car wheel balancing service
Wheel balancing is one of the most important maintenance procedures for ensuring that your vehicle's wheels are well-balanced around the axle. This ensures a smooth ride, better vehicle handling, and longer life for your tyres as well as suspension components. The effects experienced when the wheels are out of balance might include vibrations, uneven wear to the tyres, and difficult steering, giving a safety and performance compromise to the car. Regular wheel balancing is a form of vehicle maintenance that makes sure your driving experience is comfortable and safe.
1. Static Balancing: Balances the imbalances in one single plane and is normally concentrated on vertical movement. Static balancing is done on a simple balancing machine wherein the wheel and tyre assembly are mounted over a spindle; the spindle may rotate freely. The weight is added to the rim to counter any heavy spots.
2. Dynamic Balancing: This is the most frequently applied for any modern vehicle since it balances irregularities in a vertical and lateral plane. A dynamic balancing machine will make the spinning wheel assembly and will detect any imbalances. Then, weights are attached both on the inner and outer sides of the rim of the wheel so that the balance is obtained. Dynamic balancing gives better stability and minimises vibration while driving.
3. Road Force Balancing: This sophisticated method, mimics real road conditions by thrusting pressure onto the tyre while spinning it on the balancer. This identifies issues that may even escape standard balancing- like tread separations or irregularities. Road force balancing provides the best overall performance and comfort.
1. Vibrations: Vibrations that can easily be felt through the steering wheel, seat, or floor during travel and which are more pronounced at higher speeds, can be indicative of unbalanced wheels and may result in discomfort to the driver, distracting him.
2. Uneven Tyre Wear: Uneven tyre wear pattern results because of unbalanced wheels and decreased tyres' life span leading to safety hazards.
3. Steering Problems: The unevenness in the vehicle's wheels causes struggle in steering or keeping it straight, hence affecting control.
4. Increased Fuel Consumption: There is a high increase in rolling resistance due to unbalanced wheels and which has caused high fuel consumption with a decrease in efficiency.
1. Test Ride: Take your vehicle out for a test ride after balancing to dissipate the vibrations caused and for stiff steering.
2. Balancing Routine: Your tires get balanced regularly, usually every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or when your tires get changed.
3. Proper Inflation: Keep up the pressures in your tyres to the manufacturer's specified pressures; over-inflation will cause imbalance problems.
4. Tyre checkup: Check regularly if the tires are worn unevenly or damaged when looking for a balance or maintenance problem.