If your steering wheel is shaking or your car doesn’t feel smooth on the road, unbalanced tires might be the reason. Tires can become unbalanced if the tire tread wears unevenly due to poor driving habits, like sudden braking and accelerating, or poor road conditions.
We asked our tire experts to break down what tire balancing is and the five signs you need to balance your tires, including:
Your steering wheel shakes at higher speeds
You notice uneven tire wear
You hear humming or thumping sounds
Your car feels less stable on the highway
You just had a tire repaired or replaced
Get your tires balanced in Rochester, NY, or Syracuse, NY! Hooper's Tire Outlet offers affordable tire balancing services—no appointment required.
What Is Tire Balancing (and Why Is It Important)?
Tire balancing involves evenly distributing the weight of a tire and wheel assembly by attaching metal tire weights along the wheel’s circumference. This allows the tire to spin smoothly at high speeds.
The obvious benefit of balancing your tires is a more comfortable ride. Tire weights help your tread maintain even contact with the road when driving, which reduces steering wheel vibrations and road noise. However, other key benefits increase your tire’s lifespan.
Even tread wear – Balancing your tires encourages even tread wear and reduces excessive damage over time.
Better fuel efficiency – Less resistance means better mileage. This is especially important for maximizing electric vehicle range.
Safer handling – More road contact gives you more control, especially at highway speeds.
Static vs. Dynamic Tire Balance
There are two main types of tire balancing:
Static Balancing – Static balancing corrects the up-down movement of a tire as it rotates. It aligns the tire and wheel’s centers of gravity to match the rotation axis so they don’t rock up and down when spinning. Static balancing is typically used for smaller tires (under 4 inches in width), slow-speeding driving, or older cars.
Dynamic Balancing – The more common technique, dynamic balancing accounts for a tire’s up-down and side-to-side movement to prevent swiveling. This method uses a machine that spins the tire to detect imbalances. Then, a mechanic or technician applies tire weights at specific locations. Dynamic balancing is preferred for modern tires (and tires over 4 inches in width).
5 Signs My Tires Need to Be Balanced
Catching signs of tire imbalance early can help you avoid bigger issues like suspension damage or premature tire wear. Here are five common warning signs that it's time to get your tires balanced:
1. Your Steering Wheel Shakes at Higher Speeds
One of the most obvious signs your tires need balancing is when your steering wheel or car floor start to shake, especially when driving at highway speeds. This usually means your front tires are out of balance, and the vibration gets worse the faster you go. It can make driving uncomfortable and even unsafe over time, so it’s a good idea to get it checked right away.
2. You Notice Uneven Tire Wear
When your tires aren't balanced properly, it can cause your vehicle to skip and add unnecessary stress to parts of your tread. As a result, you might see uneven flat spots, bald patches, or extra wear on just one edge of a tire. This not only shortens the life of your tires but can also affect traction, fuel economy, and how your vehicle handles in bad weather.
3. You Hear Humming or Thumping Sounds
If you start hearing a steady humming or rhythmic thumping noise that changes with your speed, it could be caused by an out-of-balance tire. This sound usually comes from the tires vibrating unevenly as they rotate. While it might not seem serious at first, it’s better to get a tire inspection now instead of waiting until the issue grows.
4. Your Car Feels Less Stable on the Highway
Driving on imbalanced tires at high speeds will feel like your car is skipping or wobbling. You might also feel like you don’t have full control when switching lanes or driving in windy conditions. If you start drifting, it may indicate you need a wheel alignment.
5. You Just Had a Tire Repaired or Replaced
Even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms yet, you should always have your tires balanced before an installation and after fixing a flat or hitting a major pothole. New tires don’t come perfectly balanced from the manufacturer, and a simple repair can shift the weight distribution. Getting them balanced right away helps prevent uneven wear before it starts.
How Often Should I Balance My Tires?
A good rule of thumb is to balance your tires every 6,000 to 9,000 miles during your tire rotation. Since the mechanic has to remove your tires anyway to rotate them, it’s the best time to inspect them and check for balance issues. Even if you’re not feeling any symptoms, a regular balance check should be part of your annual tire maintenance routine.
Other times to balance your tires include:
Before installing new tires
After repairing a tire
If you experience uneven driving
Can I Balance My Tires at Home?
The short answer: yes, but the convenience of working with a tire professional far outweighs the DIY option. Although you can static balance your tires at home with the right equipment, understanding, and patience, a tire professional can balance all four tires using dynamic balancing in less time and for less money. The equipment is also more accurate, saving you the hassle.
If you’re dead set on balancing at home, the most common option is to use a bubble balancer, a pole-like tool that helps with static balancing. Several YouTube tutorials, like this one from Sixty Five Ford, will walk you through how to balance your tires at home.
Find Tire Balancing Services in Rochester, NY
Notice your car shaking, odd tire wear, or just installed new tires? It might be time for a balance check! Hooper’s Tire Outlet in Rochester, NY, makes it easy to inspect and correct your tires. Our experts use the latest dynamic balancing equipment to get your wheels running smoothly in no time.
Whether you're a first-time car owner or just need a quick fix, we've got you covered with our comprehensive tire services. Stop by today!