Tyre balancing is an extremely vital part of vehicle maintenance as it has a direct bearing on the smoothness of your ride as well as the lifespan of the tyre itself. Your car comes with a complex network of interconnected parts.
If one part is not functioning the way it is supposed to, it can affect the performance of the entire vehicle which not only makes your ride uncomfortable but also puts your life at great risk.
If you are not familiar with the concept of tyre balancing or you don’t know what makes it so important then this article is all you need. This blog covers the ins and outs of premium quality tyre balancing to help you understand the concept much better so keep on reading till the end.
- What is Tyre Balancing?
- Signs That Show Your Vehicle Needs Tyre Balancing
- The Tyre Balancing Process
- Why is Tyre Balancing Necessary?
- It Enhances the Lifespan of the Tyre
- Gives You Better Fuel Economy
- Lessens the Vibrations
- It Protects the Suspensions
- Enhances the Safety & Comfort
What is Tyre Balancing?
Tyre balancing is a careful process that ensures the weight of the tyre or wheel is distributed uniformly around the axle. The process involves adding small weights to your tyres or the wheel’s rims to create a balance that reduces vibrations.
Tyre balancing compensates for weight imbalances between the wheel/tyre combination which leads to more stability as well as a smoother driving experience.
Tyre balancing is different from wheel alignment as the latter involves the adjustment of your car’s suspension which is a system that connects the wheels to the vehicle.
The alignment of the wheel has nothing to do with the wheels or tyres themselves. This adjustment is mainly done to ensure the rubber of your tyres meets the road at the correct angle.
Signs That Show Your Vehicle Needs Tyre Balancing
Your vehicle needs tyre balancing if
- You notice vibrations in your steering wheel upon reaching moderate speeds. As you move faster, the vibrations tend to become more noticeable.
- There is unusual tread wear with no consistent shape or size of the patchy flat areas.
- Your wheel bearings and shocks do not perform well due to damage. These vibrations from unbalanced tyres reverberate through the entire vehicle making the suspensions inefficient.
- You notice your gas mileage diminishing and fuel consumption increasing.
The Tyre Balancing Process
The wheel balancing process involves the following components
- The balancing machine
- Wheel weights
- The wheel
The process mainly involves adding weights to your tyres or wheels to create a balance between these two components. First, the tyre is inflated and fitted in the rim. Then it is transferred to the balancing machine which spins it at great speeds to identify the exact areas where there is weight imbalance.
The required weights are added to these areas which counterbalances the heavy spots. Then the tyre is spun again to ensure there is no weight imbalance.
Why is Tyre Balancing Necessary?
Here are a few reasons why you need to pay special attention to tyre balancing
- It Enhances the Lifespan of the Tyre
Unbalanced tyres tend to wear down easily and unevenly. The uneven wear and tear affects the performance of the tyres and reduces their lifespan. The excessive vibrations along with non-uniform tread wear cause the tyres to quickly wear down.
- Gives You Better Fuel Economy
A vehicle with balanced tyres gives you better fuel economy. The reason is that in this case the vehicle runs more smoothly and there is less pressure on the engine.
If your tyres are balanced, your vehicle doesn’t have to work extra hard which reduces fuel consumption. This enhances your car’s efficiency which reflects positively on your fuel economy.
- Lessens the Vibrations
Tyre balancing eliminates the vibrations in your steering wheels, the floorboards, as well as the seats. If you are traveling on a longer route with unbalanced tyres, it can create a lot of discomfort.
But with balanced wheels, these vibrations do not occur. This way you can enjoy a more relaxing and peaceful traveling experience if your vehicle has balanced tyres.
- It Protects the Suspensions
Your vehicle’s suspension is an important component that also suffers damage if your tyres are imbalanced. The persistent vibrations produced by unbalanced tyres can drop the performance of your suspensions.
It happens due to the early wear of the wheel bearings or shocks which results from the reverberations moving through the rest of the wheel and suspension system.
This can also create looseness in your steering which affects your vehicle’s handling or responsiveness negatively.
- Enhances the Safety & Comfort
Last but not least the tyre balancing gives you a much smoother ride even when you are driving at the highest speeds and for longer durations. Tyre balancing also makes your vehicle safer. It does so by improving your control and by eliminating uneven tread wear.
This way regular tyre balancing can prevent the risks of your vehicle breaking down during your travels. This gives you peace of mind that you will be able to reach your destination on time and in one piece.
Conclusion
If you are noticing strange vibrations, reduced mileage, or steering issues in your car then it is probably caused by poor tyre balancing. Regular balancing of your tyres is the only way to make sure the vehicle shows consistently good performance. This simple maintenance can also increase the life of your vehicle and enhance the safety of the passengers.
So, make sure to pay extra attention to the tyre balancing if you wish to enjoy a smooth and carefree ride in your car every single time. Visit GlobalEX today to order our premium quality tyres for all kinds of vehicles at very affordable rates all over the UAE.