Is Wheel Balancing Necessary When Replacing Tires?

[StCarlos]

Wheel balancing is required after tire replacement for the following reasons: 1. Generally, it is necessary to perform wheel balancing when replacing or repairing the tire system, as prolonged use may lead to the detachment of balancing weights, causing imbalance in the tire's 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 reasons, the mass distribution of this assembly may not be perfectly uniform. If new tires are installed without balancing, the tires may become unbalanced during high-speed driving, posing a safety hazard.

[SimonLynn]

I never skip wheel balancing when changing tires—a lesson learned the hard way. Last time I tried saving time by skipping it, the steering wheel shook like a phone on vibrate mode at highway speeds, even the rearview mirror image was jumping. The mechanic explained that tires have uneven weight distribution from the factory, and the wheel rims plus valve stems also have weight differences—those balancing weights exist for counterbalancing. Neglecting it causes minor issues like numb hands while driving, or worse, premature bearing failure. Don't underestimate this small $10 procedure—it directly affects tire contact patch uniformity. Imagine walking uncomfortably with uneven shoe wear, now picture tires rotating at 100 km/h. Pay special attention to front wheel balance since steering feedback is most noticeable there.

[Lucia]

What needs to be done is the lowest-cost protective measure. I once watched mechanics at a repair shop and noticed that the original balance weight positions were no longer accurate when installing new tires, necessitating recalibration. Imagine the centrifugal force generated by weight deviation when the wheel rotates at high speed, much like the shaking during a washing machine's spin cycle. Long-term driving with unbalanced wheels most noticeably causes steering wheel vibrations and indirectly accelerates the aging of suspension bushings, leading to wave-like tire wear. The most extreme case I've seen was an unbalanced wheel that cracked the shock absorber's top mount. Nowadays, some shops claim to offer free wheel balancing, but the cost is already factored into the tire pricing.

[AvaLee]

It's a must-do! Wheels are rotating components, not like table legs that just need to stand firmly on the ground. The distribution of tire rubber, the design of the wheel hub, and even the weight of the valve stem can affect balance. Last time I saw a balancing machine test, a slight imbalance in a 15-inch wheel hub showed a 20-gram difference, which is equivalent to tying four AA batteries to the wheel spinning at high speed. Without dynamic balancing, you can feel vibrations above 60 mph, and uneven tire wear can reduce lifespan by a third. This is especially important if you've modified the wheel hubs or used non-OEM specification tires. Balancing weights cost just pennies, but they can save you thousands in suspension repairs later on.