High Speed Tire Balancing Info

Poorly-balanced tires can negatively affect your shocks.

There are a number of different ways to balance the tires on your vehicle. One popular methods involves rotating the tire at top speeds in order to discover where potential problems lie, and to get you back on the road.

Identification

High speed balancing refers to exposing the tire to a "high speed spin." Placing the tire on an axle that is already balanced, the tech or mechanic then accelerates the speed of the axle until it has achieved "freeway speed." Using computer analysis, the tech is then able to locate faults on or within the tire. He can then fix any defects or add the requisite weights to achieve balance.

Other Types

High speed spin is just one of the three methods known as dynamic balancing. The other two are called "on the car" and "bead balancing." Previously, mechanics would use on the car balancing more frequently, but the high tire speeds involved made the isolated axle more desirable. Bead balancing instead uses internally applied beads to continually reinforce and balance the tire as it spins.

Benefits

Balancing is an important part of tire maintenance. It helps you to optimize the traction potential of your tires, not to mention their lifespan. Imbalances in your tires can ultimately affect the way that your suspension and steering operate, making balancing not just a money issue, but also a safety one.

References

• AA! Car: Curing Speed & Tire Vibrations
• Tire Rack: Mounting and Balancing
• Tech IMO: Self-Balancing on Cars
• Autos: What is Tire Balancing?