from the car and placed on a computerized machine and spun around to determine which side is the heaviest. A small lead weight is then attached to the tire to counter-balance any heavy spots. Once the weight is the same on all sides of the wheel, the wheel will spin on the machine with ease. You should have your wheels balanced any time your tires are repaired or rotated.
Many drivers are not sure if their vehicle has lost its alignment or a wheel has lost its balance as many of the signs are similar. Your tire service shop can determine what is needed and take care of it quickly and easily.
Do you have more questions about what happens if you don’t balance your tires? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Big Lake Automotive today for more information about our tire service and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves the residents of Big Lake, MN, and surrounding areas.
To help your vehicle drive in the safest and best condition possible, it is important to make sure that you have the wheel alignment and the wheel balancing checked on a regular basis. Many drivers ignore the signs of a lost alignment or balancing, and as a result, they will find their vehicles are difficult to keep going straight down the road.
Imperfections, blemishes in the rubber, and damage to a tire or rim can throw a wheel "out of balance." That means that one section of the tire or rim is heavier than another. Some of the signs to watch for include swerving from side to side while driving on a straight road, feeling every little rock on the road, vibrations in the steering wheel, and the feeling that the steering wheel is too loose. At higher speeds, an unbalanced tire will begin to shake and cause vibration in the steering wheel. This will eventually damage your tires, your suspension system, and steering system.
How is a tire balanced? One wheel at a time is removed from the car and placed on a computerized machine and spun around to determine which side is the heaviest. A small lead weight is then attached to the tire to counter-balance any heavy spots. Once the weight is the same on all sides of the wheel, the wheel will spin on the machine with ease. You should have your wheels balanced any time your tires are repaired or rotated.
Many drivers are not sure if their vehicle has lost its alignment or a wheel has lost its balance as many of the signs are similar. Your tire service shop can determine what is needed and take care of it quickly and easily.
Do you have more questions about what happens if you don’t balance your tires? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Big Lake Automotive today for more information about our tire service and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves the residents of Big Lake, MN, and surrounding areas.
