If you notice your tires are out of balance, go to a mechanic/tire technician or balance them yourself. Tire imbalance is a condition when the weight of a tire is unevenly distributed around the tire-wheel unit circumference. The comfort of your ride and the lifespan of your tires, wheels, and suspension, greatly depend on it.

Go to a Mechanic

A mechanic or tire technician will put your wheel-tire units on a balancing machine one-by-one. Usually, the unit spins and the machine diagnoses it to find stiffer spots and measure vibration. The results show whether the weight is balanced, and if not, where to apply weights. The specialist then applies steel, aluminum, zinc, or lead elements, opposite the stiff spots. The process usually takes about an hour for all four wheels.

Sometimes, additional weights are enough to fix a tire that is out of balance. However, the technician may need to rotate the tire on the wheel. The reason for this is that the heavier spot of the wheel and that of the tire may line up, causing more imbalance. Another thing to do is to check for locking wheel lugs. They are about 1.5 times heavier than usual lug nuts, so they can add about 0.5 oz weight to the side of the wheel.

The Cost of Tire Balancing

The cost of procedures if tires are out of balance may vary from $15-$80 for four wheels. The amount may vary depending on the location, warranty, tires, and additional procedures. The average price is about $10 per wheel ($40 for four wheels) at a tire shop, and $12-$14 ($48-$56) at a car dealership. Some shops offer free services of mounting, balancing, and/or rotating, if you buy the tires from them. There are also shops that offer a lifetime service if you buy from them, so make sure to ask about this before purchasing.

You can find all certified tire shops that can help if your tires are out of balance.