How often should you balance your tyres?

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Technicians recommend that on average, vehicle tyres should be balanced at least once every six months to extend their lifespan and improve their performance.

Or, do so as recommended by your car manufacturer, says mechanic, Ashraf Mutaasa Kafeero, who is based in the Wandegeya-Katanga zone in Kampala.

You can also do so whenever you get a wheel alignment, or during the tyre rotation process and flat tyre repair.

Tyre or wheel balancing involves adding weights to your wheels to ensure all parts of your tyre and wheel assembly are evenly weighted around the centre.

This enables the assembly to spin smoothly at high speed.

“Tyre imbalance can develop over time as the tyre tread wears out through regular use, and the distribution of weight changes,” says Israel Mukasa, a tyre technician.

So how can you tell that one or more of the tyres are out of balance? Here are the common signs:

Steering wheel vibrates

According to Mukasa, one sign is the vibration of the steering wheel while driving, depending on which tyre is unbalanced.

The vibration may be noticeable as you increase speed and then it eases at even higher speeds.

Uneven tyre wear

Mukasa explains that another indicator of possibly unbalanced tyres is uneven tread wear on the tyres that are at higher risk of going flat.

Or if the tread on your tyres appears to wear too quickly, that could point to unbalanced tyres.

Uneven tire wear. (Credit: Fred Mubanda)

Poor fuel economy

“When a vehicle’s tyres are unbalanced, it consumes more fuel to drive, as the engine has to work harder to compensate for the imbalance, which can lead to higher fuel costs over time,” says Kafeero.

Shocks and bearings

The mechanic goes on to explain that unbalanced tyres can lead to more stress on your vehicle’s springs, shocks and bearings.

Therefore, when the tyres are out of balance, the assembly parts of the vehicle take on a whole lot of pressure that causes them to stop functioning sooner than expected.

When your vehicle dangerously pulls to one side while driving at high speeds, that is another sign that your tyres are not balanced.

Other signs are tyre squealing and engine damage due to the extra pressure exerted on it, which affects functioning and performance.

Why does it matter?

Mukasa recommends that any time you get new tyres, balancing them should be part of the service in order to ensure they rotate smoothly to enhance safety.

Other conditions to consider rebalancing include when your vehicle hits a pothole or other debris that breaks or damages a balance weight.

“When a tyre is fitted well to a rim and then fitted to a vehicle after being balanced, it reduces vibrations in the steering wheel, the seat, wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints or the floorboard and other vital components, which help to reduce the strain on those parts as well as reduced maintenance and repair costs,” says Mukasa.

Regular balancing extends the life span of your tyres by way of experiencing less wear and tear by minimizing unnecessary vibrations and irregular tyre wear.

It also helps to enhance fuel efficiency for your vehicle, which can affect operating costs in a positive way, especially for vehicles that cover long distances or have demanding hauling requirements.