To balance the wheels or not balance the wheels, that is the question. The answer is to balance them. York Tire & Auto Service cannot stress enough the importance of driving on balanced wheels. Failure to do so can damage your tires and the wheel assemblies. Let’s break this down further, though, by explaining why balanced wheels are so important for your car, truck, or SUV. Consider these four reasons when it’s time for a wheel balance service, which should be every 4,000 to 6,000 miles.
Tires Aren’t Automatically Balanced
Tire manufacturers can only balance tires so much. They balance the tires when they’re manufactured and when they are inspected for safety and quality. This doesn’t mean that the tires are automatically balanced once they’re installed on your vehicle, however. Once the tires are put on the wheels, they must be balanced to each wheel specifically, as your wheels could be out of balance, too.
Wheels Don’t Stay Balanced
Many things throw your wheels off-balance over time; they cannot stay balanced forever. Tire tread wear and air pressure can affect your wheel balance, as can road hazards such as potholes. Problems with your wheel assemblies, such as the wheel weights, can also throw the wheels out of balance. Regular wheel balancing corrects these errors that occur naturally with driving and tire age.
Balanced Wheels Reduce Unusual Tire Wear
As your wheels slowly drive out of balance, your tire tread begins to wear down unevenly. This can actually reduce the number of miles you get out of each tire. Tire rotation and wheel balancing both extend the life of your car, truck, or SUV’s tires because they keep the tread from wearing down unevenly and help prevent other tire damage such as side splitting and bubbling.
Balanced Wheels Help to Signal Other Problems
Finally, wouldn’t you like to know there’s a problem with your vehicle’s brake system, steering system, or suspension before it becomes an expensive repair? If your wheels are balanced yet your vehicle vibrates or is difficult to handle, something else is wrong. When they are balanced it only helps the tires. If your vehicle still doesn’t handle well, you’ve got another issue brewing.
Located in Red Lion, PA, and taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, York Tire & Auto Service can keep your wheels balanced. Call us to set up an appointment for a tire inspection, rotation, and wheel balance by dialing 717-356-9654.
