Balancing also contributes to ride comfort: Imbalanced tires will wobble or hop up and down, which causes vibration. If the problem is in the rear the tremor will be noticeable in the seat or floor.
Imbalanced tires are easily corrected, but the work is precise. Everyday wear on tires will contribute to imbalance. Rebalancing is done in a tire shop by putting the wheel-tire unit on a tire balancing machine that takes measurements to pinpoint lighter or heavier areas and making adjustments to account for these weight differences.
Wheel alignment corrects the angles of the tires so they travel in the same direction and make contact with the road properly. Alignment reduces uneven tire wear and extends the life of your tires. Oftentimes tire balancing and alignment are perceived to be the same thing, but are not. How Tires Are Rebalanced Rebalancing is done in a tire shop by putting the wheel-tire unit on a tire balancing machine that takes measurements to pinpoint lighter or heavier areas and making adjustments to account for these weight differences.
Remove any rocks or debris from the tire and wheel before balancing. Use a centering cone to mount a hub-centric wheel. On stamped steel wheels, install the cone from the back or inside of the wheel. This is because the wheel was originally stamped from the back or inside of the wheel. The recommended arrangement of adapters installed on the shaft is:. Hub-Centric Mounting.
As the wheel is tightened on the shaft, the spring will keep pressure on the cone to center properly. It is common to spin the tire in the opposite direction counter clockwise as viewed from the shaft end to help promote the best centering.
The retainer cup allows an area for the small end of the cone to protrude through the wheel hub while providing a means for the wing nut to tighten the assembly on the shaft. The wing nut should be hand tightened only. It is an accepted practice to rock the weight of the assembly counter clockwise with both hands on the wing nut then tighten in a clockwise direction.
A snug fit is all that is required to prevent the assembly from spinning or slipping on the shaft during the spin cycles. The condition of the cones is critical to accurate balancing. A new cone has a tolerance of. Worn or loose fitting cones and shafts should be replaced for best results. There are expandable split collets available for a more accurate centering. These collets expand when tightened, eliminating all clearance between the collet and the shaft.
To mount lug-centric wheels, use a lug-centering adapter plate. Universal adapter plates have several lug stud swing arms that are attached in different places depending on the number of lug holes in the wheel.
There are only five adapter arms. With six lug wheels, use three arms. With eight lug wheels, use 4 arms. After the arms are installed and tightened on the adapter, the adapter is held against the mounting flange on the wheel balancer by installing screws.
Special lug nuts hold the wheel against the adapter plate. Do not overtighten them. Lug-Centric Mounting above. Case History - A man purchased a used Suburban that had aftermarket aluminum wheels and oversized tires. The tires appeared to be in good condition, with less than half of the tread worn. Unfortunately, they had been balanced incorrectly using adapters in the center hub hole instead of a lug-centric adapter.
The tires had worn unevenly and developed a cupped tread wear pattern. They were now too far out of balance and had to be replaced. After the wheel is mounted on the balancer, there are three parameters that are programmed into the balancer:. The wheel is spun for a short few seconds and then stops. The balancer will then show the results by displaying the readout on the screen. The readout shows the weight amounts and the locations for them to be installed on the wheel.
After the weights have been installed, the balancer is spun again to check for the accuracy of the balance job. Balancer Display showing weights amount, weight location, and dynamic balance mode. Also showing the distance, width and diameter settings of the wheel Model shown Weaver W For cosmetic and appearance purposes, tape-on weights are often used in various modes available on the balancer.
These modes ALU modes on some machines allow for a variety of weight placements and hidden weight methods to allow for the best appearance while maintaining the quality of a dynamic balance. When balancing aluminum wheels with tape-on weights, use duct tape to temporarily attach the weights to the wheel during the initial balance.
Install the outside weight as near to the outside as possible. The inside weight is placed on the inside edge of the wheel. Always be certain that there is enough clearance between the wheel weights and the brake caliper. There are 2 conditions to test that will help you understand it does not matter which brand of machine you are using.
By watching our calibration video you will see the balancer tested at the end of calibration by using a test weight to check the balancers accuracy. This tells us if the balancer is reading accurately or if it has an issue. When the balancer is calibrated and reading accurately, a test weight will define the ability of the balancer to read the correct weight amount and location. It is the same method to check any brand of balancer.
We have already confirmed the balancer is reading accurately so if you loosen and rotate the wheel the only change being made is physical. When using cones you will realize that there is a tolerance of about thousands of an inch to allow the cone to slide over the shaft threads this gets worse over time as the threads wear. Combine that with the tolerance in the particular wheel hub and it is a guarantee that it will change the mounting position of the wheel if rotated or remounted thus changing the balance wheel balancers are very accurate and will sense this minimal change.
If it repeats, you are simply lucky to hit near the same mounting position. The more accurate the mounting device you use, say a universal lug adapter or collet specific to the make of the wheel, then you can begin to look for better Repeatability on any machine because you have a greater ability to reproduce the same mounted physical position. When mounting, the goal is to reproduce the same way it is mounted on the vehicle. A perfectly balanced tire and wheel assembly can be mounted back on the vehicle incorrectly and produce an imbalance.
It's not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves. Alignment keeps your car from veering to the right or left. It also can improve the handling of your vehicle and stop unusual on-the-road vibrations. Your vehicle might need an alignment if you notice any of the following:. Your alignment can get knocked out of whack after being in a car accident, driving over a pothole, or running into a curb. The most significant benefit of balancing services is that they prevent premature tire tread wear.
Technicians agree that getting your tires balanced every 5, to 6, miles or as recommended by your manufacturer can help extend their lifespan and improve their performance. Wheel alignment benefits , on the other hand, include improved vehicle handling, fuel efficiency, and tire life. Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends that you have your vehicle's alignment checked every 6, miles or twice a year.
Left untreated, alignment issues can shorten a tire's life by thousands of miles, and they can damage critical steering and suspension components. Are you noticing symptoms of balancing and alignment issues in your car? Don't let them disrupt your flow. But how about new tires? Do they still need an alignment? Find out, with Firestone Complete Auto Care. A wheel alignment does more than keep your car on the straight and narrow.
Check out the top benefits of a wheel alignment, from Firestone Complete Auto Care. Blog Categories Blog Home. What Is Tire Balancing? Tire balancing also known as wheel balancing corrects uneven distribution of weight in the wheels.
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