Tire balancing is the process of adjusting any weight imbalances in a tire or wheel. An out-of-balance tire can cause your ride to be shaky and uneven. Your car is also more likely to have problems like excessive tire wear, vibration, suspension damage, and other issues.
A typical tire balance service costs between $10 and $50 per tire. Tire balancing is usually free but can be charged separately when purchasing new tires. This cost usually depends on the type of vehicle, number of tires, and additional services involved.
For tire balancing, a technician will remove the wheels from the vehicle and put them on a special balancing machine. The machine rapidly spins the tire to locate imbalances. After that, small weights are attached to the tire and wheel assembly to balance out any imperfections.
Methods of Tire Balancing
There are two types of tire balancing procedures. Static balancing is defined as balancing that takes place centrally through the hub’s middle axis or on a single plane of reference. Dynamic balancing involves three distinct planes, compensating for runout from any angle.
At the moment, dynamic balancing is the only way to balance tires that can be considered reliable. Static balancing is an old idea that doesn’t fit with how things are done today.
Why is Tire Balancing Necessary?
Having a vehicle’s tires balanced is important for a variety of reasons. An unbalanced tire will cause the corner of the car it is mounted on to shake or vibrate. It will get more severe and rapid as you drive faster. This will make your ride quite uncomfortable.
Additionally, it may harm the suspension, wheel bearing, and studs holding the wheel to your vehicle. Tire balancing is a task that is best left to the experts due to the specialized equipment needed. It is an investment worth making.
Symptoms of Unbalanced Tires
When a tire or wheel is imbalanced, your vehicle will show signs. Here are some warning signals to look out for:
1. Uneven Tire Wear:
If your front or rear tires are wearing unevenly, it is most likely because of a problem with the suspension. However, it can also indicate that the tires are out of balance.
Checking tread wear is an excellent way to spot tires that are out of balance. A tire imbalance may be present if one tire’s tread is wearing down more quickly than the tire on the opposite side of the axle. Therefore, uneven tread wear is a sign that your tires need to be balanced.
2. Vibrating Steering Wheel:
Your steering wheel will vibrate if you have an uneven tire load. They will increase, especially when traveling at high speeds.
The imbalance moves from the wheel assembly to the axle, steering rack, and steering wheel. If you discover this, immediately have your tires balanced to prevent further problems.
3. Poor Gas Mileage:
Balancing is done to reduce your tire’s rolling resistance. When your tires aren’t balanced, your car takes more gas to do the same amount of work.
As a result, slight increases in fuel usage are to be expected. The gas gauge may be dropping more quickly than usual. Therefore, it is essential to know that tires could be the cause.
4. Tire Thumping:
Your tires are likely out of balance if you hear a steady thumping when traveling at high speeds. The thump occurs when a heavy or light patch on the tire collides with the asphalt. A buzzing sound, especially when turning, indicates that one or more of your tires are out of balance.
How Frequently Should Tire Balancing be Done?
While there is no set period when you should get your tires balanced, several aspects must be considered. It depends on how frequently you travel, the quality of your tires, and the type of roads you drive on.
You should also look in the owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer suggests. There are rules for when to replace your tires as part of the tire and car maintenance.
How Much Does it Cost to Balance Tires?
Tire balancing typically costs $10 to $50 per tire and $20 to $80 for all four tires. These costs vary according to the tire, the store, and the type of vehicle.
However, balancing is usually more expensive at car dealers than at tire stores. Some retailers will charge you a flat rate for the installation of new tires. Others will divide it up into specific tires and installation costs.
Factors Affecting Tire Balancing Cost
Tire balancing is often quite flat-rate in most cases. Standard pricing is based on a per-wheel basis. However, this is not always the case. You can choose from a variety of deals, depending on your requirements. As a result, rates can vary greatly between different places.
1. Number of Wheels:
Most mechanics will charge a flat rate of $10-$50 per tire. Additionally, if you’re paying an hourly rate, you should anticipate your mechanic to work on each tire for 10 to 15 minutes. So, it will take about an hour to work on four tires, plus shop and machine fees.
If one of your tires isn’t rolling smoothly, but the others are, having only one balanced is sufficient. But experts say you should get your tires balanced once a year at the very least.
Moreover, balancing tires in pairs will usually improve the ride quality. That guarantees that both tires are equally balanced. It will make your ride more comfortable.
2. Services Included:
The prices charged by different providers vary greatly. However, there are a variety of inclusions in each package.
For example, Walmart charges $14 per tire for wheel balancing and rotation. If you visit Costco, you can have your wheels removed, balanced, and remounted for $12 per tire.
If you require many services, check around to discover what packages are available. If much of the maintenance involves removing and replacing wheels, doing it all at once could be better.
3. Regional Labor Cost:
The most significant factor in wheel balancing cost is typically labor. That’s because balancing wheels is as simple as taking them off, putting them on a balancing machine, adding weights, and then putting them back on.
In addition, most weights are quite affordable. If you need to add new ones, they will likely be included in the price or cost a few dollars more. Otherwise, you should be more concerned about the local labor rate.
Here, you can choose to pay your mechanic an hourly charge or a flat rate per tire. That usually ranges from $50 to $100 at most shops, depending on the mechanic. The average rate is very different depending on where you live and if you go to a dealer or a private shop.
Tire Balancing Cost at Different Places
Tire Balancing Cost at Walmart
Walmart Auto Care Center offers tire balance and rotation services for $15 per tire. So, balancing for a typical 4-wheel vehicle will cost you $60. It also covers tire rotation and tax. But you should also know that the installation package is not free.
Therefore, the installation fee for each tire is still $15. Hence, you will be eligible for the lifetime balance and rotation benefit. If you balance your Walmart tires more than once, you’ve already saved 100%.
Tire Balancing Cost at Costco
The installation fee at Costco is $18.99 per tire. The package includes lifetime balancing, mounting, and flat repair. You can also get pressure checks, and new rubber valve stems with it.
Tire Balancing Cost at Firestone
Firestone has more than 1,700 Firestone Complete Auto Care stores. They provide services like tire patching, balancing, and rotation.
They are one of the well-known tire manufacturers. They recommend balancing the tires every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. The company typically costs $15 to $50 per tire.
Tire Balancing Cost at Town Fair Tire
Town Fair Tire offers their consumers computerized tire balancing. Some former customers have complained that Town Fair Tire has high prices and poor service. The cost of having your tires balanced here comes out to around $109 for all four tires.
Tire Balancing Cost at Discount Tire
According to the company, if you buy a tire and wheel package, your tires will be mounted and balanced without cost. However, if you purchase tires without a new set of wheels, the installation fees at the local installer are not included in your purchase.
Can You Balance Tires at Home?
It is possible for you to balance your vehicle’s tires at home without using a tire balancing machine. A bubble balancer is typically used to do this. However, this type of balancing is static rather than dynamic.
Moreover, most of the stores now provide lifelong balancing services at an affordable cost. Therefore, Many people prefer to get their tires balanced by professionals.
Conclusion
Tire balancing is an integral part of tire care and maintenance. Car owners can follow the guidelines provided by tire manufacturers, which detail how often drivers should get their tires balanced.
Most tire shops and manufacturers set their prices between $10 and $50 for a single tire and between $20 and $80 for a set of four. However, it can vary depending on the make and model of the car, the tire store, and the tires themselves.
Tire balancing should be done whenever new tires are installed. Furthermore, if you notice your steering wheel vibrating, uneven tread wear, or low fuel efficiency, know that it is time for tire balancing.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Long Does it Take to Balance Tires?
Tire balancing usually doesn’t take more than an hour. However, this time can vary widely depending on the tire size and model being serviced.
Mini tires with hammer-on weights are quick and easy to balance. However, bigger tires that require sticky weights can take longer to balance.
Can You Drive With Unbalanced Tires?
Unbalanced tires can create vibration and shock in the suspension and wheel assembly when driving. This could eventually result in damage that costs thousands of dollars.
Additionally, driving with unbalanced tires will increase your gas consumption. So it’s fine to drive for a while without balancing your tires. However, getting the job done as early as possible is good.
Is Tire Balance the Same as Alignment?
No, tire balancing and alignment are two completely different things. “Alignment” refers to how straight your car’s wheels are in relation to the road. Alignment services adjust factors like camber, which is the angle at which the wheels sit on a vehicle.
