How crucial is it to have the tires balanced? What are the benefits? And when should tire balancing be done?

Aside from making sure that the tires have adequate air pressure, they should also be balanced. This will help extend the service life of the tires and even improve their performance. When the tires aren't balanced, this may lead to road vibrations. And because of this, the driver can experience exhaustion even more. Tires may wear out prematurely, developing unusual wear patterns such as cupping or dipping. This will also place unnecessary stress on the rest of the vehicle suspension. Tire balancing should be done when they're mounted on wheels. In case you experience or notice vibration or shimmy, consider having the tires re-balanced for your driving safety and comfort. Some would advise that you do this once a year.

What could possibly cause steering wheel vibration on a Plymouth Prowler? When I drive past 45 mph, that's when I notice the start of the steering wheel vibration. It even feels like the vehicle itself is twitching.

Steering wheel vibration may seem like a small thing compared to other troubles that may hurt the performance and handling of the vehicle. But if you don't tackle this problem right away, worse things can happen. This can be risky. To find out the source of the problem, you have to consider several possible issues. Your vehicle, for instance, may have wheel and tire assemblies that already need balancing. You may also have damaged wheels or worn-out tires. Check the wheel lug nuts. If they're loose, then these should be tightened, or if there's a missing piece, then that should be replaced right away. The steering wheel problem may also have something to do with parts of the steering linkage that are already loose. These parts should be retightened or repaired as needed. If steering wheel vibration tends to happen when you apply the brakes, the source of the problem may be traced to warped or broken brake rotors or drums.

Why do heat spots develop on brake rotors? How can they affect the rotors' condition and performance? Are they a reason for concern, or is it normal for rotors to develop heat spots?

When there are heat spots, this means that the brake rotors suffer from uneven brake pad deposits, which happens when the brakes aren't broken in or bedded in properly. The deposits from the brake pad may eventually build up, and when it does, the deposits can transform into a compound called cementite. Cementite on rotors isn't a good thing since this compound is known to be abrasive. The presence of this compound will affect the rotors' cooling abilities. This can heat up and this can grow larger until the rotors' cooling capacity is compromised. Heat spots aren't harmless. These can cause brake harshness and can lead to vibration. Worse, this can affect the structural integrity of the rotors. To avoid this, proper bed-in is needed. The rotors may also be turned. However, if the heat spots are severe or have spread out already, replacement is the best solution to the problem.

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