31/05/2015
👉Why Wheel Balancing?
Proper wheel balance ensures a shake-free ride, optimum tire tread wear, and long-lasting suspension/steering components. New tires should be balanced at the time of installation. This involves spinning each wheel/tire assembly on a machine that indicates where and how much weight should be added to the wheel rim in order to achieve proper balance. Lead weights are either clipped/pounded on to the wheel edges or attached with adhesive just behind the wheel’s spokes to bring balance into specs. Typically a wheel/tire may need between a quarter ounce to one ounce of weight added to a particular spot on the front rim lip, and another weight added to a certain spot on the back rim lip. Larger, heavier wheels and tires may require more weight to be added. In theory, the balance job should last the life of the tire, but things can go awry.
Over the life of the tire, tread loss, particularly flat-spotting due to a skid, can adversely affect wheel/tire balance. Also, due to the many shapes and thicknesses of wheel rim lips, it’s possible a similar appearing but incorrect wheel weight may become loose and leave the wheel. One may also scrub off a weight due to contact with a curb. For these reasons, some in the industry recommend checking/balancing tires each time they are rotated, while others say rebalancing is only needed if a tire is repaired (removed and patched), a weight falls off, or vibration is noticed. My personal belief is to check/rebalance (requires close to the same effort/time) at about the halfway point of tire tread life, if tread cupping (irregular choppy wear) is noticed, or if vibration occurs. An imbalance in a front wheel/tire typically causes a shake in the steering wheel, at 40 mph and up. A shaking rear wheel/tire is less noticeable.