How to Balance Bike Tires
Bicycling--whether on-road or off-road--is a popular pastime and a great cardiovascular workout. Although it improves your overall health, cycling can cause wear and tear to your bike, and often the tires will become unbalanced and need correcting. The task involves just a few simple tools and a step-by-step process to balance your tires with each other and between the brakes on each end. With balanced tires, your bicycle will ride more smoothly and brake more easily.
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Instructions
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Flip the bicycle upside-down so it rests on the handlebars and seat. This will make it easier to work on the tires and brakes.
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Tighten the spokes. Find the tightest spoke and pluck it with your finger to see what tone it makes. It should be close to a C note. Starting with the front wheel, check all spokes and tighten them to match the tightest spoke (pluck them to match). Use the spoke wrench to tighten each spoke.
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Rotate the front wheel to see if it rubs the brakes. Close the brakes just until the tire rubs against one of the pads, then mark the spot that rubbed with a piece of chalk.
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Loosen the spokes on the side of the tire that rubs against the brake and tighten the spokes on the opposite side of the friction. Use the spoke wrench to adjust these spokes.
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Repeat these steps on the back tire. After you tighten the spokes, then bias the brake pads, your bicycle has balanced tires.
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