We all want our tires to last as long as possible. Two ways to maximize tire life are wheel balancing and tire rotation.

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When wheels are out of balance, they wobble a bit. That makes the tires wear in a cupping pattern. And they vibrate. Your service technician puts weights on your wheels to balance them out. If a front wheel is out of balance you’ll feel it in the steering wheel. If it’s a rear wheel you’ll feel it through your seat.

That brings us to tire rotation. The front tires on a car wear out more quickly than the rear tires. As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down. So rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate over the life of the tire.

Proper tire inflation will also help your tires last longer. Under-inflated tires wear excessively on the shoulder and may even overheat. This could cause tire damage or a blow out. Over-inflated tires wear to fast in the middle.

Four wheel drive trucks and SUV’s tend to wear their tires more unevenly so rotation is even more important with them.

See your owner’s manual or ask your service technician for your recommended tire rotation schedule. It’s usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Tires cost a lot and they are one of the most critical safety components on your vehicle. Take care of them and they’ll take care of you.

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Tires do a lot of work:  They transfer engine power and braking forces to the road; they handle steering control; and they cushion all those bumps and jolts.  They also support the entire weight of the vehicle, including you and your passengers. With such critical work to do, you want your tires to do their job well.  And since replacing tires is fairly expensive, you want them to last as long as possible.

There are three keys to long even tire wear:

1. Proper tire inflation
2. Proper wheel alignment
3. Regular tire rotation and balancing

The front tires on a car take the brunt of the steering forces.  As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down more quickly than the rear tires.  Rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate. That’s especially true of front wheel drive vehicles whose front tires steer, and put the power to the road.

SUVs and pick-ups, especially four wheel drives, also tend to wear their tires more unevenly than cars because of their suspension and drive train set-up. Your owner’s manual will likely contain a schedule for tire rotation.  It’s usually every 5,000 miles or so.

Also, there are different rotation patterns for different vehicles. Your service center will know which is right for your vehicle.  That brings us to wheel balancing.  When wheels are balanced, they spin on the axle evenly.  When they are out of balance, they wobble a bit.  That makes the tires wear unevenly and may transmit a vibration to the car.  Your service technician puts weights on your wheels to balance them out so that they turn true and smooth.

Tires are a big investment for any vehicle.  They’re critical for keeping you safely on the road.  The cost for regular rotation and balancing is more than made up in extended tire life.  And, can you really put a price on your safety and that of your passengers?

So you love our job, and your family life is great: You have achieved balance.  But can you the same for your wheels? You can tell if your tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds.  If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel.  If it’s a back tire, you’ll feel the vibration in your seat.

Tires and wheels are pretty heavy.  When a tire is mounted on a wheel, it is usually not perfectly balanced.  So the tire technician will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it’s too heavy.  He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly.  Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 MPH, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second.  That’s where you get your vibration.

Most people are surprised at how smoothly their car rides after balancing all four wheels.
Most high-quality tires hold their balance pretty well.  They just get out of balance gradually with normal wear and tear. If you suddenly feel a vibration, it is probably because you lost a balance weight along the way. Definitely get a balance if you feel a vibration, change your rims or have a flat repaired. Putting off a needed balance job leads to excessive tire wear, wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts.  A balance not only improves your ride and handling, but also can save you some big repair bills and possibly an accident.  Additionally, you will get better gas mileage.

Some people have their tires balanced at every rotation.  Others do it every other time.
Check your owners’ manual for your requirements, or ask your technician.  Doing thus will put you on the path to mechanical balance.