What is wheel balancing and when should it be done?

Wheel balancing is a fairly simple process to carry out, and at the same time, essential for maintaining the good condition of the vehicle and safety on the road. This procedure distributes the weight of the tire evenly around the tires to prevent vibration and ensure that the car drives stably and safely. This is achieved by placing small weights at specific points on the rim to counteract any imbalance that may exist due to variations in wheel manufacturing or uneven tire wear from use.

What is wheel balancing?

If you asked many drivers in our country, they probably wouldn’t know how to answer this question. Well, this is a fundamental check, because if the wheels are not properly balanced, can generate vibrations while driving and could be uncomfortable for the driver, in addition to causing more serious consequences, such as suffer an accident (this will directly affect the address).

Likewise, we must also take into account economic point of viewbecause uneven tire wear shortens their useful life and will result in higher investments in repairs and replacements. Therefore, below we will explain the correct way to perform balancing.

• Measures: The wheel, including the tire, is mounted on a balancing machine which turns it at high speed. The machine detects the exact place where it is unbalanced, so it will tell us that it has different weights in different parts of it.
• Weight: Weights, usually made of lead or similar materials, are placed where there is some imbalance to counteract excess weight of the wheel and ensure that it is evenly distributed throughout the tire.
• Verification: after placing the weights, we will place the wheel back on the machine to check and ensure that the assessment has been carried out correctly.

When should the wheels be balanced?

In this case, the most sensible advice is to balance the wheels regularly and, above all, if the following cases occur which we will detail below.

1. When new tires are installed: If the tires are likely to be in good condition, even if they are new, you should balance the wheels to make sure everything is working properly, to avoid unnecessary scares.
2. When you feel vibrations in the seat or steering wheel: If you experience atypical vibrations while driving that do not disappear when the vehicle speed changes, this may be a sign that the wheels are not properly balanced.
3. When a tire is changed or a tire is repaired: If you have suffered an accident or accident and have had to repair or change a tire, it is important to then check the balance of the wheels, since the change or repair, being a new tire, could change the balance of the wheels remaining. .
4. strong blows: If you hit a curb or hit a bump in the road, it may affect the balance of the wheel. In this case, it is advisable to check and balance the tires to avoid further or significant damage.
5. Uneven wear: If you notice that the tires are wearing unevenly, that is, more than the others, it is important to check it as you detect it.

How often should wheels be balanced?

Generally speaking, as part of routine vehicle maintenance, it is recommended to carry out wheel balancing. every 5,000 or 10,000 kilometers, or after 1 or 2 yearsalthough this may vary depending on traffic conditions and the type of vehicle, in addition to taking into account the options mentioned above: tire replacement, if you have suffered major blows…

How much does wheel balancing cost?

The price of wheel balancing can vary, as it does in most vehicle situations, depending on several factorssuch as the type of car, the location you are in, the workshop or service you choose.

However, on average the cost is usually between 10 and 20 euros for each tire. In the case of luxury cars or large vehicles equipped with larger or special tires, such as 4X4s, the figure could be higher. Likewise, some stores or workshops offer additional services such as inspection or wheel alignment, which may influence the cost.

On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account the type of wheel balancing used, since there are two completely different types: on the one hand, there is the staticwhich is the cheapest and most common. Its price is around 10 or 20 euros per wheel. Likewise, there is also the technique dynamicwhich is a little more expensive and is mainly used in high-performance vehicles, such as sports cars. However, its final price is 30 or 50 euros per wheel.