Is Wheel Balancing Necessary When Rotating Tires?

[BeauLynn]

Wheel balancing is necessary when rotating tires. 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. When driving at high speeds, this can lead to an unbalanced state, which poses a safety hazard. By adding counterweights to correct the balance at the edges of the tire, a wheel balancer will display data. If it shows 0, it means no balancing is needed. If it displays other values, it indicates the required weight to achieve balance. Therefore, wheel balancing should be performed after installing new tires or repairing a tire to ensure the wheel remains dynamically balanced during high-speed driving.

[NovaMarie]

Speaking of whether to do wheel balancing after tire rotation, I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. Last year, I took a shortcut by only swapping the front and rear tires without balancing, and as a result, when I hit 100 km/h on the highway, the steering wheel shook violently. I drove to the repair shop, and the mechanic pointed at the missing lead weights on the rims, explaining that tire rotation alters the weight distribution, making rebalancing a must. Now, I always make sure to do it properly every time I rotate the tires. The process is actually quite simple: mount the wheel on the machine, spin it, and the computer detects where it’s lighter, then small lead weights are stuck on the corresponding spots. Skipping this step doesn’t just make the steering wheel dance—over time, it leads to uneven tire wear and can even cause premature bearing failure. Repairs for those issues cost way more than a simple wheel balancing.

[VonWalter]

Tire rotation definitely requires wheel balancing. I've seen too many customers come back for repairs without having done wheel balancing. The wear levels on the front and rear wheels are different, completely altering the center of gravity. Special attention must be paid during disassembly to ensure the alignment marks on the wheel rim edges are matched. Last time, an Audi had installation angle deviation and skipped wheel balancing, directly causing body resonance. I recommend checking on a balancing machine every time tires are removed, especially for cars with modified rims. Small roadside shops can handle it in just over ten minutes—don't wait until the steering wheel vibrates so much it numbs your hands to regret it. Poor balancing can also affect the suspension system, causing extra impact on the steering ball joints, leading to repairs that can cost thousands in minutes.

[Jackson]

A wheel balance is a must! When I changed the tires on my old car and skipped the balancing, there was a noticeable humming noise at around 70 km/h. Later I learned that the heavier side of the rotating tire would repeatedly hit the road, just like an unbalanced washing machine thumping around. The principle of wheel balancing is actually simple: the machine spins the tire to simulate 100 km/h, measures weight differences at various points, and evens out the weight distribution by attaching lead weights. After adjustment, it's best to clean the inside of the rim too, as grease and dirt can affect the balance data. During maintenance, I've seen mechanics fine-tune the balance on the machine—if the left-right data difference exceeds 5 grams, they add counterweights with precision.