Back to all

Shake It Up in Negaunee!: Why Wheel Balancing

April 29, 2015

Our vehicles are not massage chairs. While we may enjoy a good vibration in an overstuffed recliner, us Negaunee motorists generally want as smooth a ride as possible in our vehicles. One way to achieve this is to keep a vehicle’s wheels in balance.

When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, it is usually out of balance. This means that as the wheel spins, there is a slight wobble to the path of the tire. For best handling performance and safety on the road, Negaunee drivers want to minimize this wobble as much as possible. So we balance our tires. To balance a tire, your friendly LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports technician spins it on a machine or drum to determine where it is off-balance. He then attaches weights that counter-balance the uneven weight. Most Negaunee motorists are surprised at how much balancing improves the smoothness of their ride.

High-quality tires generally hold their balance well. But over time, wear and tear take their toll and tires can become unbalanced. Negaunee motorists can tell when a front tire is unbalanced if they feel a vibration in the steering wheel. If a back tire is unbalanced, you’ll feel a vibration in your seat. You may not notice these vibrations until they get fairly serious — or until someone else drives your SUV — because they usually develop slowly. If a vibration starts abruptly, it usually means you’ve lost a balancing weight.

The average tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 mph. When a tire is out of balance, it actually hops down the interstate, rather than rolling. So at 60 mph it is slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That’s what creates the dangerous vibration. When Negaunee auto owners' tires are out of balance, they wear out more quickly. The lack of balance also causes extra wear on shocks, struts, steering components and essential suspension parts.

Getting a balance job at LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports in Negaunee can prevent pricey repair bills and even an accident. It will improve the safety of your SUV as well as its handling performance, and it will improve your fuel efficiency. When you change your rims or get a flat repaired at LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports, you’ll need to get your tires balanced as well. When you rotate your tires, you may want to have them balanced as well.

Some Negaunee vehicle owners, however, only balance their wheels every other rotation. You can check your owner’s manual to see what the recommends for your SUV. Balancing your tires is part of essential preventive maintenance. It keeps your vehicle in good repair and prevents damage to many of its components, including some expensive ones. So practice good car care and make it a point to keep your tires balanced. It’s quality auto advice from LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports. Massages chairs may vibrate away our worries, but unbalanced tires will just rattle Negaunee car owners' nerves.

More articles from LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports Inc.

Regular Schedule or Severe Service Schedule at LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports?

June 2, 2019

Today's LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports article focuses on severe service maintenance. Many Negaunee drivers are not aware of them and yet there are also very vocal advocates in Michigan who think that severe service schedules apply to everyone. Somewhere between a complete lack of awa... More

Exhaust Service at LeMoine's Automotive & Motorsports: Passing the Smell Test

May 26, 2019

The exhaust system on a vehicle is more complex than most Negaunee residents realize. It contains everything from old-fashioned pipes and clamps to sophisticated computers and sensors. All Michigan folks know a properly functioning exhaust system is good for the environment, but sometimes... More

Negaunee Safety Systems: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

May 19, 2019

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of driving around Negaunee on underinflated tires. Admittedly, it's hard to tell when a radial tire is underinflated. If your vehicle manufacturer recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your vehicle tires are considere... More