Is Wheel Balancing Necessary After Patching a Tire?
2 Answers
Wheel balancing is required after patching a tire. The steps for wheel balancing are as follows: 1. Install the wheel on the balancing machine and select an appropriately sized fixture. 2. Turn on the power of the balancing machine, pull out the ruler to measure the distance from the rim to the balancing machine, the width of the rim, and the diameter of the rim, then input the measured data in order. 3. Enter the rim diameter into the controller and press START. The balancing machine will begin rotating the wheel, starting the measurement. 4. The balancing machine will automatically stop once it obtains the data. After the measurement stops, the computer will display the required weight of the balancing weights to be added to the inner and outer sides of the rim. First, install the weights on the outer side, rotate the tire, and hammer the weights into place according to the prompts.
I just had a few tires patched, and every time the repair shop recommends a wheel balance. This is because the small patch added during the tire repair can alter the weight distribution of the tire. If it's not properly balanced, the wheel may vibrate while driving, causing the steering wheel to shake severely and potentially accelerating tire wear. A friend of mine skipped it to save time and ended up feeling the car wobble on the highway, later needing to redo the process. So, I think it's always worth spending a little time on wheel balancing for safety—usually just around a hundred bucks—to avoid bigger issues down the road. Plus, if you frequently drive on highways, wheel balancing helps protect the suspension system and extends the vehicle's lifespan. In short, modern tire repair technology is quite advanced; getting a balance after patching ensures a smoother and more secure driving experience, saving you multiple trips to the repair shop later.
