Sammy’s Auto has some information that can help you to understand tire balancing better, especially if this is a service you’ve tended to ignore. Balancing your tires is an important thing to do when you get new tires when you rotate your tires, and at specific intervals recommended by both the tire manufacturer and your car’s manufacturer.
Your Car’s Tires Go through a Lot
Your car’s tires hit all the potholes, all the speed bumps, and everything else that ends up in the road. That means that they’re constantly being chipped away at here and there. Over time? That means that there’s less tread, and therefore weight, in some areas of the tire than there are in other areas. This is why even tires that are a couple of years old still need to be balanced periodically, even if the tread and the tire itself is in good condition.
New Wheels and Tires Aren’t as Perfect as They Look
Your brand-new tires and even brand-new rims look perfectly round and after all, they’re brand new, right? Well, there are still some imperfections in both. That means that they’re not as perfectly round as they look and until they’re balanced, they’re going to spin at a variable rate and encounter the road differently all the way around. Not balancing your tires, especially when they’re new, shortens their lifespan tremendously.
Tire Balancing Isn’t One and Done
Something that a lot of car owners find confusing is that tire balancing isn’t something that they can just have done and then they never have to worry about it again. It would be great if that were true, but tire balancing is something that does have to be done again periodically. You’ve probably got a better idea why after the first two points, too.
Your Own Driving Habits Have a Lot to Do with Tire Balance
The last big thing to remember about tire balancing is that your own habits behind the wheel can have an impact on how often you have to have your tires balanced. If you consistently take speed bumps just a bit too fast, that is harder on your tires and your wheels. If you tend to speed a bit more often than you know you should, you’re also braking harder. That affects tire tread, which affects the overall balance of the tire.
Has it been a while since you last balanced your tires? Contact us at Sammy’s Auto in Seffner, FL and we can get your tires balanced, rotated, and make sure that they’re in good condition, too.
