When there is something wrong with your car, it will tell you in many different ways. One example is when the tires are imbalanced. There is a weight distribution in each wheel or tire of a vehicle. If the weight isn’t distributed correctly, drivers will notice the imbalance at higher speeds. Vehicles will begin to shake or wobble. This shake or wobble is dangerous and may also cause tires to wear down faster in specific spots. It’s important to balance your tires so that you don’t run the risk of needing to replace your tires sooner or worse, getting in an accident.
There are many causes of an imbalance in a tire and it’s important to balance your tires before you notice any issues or symptoms.
What Causes Unbalanced Tires?
There are many different causes of unbalanced tires. One of the most common causes is simply wear-and-tear but that’s not the only reason. Driving with bad tire alignment can cause unbalanced tires, weights on the wheel falling out of place or off, bent rims, pretty much any environmental factor could cause imbalances. When tires become unbalanced, drivers will notice a vibration while driving.If the tires in the front are unbalanced, drivers will feel the vibration in the steering wheel, if the rear tires are affected, the vibration will be in the seats. The intensity of the vibration will also help determine how bad the wheels balance is while driving.
Why are Unbalanced Tires Dangerous?
Vibration doesn’t sound like a big deal but as time goes on, that vibration will grow stronger. Strong vibrations in the steering wheel can make it more difficult to steer properly, which may lead to an accident. Other dangers of unbalanced tires include costly fixes. While tires are unbalanced, tread wear will also be unbalanced. Tires will wear down in specific spots faster and tires will need to be replaced sooner than normal. If tires remain unbalanced for long periods of time, shocks, bearings, and the entire wheel assembly will wear down. Fixing these issues will not only be costly but could be dangerous as well, leading to major accidents if not addressed.
When Should You Balance Your Tires?
Obviously, if any of the symptoms of unbalanced tires are experienced, they should be balanced immediately. However, to avoid the symptoms from happening in the first place, you should balance your tires regularly. Tires should be balanced every 12,000 miles driven or every other time tires are rotated. When you take your car in to have the tires rotated, be sure to ask about having them balanced if needed as most shops will be able to complete this in no time.
