Back to all

Wheel Balancing at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Batavia

December 17, 2015



So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? Batavia auto owners can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on Illinois interstates. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.

Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Batavia, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the service specialist will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it's too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 MPH, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's where you get your vibration.

Most Batavia drivers are surprised at how smoothly their car rides after balancing all four wheels.

Most high-quality tires sold in Batavia hold their balance pretty well for drivers. They just get out of balance gradually with normal wear and tear. If you suddenly feel a vibration, it is probably because you lost a wheel balancing weight along the way. Definitely get a balance at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Batavia in Batavia if you feel a vibration, change your rims or have a flat repaired. Putting off a needed balance job leads to excessive and detrimental tire wear, wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts. Wheel balancing not only improves your ride and handling, but also can save you some costly repair bills and possibly an accident. Additionally, you will get better fuel efficiency.

Some Batavia motorists have their tires balanced at every rotation. Others do it every other time. Check your owners' manual for your requirements, or ask your friendly Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Batavia service advisor. Doing this will put you on the path to mechanical wheel balance.

More articles from Tuffy Batavia

Smooth Operator (Shocks and Struts)

April 20, 2025

Few of us ever drive somewhere without encountering some pretty rough roads, and it's amazing how well our vehicles are able to smooth out the ride. Thank your shocks and struts. The two parts are similar. Some cars have shocks in the rear, and struts in the front. Others have struts all around... More

Feeling Powerless (Why Is My Battery Light On?)

April 13, 2025

When one of your vehicles warning lights comes on, the first thing that comes to mind is, Oh, no, whats wrong now? When its the battery light, it means theres something wrong with your vehicles battery or charging system. And because both are important for your vehicle to work properly, its a go... More

Out of Joint (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)

April 6, 2025

If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it has components called CV joints which enable you to turn your wheels smoothly. The CV stands for constant velocity. In essence, its a set of gears that connect a shaft that allows power from the transmission to be sent to the wheels. When you turn the ... More