October 22, 2023
In a perfect world, all wheels and tires would be perfectly round and weigh exactly the same at every point of the wheel. Unfortunately, they're not, and if they're out of balance, they can reduce the lifespan of your tires, make your vehicle shake like a carnival ride, and maybe even damage a few suspension parts along the way. You don't want that!
Wheel balancing, sometimes known as tire balancing, is a process by which a technician makes sure your tire/wheel assembly has evenly distributed weight. If it isn't, it can give your ride bad vibrations. If you feel your vehicle's steering wheel shaking, it can mean unbalanced wheels in the front. If you can feel a vibration in your seats, it could be unbalanced rear wheels.
In addition to your vehicle vibrating at higher speeds, there are other signs that your wheels are out of balance. You may see uneven tread wear, or you may notice you aren't getting the kind of fuel economy you used to.
When you experience these problems, bring your vehicle in, and we can put your wheels on a machine designed to detect any imbalance. The technician will start your wheels spinning, and a computer will determine how much weight is needed where. Then, the technician can add small weights on the inside or outside of your wheel rim to precisely balance out the uneven weight. When the wheel is balanced correctly, it will spin evenly and smoothly.
Sometimes your vehicle will hit a pothole or object in the road that dislodges one of those weights, which can throw that wheel out of balance again. If so, you'll have to bring it in to have that corrected
Some drivers confuse wheel balancing with wheel alignment. Alignment is making sure the wheels are perpendicular to the road and parallel with each other. Sometimes your vehicle will need both balancing and alignment done at the same time.
No vibrations are good vibrations when it comes to your wheels. Bring your vehicle to us, and we'll perform a balancing act to keep your vehicle riding smoothly down the road.
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Gahanna
115 N. Hamilton Road
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
614-337-8080
http://www.tuffygahanna.com
March 2, 2025
There are some dashboard lights you should pay more attention to than others. One is the air bag light. If it's on and your vehicle is in an accident, your air bags probably won't do their job. Automakers began installing air bags in the late 1990's since they were mandatory in the United State... More
February 23, 2025
Your vehicle is like you in a way. When it gets hot, it needs to be cooled down. And one of the key parts to keeping it cool is the water pump. Now, that's a bit of a misnomer. It IS a pump, but it's pumping coolant, not pure water. Cooling off your engine is vital since it builds up heat whe... More
February 16, 2025
If you notice your brakes arent working like they used to, thats the kind of thing thats important to have checked out soon. Thats because your brakes are extraordinarily important to the safe operation of your vehicle. Sometimes you feel like your brake pedal is feeling a little soft or its lo... More