The purchase of tires for any vehicle comes as a significant investment, requiring consumers to part with a fair sum of cash in any event. In order to make the most of such an investment, one must go to every length possible to maintain the condition of their vehicle’s tires. This involves having a vehicle’s tires serviced at all intervals specified per manufacturer.
Of such services, few are as important as having a vehicle’s tires balanced. Services of this type not only extend a tire’s effective life but mitigate aggravating ride-comfort issues.
Nonetheless, many motorists still find themselves questioning the overall importance of having their vehicle’s tires balanced, as well as the cost associated with services of this type.
The following guide has been assembled to eliminate much of the uncertainty that surrounds tire balancing as a whole, thereby allowing motorists to make the most informed decision possible. Consequently, this should eliminate many of the most common issues that arise from tire neglect.
Read on to learn more about the importance of having your vehicle’s tires balanced, as well as the cost associated with services of the like.
Read Also – How Much Does a Wheel Alignment Cost?
Table of Contents
Tire or wheel balancing is a procedure that is conducted to offset disproportionately heavy spots within a vehicle’s wheel/tire combo. When balanced, a wheel is weighted to counteract natural inconsistencies within a tire, and the wheel itself. This weight is strategically placed, thereby creating a “balance”, under which no portion of a tire/wheel combo is any heavier than any other.
Tire balancing is generally conducted on a piece of specialty equipment known as a balancing machine. This machine spins a tire/wheel combo at a high rate of speed, all the while measuring irregularities in weight and form.
The computer contained within this unit then uses a series of mathematical equations to determine the exact point at which additional weight should be placed.
Weight is applied to a wheel in one of two ways. The first, and most common means of weighting a tire during the balancing procedure, is through the use of standard hammer-on wheel weights.
Alternatively, stick weights can be used in a similar manner, though these weights adhere to the inner diameter of the wheel itself, using adhesion as a means of retention.
See Also – What Do Tire Rating Letters Mean?
There are two major types of tire balancing procedures, one of which is static in nature, while the other is dynamic.
Currently, dynamic balancing is the only truly acceptable way of balancing a tire to any degree of accuracy. The idea of static balancing is now viewed as antiquated in nature and falls short of the industry standard.
There are several different instances in which a vehicle’s tires should be balanced. Recognizing these instances and acting accordingly can prove beneficial when attempting to extend the life of your vehicle’s tires, and obtain the best ride possible.
The following are several of the most common conditions under which a vehicle’s tires should be balanced.
No matter where you buy new tires, once mounted on the wheel, any new tire should be balanced, prior to final installation on the vehicle for which it is intended.
This ensures the optimization of ride comfort, thereby allowing a consumer to get the most out of their tires, in terms of overall quality and longevity.
Even in absence of ride-related issues, a vehicle’s tires should still be balanced on a regular and recurring basis to maximize their lifespan. The exact frequency of this service is dictated by the recommendations of a vehicle’s manufacturer, as well as those specified by the maker of your vehicle’s tires.
Consumers might also choose to have their vehicle’s tires balanced in the event that they notice a vibration of sorts while at cruising speeds. Such vibrations often result from relative tire imbalance and can be quickly rectified with a quick trip to your shop of choice.
| Service Center | Cost Per Tire |
|---|---|
| Walmart | $15 |
| Costco | $18 - $21 |
| Discount Tire | $16 (or free if tires purchased there) |
| Les Schwab | $12 - $16 (or free if tires purchased there) |
| Sam's Club | $20 |
| Firestone | $16 |
| Pep Boys | $16+ |
| Goodyear | $19 |
| Midas | $18 (or free if tires purchased there) |
| Dealership | $20 - $25 |
| Independent Shop | $15+ |
Disclaimer: Prices may vary based on location.
Generally speaking, it typically takes no more than 1 hour to have a vehicle’s tires balanced. However, the exact time required to accomplish this procedure often differs based on the exact size and style of tire that is to be serviced.
While small tires utilizing hammer-on weights take very little time to balance, heavier tires requiring the use of sticky weights can take inherently longer to balance.
One must also factor in the weight time associated with a particular shop, at the time that their vehicle is taken for service. While you might get lucky enough to catch a shop when they are slack, many shops are busy enough that service can be delayed by 1-2 hours, while waiting for a bay and technician to come available.
See Also – How Long Does It Take to Change Tires?
In certain instances, one can balance their vehicle’s tires at home without the use of a tire balancing machine.
This is most commonly accomplished through the use of a bubble balancer (like this) or similar device, which can often be purchased at discount tool stores, such as Harbor Freight or online retailers such as Amazon.com.
However, it is worth mentioning that this form of balancing is strictly static in nature, rather than dynamic.
For some, the simplicity of taking their vehicle to have its tires balanced outweighs the potential financial advantages of conducting such services themselves. Especially considering the number of shops now offering lifetime rotation and balance services for a reasonable fee,
Having a vehicle’s tires balanced is important for a number of reasons, including those which pertain to untimely tire wear.
Tires that are not properly balanced tend to vibrate substantially, thereby skipping across a paved surface while in motion. With time, this can cause choppy, or otherwise irregular treadwear, thereby shortening the life of a tire as a whole.
Out-of-balance tires can also prove burdensome when attempting to achieve the highest possible degree of ride comfort. As stated above a lack of tire balance tends to cause significant vibration, which is then transferred to the chassis of a vehicle itself. This vibration is then felt through a vehicle’s steering wheel or driver seat.
Steve Cooper
Owner at Auto Trends Magazine
Steve is a former ASE Certified Technician and holds a degree in automotive service technology from Weber State. When he's not searching for a 10mm socket in his garage, he enjoys a good BBQ with family and friends.
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That vibration you feel while driving down the highway could be a few things, but if you’re lucky it won’t be related to that curb you hit at Starbucks this morning.
Your car could be out of alignment, you could have a damaged tire, or, more likely, your tires could be out of balance. When this happens, the little weights attached to the tire either aren’t doing their jobs properly or are just in the wrong spot.
While it’s not the most serious problem you can have, driving on imbalanced tires can cause a host of other issues, not the least of which is accelerated wear and tear on the rubber. Most people head to a tire shop when they notice the vibrations that could be coming from an out-of-balance tire, but that’s not totally necessary if you have the right tools.
In this post, The Drive’s info editors break down tire balancing and talk about why it’s important. We’ll also get into how you can do the job at home and why you might want to. The bottom line is that, no matter how you go about dealing with tire balancing, it’s best not to ignore the problem. Your tires, and ultimately your passengers, will thank you for keeping them balanced and turning comfortably.
Tire balancing involves a good pair of shoes, a hushed crowd, and a flaming ring. That’d be fun for us to watch you try to pull off, but it’s not actually what balancing tires is all about. Your car has wheels, obviously, which have tires. In order to spin and ride smoothly, the tires need to have the vehicle’s weight evenly distributed around their circumference. This is done in a few steps by a tire shop:
Sometimes, the tire and wheel show heavy spots in the same place, so the tire has to be remounted in a different position to help balance out the weight distribution.You. It’s your fault. That’s the short answer, but the longer answer here is that normal driving over rough roads can cause the tire to go out of balance. In other cases, tires just don’t wear evenly, which can have nothing to do with the driver’s behavior at all. Sometimes, tire manufacturers let small defects slip past quality control, which can cause them to wear more in one place over another, and sometimes they’re just not installed properly. Even a tiny weight difference can make a big difference in how a vehicle feels as it rolls down the road.
Unlike some vehicle maintenance issues that tend to hide until the problem gets out of hand, you’ll know when it’s time to get a tire balance or at least a check-up.
An imbalance in the tire will cause it to wobble and vibrate as the wheel starts to rotate. The faster the rotation, the more intense the vibration. If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel, that’s probably related to an issue with the front tires’ balance, but a vibration that can be felt in your seat likely indicates an issue with rear-tire balance.
You can, but it’ll take some equipment that you probably don’t have just hanging out at home. You’ll need a tire balancer, which can tell you where to place weights on the tire to balance out heavy spots.
There is a way to balance your tires without removing them from the vehicle, but it involves an annoying process of trial and error that won’t be for everyone. For that reason, we’re going to stick with recommending a balancing device.
When we say tires, we’re referring specifically to the rubber, not to the wheels themselves. We’ll note when the wheel is involved, but for most topics in this post, we’re only talking about the tires.
Balance refers to the tires’ ability to rotate smoothly without undesirable vibrations. Due to variations in manufacturing technologies and damage that could occur during shipping and handling, a tire can be heavier on one side or another for various reasons.
When we say rotations, we're talking specifically about tire and wheel rotation.
This is different from your engine’s rotations per minute (RPM), which is a mechanical system that doesn’t have anything to do with tires.
Weights are exactly what they sound like. They are placed at specific spots around a tire to ensure that any heavy spots have a counterbalance to even them out on the other side of the tire.
A pro can have your tire and wheel balanced in no time., DepositphotosYou’ve got questions, The Drive has answers!
A. Well, you can, but you won't be comfortable or safe while doing it. An out-of-balance tire can make your car’s ride unbearable with vibrations, and it could affect safety if it’s distracting enough to take your attention off the road.
A. Many tire shops offer free balancing as part of tire packages that are purchased from them, but you’ll have to pay for it in other cases. On average, plan to spend between $15 and $75, depending on your vehicle, the tires, and the shop.
A. You should have your tires checked at each oil change, which is generally every 5,000 to 15,000 miles, to avoid letting a problem fester that could cause wear issues or safety problems with your vehicle. This doesn’t mean you’ll need a balance every time. It just means that you should be keeping on top of what’s happening with your tires.
Is Tire Balance Different Than Alignment?A. Yes. Alignment refers to your vehicle’s wheels and how they’re positioned in relation to the road. Alignment jobs typically adjust things like camber, which is the angle at which the wheels sit on a car.
A. Tires that are out of balance can cause improper wear and may lead to the engine needing to generate more power to keep them spinning at a consistent speed.
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GoPlus Portable Wheel Balancer
Mayflower Heavy Duty Wheel and Tire Balancer
CKAuto .25oz Tire Weights
Boulder Tools Tire Repair Kit
Is it time to switch from winter to summer tires? Come to our car service to change tires by prior online appointment.
Shesteryonka car services are equipped with modern Italian balancing equipment RAVAGLIOLIM and a tire changer CORCHI , which allows tire fitting for wheels ranging in size from 12 "to 30", including low-profile tires and Run Flat tires.
In addition to tire fitting and wheel balancing, you will receive high-quality services for all types of repairs, including puncture and side cut repair, as well as washing and cleaning wheels. Service centers "Shesterenka" have the status of certified services that have the right to perform tire fitting and wheel balancing.
| Name of work | Cost of work | |||||||
| R12-14 | R15 | R16 | R17-18 | R19+ comm. transport | ||||
| light | implemented | easy | implemented | easy | off-road | |||
| Wheel - remove/attach | 90 | 100 | 120 | 110 | 150 | 140 | 170 | 170 |
| Wheel - balancing | 90 | 100 | 120 | 110 | 150 | 140 | 170 | 170 |
| Wheel assembly | 80 | 90 | 100 | 90 | 130 | 120 | 130 | 150 |
| Wheel - removal | 80 | 90 | 100 | 90 | 130 | 120 | 130 | 150 |
| Wash wheel | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Wheel - inflation | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Chamber - repair | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | - | - | - |
One wheel conversion (excl. freight cost) | 340 | 380 | 440 | 400 | 560 | 520 | 600 | 640 |
| 4 / 6 wheel conversion (without cost of freight) | 1360 | 1520 | 1760 | 1600 | 2240 | 2080 | 2400 | 2560/3840 |
| Tire - repair (harness installation) | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Tire - repair (mushroom installation) | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| Tire - repair (installation of cord patch) | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| Tire - repair (side cut up to 3 cm) | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Seat - cleaning | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Seat - sealing | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Disc check (balance) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Copper grease treatment of the hub (1 wheel) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Installing a non-return valve | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Pressure sensor installation | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
Please note that the price is indicated in rubles and is valid at the time of publication.
You can get more complete information by contacting the managers of the Shesteryonka service centers.
Certificates of Shesterenka service centers
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State-of-the-art Hunter Road Force machines and innovative Haweka adapters for precision balancing
24/7 With 3 months warranty
Online appointment Calculator
The Tire-Box uses a four-dimensional vehicle wheel balancing system. The data for installing the balancing weights come from not one, but from 4 vibration sensors.
The sensors measure vibrations at different points in the tire at any given time. This allows you to calculate the weight and location of the weight with high accuracy.
Qualitatively carried out balancing prevents deformation, imbalance and premature wear of tires, increases vehicle controllability and reduces accident rate.
ORDER BALANCING
Calculate the cost of balancing Calculate the prices for the balancing service Calculate the cost
This guarantees maximum centering accuracy. In addition, the adapters contact the disk only at the location of the bolt head or nut. Therefore, there is no risk of damaging the disc coating.
We use Haweka's innovative equipment, which allows us to simulate real vehicle operating conditions on the stand for maximum balancing accuracy.
Balancing Absolute wheel weight correction accuracy thanks to state-of-the-art Hunter Road Force balancer and Haweka adapters
Any types of wheels We work with any types of wheels of cars and trucks up to 5 tons
Experts with experience Balancing is performed by qualified specialists certified to work with innovative equipment
The whole procedure takes 10-20 minutes
3 months warranty
We work 24\7
Excellent service and good reviews
Waiting room Comfortable waiting area with free coffee and light snacks
Reviews
Olga Stuchevskaya
Wonderful place! I just changed my shoes here and I am writing from fresh impressions.
Discovered this service a few years ago. Previously, it was serviced by an authorized dealer, and tire fitting was associated with something peasant-dense. But I bought complete wheels (although there is also a tire service here) and I wanted something closer.
I never keep tires at home - I think this savings due to comfort is meaningless, given the cost of car ownership. I am very satisfied, every year Shino Box is getting better and better: quality, accuracy, speed - of course. But it is also a very comfortable place - you have time to drink free coffee with candy while sitting on the sofa (they offered to take it with you - but this is already too much). There are no such flirting with cash - everything is on the card (and for a long time), a pleasant social discount ... And most importantly - you leave in a good mood - which is so important in the nervous life of a driver. Good luck in your business!
Read reviews on Yandex
Ars Eny
The place won over with its convenient location, round-the-clock work and high customer focus! I bought a car with a set of summer tires that needed to be quickly folded somewhere - I called on Saturday at 21:30, and at 23:00 I already handed over the wheels for storage.
When I came to change shoes for the summer, they did everything quickly, efficiently and positively in the late evening. For me personally - a person who has every minute counting - the opportunity to do something useful in the late evening is very valuable!
High-quality service combined with a human attitude - this, unfortunately, is not common. And here it is!
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Andrey Ryakhovskiy
Very fast
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Alena P.
Awesome tavern! We punctured a wheel on a three-ruble note and came here! Came by accident, but very happy! Although the full load on changing shoes for the summer, they quickly dismantled and repaired the wheel! Stylish office and library where you can leave and pick up any book! Tire storage available!
Read reviews on Yandex
Egor Andreev
If you need a quality tire fitting - you are here.
Able to properly mount a low profile. They balance well. Instead of 100g of loads that were hung, I balanced to zero with 30g.
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Ben Gun
Change tires almost like in formula 1
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Anton R.
Normal person tire fitting - CRM, polite staff, nice design and atmosphere.
Read reviews on Yandex
Anna M.
Excellent service! Everything is high quality and inexpensive. The guys do everything quickly - before you have time to drink coffee, everything is already ready. In addition to tire fitting and rubber storage, I do all service work here. I am satisfied with everything!
Read reviews on Yandex
Boris Dergachev
Ordered summer tires and alloy wheels.
