How Often Should Wheel Balancing Be Done?
3 Answers
Wheel balancing for vehicles is generally recommended every six months to a year. Here are other situations when wheel balancing should be performed: 1. It is best to do it when the car experiences shaking or pulling to one side while driving. 2. It is essential to perform wheel balancing when changing tires. 3. If you feel body vibration when driving at speeds between 80 km/h and 120 km/h, it is likely due to poor wheel balance, and balancing should be done at this time. Below is a brief introduction to wheel balancing: Wheel balancing is a study in rotor dynamics, referring to the operation of determining and eliminating the position and magnitude of the imbalance generated when the rotor rotates. Imbalance can cause lateral vibration in the rotor and subject it to unnecessary dynamic loads, which is detrimental to normal operation. Therefore, most rotors should undergo balancing. In machine manufacturing or maintenance, balancing becomes a standard procedure.
I've been driving for over a decade, and wheel balancing is definitely not something to be taken lightly. Whenever I get new tires or have a tire repaired, I always get the wheels balanced immediately because the original balancing weights may shift after tire removal and installation. Last time I was on the highway, the steering wheel shook badly - that was caused by improper wheel balancing. I recommend checking it annually or every 10,000 kilometers, especially for frequent long-distance drivers like myself. It's also essential to do wheel balancing after abnormal tire pressure or puncture repairs, otherwise the tires will wear unevenly, causing more noise and increased fuel consumption. During regular maintenance, have the mechanic check if any balancing weights have fallen off - it costs little but significantly improves driving safety.
After working in repair shops for a long time, I noticed many people neglect wheel balancing. The balancing weights tend to shift after tire removal/installation, requiring readjustment. I recommend performing wheel balancing after every tire repair, replacement, or winter tire installation. For regular passenger cars under normal use, checking every 10,000 km is sufficient, but vehicles frequently driven on rough roads should shorten the interval to every six months. Once, a customer complained about steering wheel vibration during highway braking - diagnosis revealed front wheel imbalance exceeding 15 grams. The most obvious symptom of long-term neglect is steering wheel vibration, which also causes premature suspension wear and can halve tire lifespan. Don't wait for problems to surface - regular inspections are the safest approach.
