Wheel Balancing

Electronic Wheel Balance

When a tyre is fitted to a wheel, the completed & inflated assembly will require ‘balancing’. This ensures that any imbalances of mass (uneven distribution of weight around the circumference!) is checked and weights applied to even this out. Failure to balance will often result in a steering wheel vibration at speed and can, over a longer period of time, cause premature wearing of not only the tyre, but other components too!

Balance weights are now manufactured from Zinc rather than Lead and come in either a clip-on form which is attached to the balancing rim at the outer edge of the wheel – or via adhesive strips of weight.

Wheel balancing should be checked with a degree of regularity – and certainly in the event of knocks or damage to the wheel/tyre assembly. It should be noted that a vibration at any speed could also indicate a more serious problem and should be immediately investigated to avoid safety issues.