United Tire and Service News

Having unbalanced tires on your car is a lot like wearing two different shoes—it's going to be an uncomfortable journey. Unbalanced tires can affect fuel economy, put stress on your shocks and bearings, and shorten the life of your tires if not addressed. 

 

How do you know if your tires need to be balanced? The two main symptoms drivers will notice when their tires are out of balance are vibration and uneven tread wear. 

 

Vibration is the first and most common sign of unbalanced tires. Drivers may feel the vibration in the steering wheel, floor, or seat depending on which tire is unbalanced. The severity of the vibration will be dependent on how unbalanced the tire is, current driving/road conditions, and your speed. 

 

This second symptom might be less obvious unless you are conscious of the wear pattern on your tires. When your tires are unbalanced, it causes uneven tread wear on your tire. This puts more stress on parts of your tire that aren’t designed to withstand such stress, thus shortening the life of your tires. Tires that are unbalanced and undergo uneven wear are at higher risk of going flat. 

 

Oftentimes customers misunderstand the difference between misaligned tires and unbalanced tires. Alignment refers to the position of the tires in relation to each other. When one of our team of knowledgeable technicians realigns your wheels, they make sure they are all parallel to one another and the road. Balancing your tires makes sure they sit straight on your axle so the widest, thickest, heaviest part of your tires is making full contact with the road. 

 

Balancing your tires can be done at any time, but if you notice the common signs of unbalanced tires, let the team at United Tire and Service help you out. Our team of friendly technicians will make sure your wheels and tires are in the best working condition so you know you’re safe on the roads. To schedule your next appointment, call or go online. 

 

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