If getting your tires balanced the normal way didn’t do much to address any problems you’ve had with your wheels, there’s a good chance that road force balancing is what you need. It’s a handy procedure capable of addressing stubborn problems such as shimmying steering wheels, vibrations while driving, and uneven tire wear.
But what exactly is road force balancing, what benefits does it offer, and in what ways does it differ from standard tire balancing?
Simply put, road force balancing is an advanced tire balancing procedure that evenly distributes the weight of your vehicle across all four tires and tire assembly. This is done to prevent vibrations while driving, minimize tire wear, and put less strain on your vehicle’s suspension.
This might sound like standard tire balancing, but road force balancing takes it a step further by using machines to simulate the weight of a vehicle on a tire as it rotates. This allows mechanics to single out and address inconsistencies in the tire and wheel assembly.
There are many reasons why it’s recommended to have road force balancing performed on your vehicle’s tires. The procedure boosts tire durability and lifespan, improves responsiveness and stability, and prevents steering wheel vibration. It can also be done quickly and effectively.
One of the biggest benefits of road force balancing is that it’s a quick and simple procedure that’s capable of fixing many problems. Drivers can easily go to the mechanic, have them perform road force balancing, and drive out — simple as that.
Another benefit that comes with road force balancing is how it ensures your vehicle’s tires are properly balanced. This distributes the weight of your vehicle evenly amongst the tires, reducing the likelihood of uneven wear and boosting their lifespan.
When tires are unbalanced, they become less responsive and more difficult to control. This negatively affects your handling and ability to control your vehicle, putting you at more risk on the road. Because road force balancing rebalances and evens out your tires, your stability and steering precision will improve.
One of the biggest reasons any driver gets road force balancing is if they want to avoid dealing with a vibrating steering wheel. The procedure measures forces acting on the tire as it rolls, revealing potential issues causing vibrations. This allows the mechanic to make adjustments such as repositioning tires or singling out tires that need to be replaced.
Road force balancing offers everything that standard tire balancing does — and more. Though both procedures are used to distribute the weight of the wheel and tire assembly, standard tire balancing has some cons worth taking note of.
For example, standard balancing doesn’t factor the weight of a vehicle on a spinning tire, nor can it measure the force of the wheel as it spins. This means some imbalances cannot be detected through standard balancing.
On the other hand, road force balancing is a much more sophisticated process that’s used to help mechanics find imbalances undetectable by standard balancing. Mechanics will use a device that exerts a controlled force against the rotating tire and wheel assembly, helping them identify abnormalities in the tire or wheel.
This makes it easier for them to make the necessary adjustments to balance the wheel properly.
Though road force balancing isn’t something that has a significant effect on all tires, it’s an excellent option for owners of vehicles that still vibrate when driving or have poor handling even after standard wheel balancing. It’s a good idea to get road force balancing whenever you:
Bear in mind that sometimes, road force balancing may not fix the problems mentioned above. In some cases, similar symptoms are caused by failed suspension or steering components.
If these issues persist even after getting your tires balanced, it’s a good idea to bring it to a mechanic for a proper diagnosis.
You can expect to spend up to $30 per tire for road force balancing. However, the exact price will vary depending on the mechanic. Since it’s strongly recommended to get all the tires of your vehicle balanced at once, you might spend between $120 and $150 every time you need to perform road force balancing.
Road force balancing needs to be performed every time you replace your vehicle’s tires — a procedure that’s only ever done in emergencies or once every six or so years. However, you might need to get your tires rebalanced if one or more of your tires get punctured. You don’t need to have road force balancing performed on your tires every time you get a tire rotation unless you notice vibrations or handling issues when driving.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.