Is Wheel Balancing Necessary When Removing Tires?
3 Answers
Wheel balancing is required when removing tires alone, but not necessary when removing both tires and rims together. Below are specific details about wheel balancing: 1. Principle of Wheel Balancing: When a tire is removed separately, it cannot be reinstalled exactly according to the original marks. Since it is not installed according to the original marks, it will inevitably lead to uneven mass distribution, necessitating wheel balancing. Corresponding counterweights are added to the lighter areas to ensure uniform mass distribution, preventing dynamic imbalance when the wheel rotates at high speeds, which can cause wheel wobbling and steering wheel vibration during driving. 2. Wheel Balancing Operation: The process involves identifying the lightest point on the wheel and adding balancing weights at this location. The balancing weights are calibrated by mass; the weight chosen corresponds to the mass difference in grams at that point.
I've been in auto repair for over 20 years, and performing wheel balancing after tire removal is absolutely essential. Why? Because tires and rims are manufactured to fit perfectly together. Once separated and reassembled, even if the bolts are tightened properly, the weight distribution can shift slightly. This causes wheel vibration at high speeds—you'll feel the steering wheel shake like a vibrating phone, and the tires will wear unevenly, wasting thousands of miles of tread life. I once saw a friend try to save money by doing it himself, only to experience severe shaking on the highway. After enduring it for a month, he ended up spending more to replace the tires. My advice: always get a professional balance test after tire removal, especially during seasonal changes or tire replacements. A small investment ensures smooth driving and extends tire life by years. Remember, don't skimp on those few dollars—it guarantees both your comfort and financial safety.
As an ordinary car owner, I've personally experienced the consequences of not doing wheel balancing after tire removal. Last time I changed the tires on my SUV at home, I drove off immediately after installation. It was fine in the city, but once I hit the highway at speeds over 80 km/h, the steering wheel started vibrating violently, making my hands go numb. Later at the repair shop, they diagnosed it as wheel imbalance caused by uneven weight distribution after tire reinstallation. They quickly fixed it using a wheel balancing machine for just about a hundred yuan. If left untreated, the tires would wear unevenly and need replacement within six months, wasting several hundred yuan. I've learned that this step shouldn't be skipped - every time tires are removed and reinstalled, even for patching or rotation, wheel balancing should be done. It saves both trouble and money in the long run.
