Back to all

Shake It up in Fort Myers!: Why Wheel Balancing

June 3, 2021

Our vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, we generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle's wheels in balance.

When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance. This means that as the wheel spins, there is a slight wobble to the path of the tire. For best handling performance and safety on the road, Fort Myers drivers want to minimize this wobble as much as possible. So we balance our tires. To balance a tire, your technician at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) spins it on a machine or drum to determine where it is off-balance. He then attaches weights that counter-balance the uneven weight. Most people in Fort Myers are surprised at how much balancing improves the smoothness of their ride.

High-quality tires generally hold their balance well. But over time, wear and tear take their toll and tires can become unbalanced. Fort Myers drivers can tell when a front tire is unbalanced if they feel a vibration in the steering wheel. If a back tire is unbalanced, you'll feel a vibration in your seat. You may not notice these vibrations until they get fairly serious — or until someone else drives your vehicle — because they usually develop slowly. If a vibration starts abruptly, it usually means you've lost a balancing weight.

The average tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph/97 kmh. When a tire is out of balance, it actually hops down the road, rather than rolling. So at 60 mph/97 kph, it is slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's what creates the vibration. When tires are out of balance, they wear out more quickly. The lack of balance also causes extra wear on shocks, struts, steering components and suspension parts.

Getting a balance job at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) in Fort Myers can prevent repair bills and even an accident. It will improve the safety of your vehicle as well as its handling performance. When you change your rims or get a flat repaired at Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd), you'll need to get your tires balanced as well. When you rotate your tires, you may want to have them balanced, too.

Some Fort Myers vehicle owners, however, only balance their wheels every other rotation. You can check your owner's manual to see what is recommended for your vehicle. Balancing your tires is part of preventive maintenance. It keeps your vehicle in good repair and prevents damage to many of its components. So practice good vehicle care and make it a point to keep your tires balanced. It's quality auto advice from Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd). Massage chairs may vibrate away our worries, but unbalanced tires will just rattle Fort Myers drivers' nerves.

Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd)
3263 Colonial Blvd
Fort Myers, Florida 33966
239-277-7655
https://www.tuffycolonialblvd.com

 

More articles from Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd.)

Right or Left? Tuffy Fort Myers (Colonial Blvd) Power Steering Service

May 19, 2024

Have you ever driven a vehicle without power steering? If you have, then you probably appreciate how much easier it is to drive today's modern vehicles. Before power steering, all of the force to turn a vehicle had to come from the driver's arms. That's why old cars had such large steering wheels... More

When Are Your Tires Worn Out?

May 12, 2024

Hey Fort Myers area drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for our Florida streets? How can you tell on your vehicle?While there may be legal requirements for the Fort Myers area, there are safety concerns that go beyond meeting minimum replacement mandates.Two-thirty-seconds of... More

An Oil for All Seasons (Engine Oil Selection)

May 5, 2024

You swap your winter boots for flip-flops in the summer. Why not change your winter engine oil for summer, hot-weather oil? While it may seem like it makes sense, there's some good news. Most drivers don't have to, and here's why. Engine oil can be made in different thicknesses. That thicknes... More