Is Wheel Balancing Necessary When Replacing All Four Tires?
2 Answers
Wheel balancing is necessary when replacing all four tires. Here are the reasons: 1. Generally, it is essential to perform wheel balancing after replacing or repairing the tire system, as prolonged use may lead to the detachment of balancing weights, causing imbalance in tire weight distribution. 2. Any operation that alters the mass distribution of any part of the wheel requires wheel balancing. 3. A car's wheel consists of two parts: the tire and the rim. However, due to various factors, the mass distribution of this assembly cannot be perfectly uniform. If new tires are installed without balancing, an unbalanced state may occur during high-speed driving, posing a risk to driving safety.
I also thought about this issue when I changed tires before. To be honest, I think wheel balancing is quite necessary. After installing new tires, the fit between the tire and wheel hub may not be perfectly balanced. If you skip this step, you might experience severe steering wheel vibration at highway speeds, which not only affects handling but also accelerates tire wear over time and could even damage the suspension system. Last time I went to a repair shop to replace all four tires, the mechanic proactively performed wheel balancing for me by adding those small lead weights to adjust the balance - the car ran extremely smoothly afterwards. Nowadays, most tire shop packages include this service, and it's not expensive - just a few dozen RMB to get it done for peace of mind and safety. After all, it's your own car, and spending money for reassurance is worthwhile. Personally, I always recommend getting wheel balancing done every time you change tires.
