5 signs your car tires are out of balance
It may seem like all tires, especially new ones, are flawless and perfectly symmetrical, providing a very comfortable ride. But the reality is that no tire is perfect, and even small imperfections can feel like major imperfections at higher driving speeds.
That’s why it’s so important that your tires are balanced – failing to do so will reduce your tire’s lifespan, performance, and safety. Here are the most common signs of tire imbalance
5 signs your tires are out of balance
If your tires are out of balance, it’s often, but not always, obvious, as you may notice one or more of these anomalies while driving your car. If you notice any of the following symptoms, have your wheels and tires inspected immediately and balanced if necessary:
1) Vibration (Steering Wobble)
One of the earliest signs of tire imbalance is steering wheel vibration. A difference in tire weight of just half a gram is enough to cause noticeable vibration.
If the imbalance worsens due to tire wear, the vibration will become more severe and will affect the entire interior including the floor and front and rear seats.
Other issues can also cause vibration, such as: damaged tires, problems with the wheel assembly, or bent rims. It is important to diagnose the problem quickly to avoid dangerous situations.
2) Steering problems (hard to turn the steering wheel at low speeds)
When tires are out of balance, it can make steering difficult and your steering wheel response time slow, creating an unpleasant driving experience. More importantly, it can make you unable to steer smoothly in a particular direction. Because your vehicle cannot steer smoothly, accidents that could have been avoided can occur.
3) Uneven tire wear
Your tire tread can tell you a lot about how well your tires are balanced, so it is important to check your tire tread regularly. Uneven tire wear can be caused by unbalanced tires or other steering or wheel issues.
Abnormal wear on the outside or inside of your tires can put your vehicle at higher risk of getting a flat tire. It can also cause your tire to thin out until it spontaneously bursts. This can be a dangerous situation if it occurs while driving. It can also cause tire bulges.
In an emergency, rotating your tires can be a temporary solution until you can afford to replace the over-worn tires. New tires should be balanced immediately.
4) Poor fuel economy
Out of balance tires put more strain on your vehicle’s engine. This is because the resistance created by the imbalance causes the engine to work harder to keep the vehicle moving. As a result, more fuel is needed to keep the engine running under these conditions.
If you start to use up fuel faster than normal, check your tires. Underinflated tires can cause your vehicle to use more fuel than normal, but if your tire pressure is normal, out of balance tires may be the cause. Use a tire pressure gauge regularly instead of always relying on TPMS notifications.
It makes a lot of sense to keep an eye on your car’s fuel consumption. Some newer cars have fuel economy gauges, but they can be inaccurate.
5) Faulty shock absorbers and bearings
When tires are out of balance, they put greater stress on the shock absorbers, springs, bearings and other components of the wheel assembly, which causes more wear than normal. If unbalanced tires are not repaired in a timely manner, the problem will not be solved by simply replacing the tire.
Why balance tires? Brand new tires can have manufacturer defects, and they will also suffer wear and tear from driving. Balancing should be done every time new tires are fitted, and then periodically when tires are replaced to ensure proper maintenance. Fitting new tires, switching from summer to winter tires, or changing tires is a good time to balance your tires.
Vehicles that are regularly driven on rough roads will need to have their tires balanced more frequently.
You can then add small weights to the rims to ensure your tires are perfectly balanced.