Back to all

Shake It up in Fort Myers!: Why Wheel Balancing

June 3, 2021

Our vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, we generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle's wheels in balance.

When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance. This means that as the wheel spins, there is a slight wobble to the path of the tire. For best handling performance and safety on the road, Fort Myers drivers want to minimize this wobble as much as possible. So we balance our tires. To balance a tire, your technician at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) spins it on a machine or drum to determine where it is off-balance. He then attaches weights that counter-balance the uneven weight. Most people in Fort Myers are surprised at how much balancing improves the smoothness of their ride.

High-quality tires generally hold their balance well. But over time, wear and tear take their toll and tires can become unbalanced. Fort Myers drivers can tell when a front tire is unbalanced if they feel a vibration in the steering wheel. If a back tire is unbalanced, you'll feel a vibration in your seat. You may not notice these vibrations until they get fairly serious — or until someone else drives your vehicle — because they usually develop slowly. If a vibration starts abruptly, it usually means you've lost a balancing weight.

The average tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kmh. When a tire is out of balance, it actually hops down the road, rather than rolling. So at 60 mph/97 kph, it is slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's what creates the vibration. When tires are out of balance, they wear out more quickly. The lack of balance also causes extra wear on shocks, struts, steering components and suspension parts.

Getting a balance job at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) in Fort Myers can prevent repair bills and even an accident. It will improve the safety of your vehicle as well as its handling performance. When you change your rims or get a flat repaired at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd), you'll need to get your tires balanced as well. When you rotate your tires, you may want to have them balanced, too.

Some Fort Myers vehicle owners, however, only balance their wheels every other rotation. You can check your owner's manual to see what is recommended for your vehicle. Balancing your tires is part of preventive maintenance. It keeps your vehicle in good repair and prevents damage to many of its components. So practice good vehicle care and make it a point to keep your tires balanced. It's quality auto advice from Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd). Massage chairs may vibrate away our worries, but unbalanced tires will just rattle Fort Myers drivers' nerves.

Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd)
3263 Colonial Blvd
Fort Myers, Florida 33966
239-277-7655
https://www.tuffycolonialblvd.com

 

More articles from Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd.)

Bump in the Road (Alignment)

November 17, 2024

There's something you can do that helps your tires last longer, wear more evenly and your vehicle handle better. "Sign me up," you say! Wondering what that is? It's aligning your wheels, and it will literally point you in the right direction when it comes to a better and safer driving experience... More

The Economy of Maintenance for Fort Myers Drivers

November 10, 2024

Do I keep my old vehicle or buy a new one? It's a question most Fort Myers drivers ask themselves at some time or another.Generally, what it comes down to is the choice between a car payment and the possibility of repair bills. Most of the time, we want to choose the car payment because we don't ... More

The Best Test

November 3, 2024

Would you buy a jacket without even trying it on? Probably not, but it might surprise you that one study shows about half the people buy a vehicle after a short test drive around the block or none at all. If you're in the market for another vehicle, make sure you check out the most important thi... More