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Don't Lose Your Balance
by Jim Park
Do we really need to balance our tires? Predictably, and depending who you ask, the answers range from yes to no. Improvements in manufacturing processes guarantee a much better tire comes from the factory today, than even a decade ago. But we have to consider which factory. The adage about getting what you pay for holds true here. A tire selling at half the price of the name-brand merchandise is going to be short on something.
"Balancing is part of tire verification checks we do within the manufacturing process," he says. "Given that, we generally don't recommend any balancing at installation." "If mounting procedures are followed and care is taken to seat the tire properly, tire balance shouldn't be an issue," he says. "But when you look at the entire mass that's spinning around on the axle, we could often make a case for balancing." Peggy Fisher, president of TireStamp, and a highly regarded tire expert, says a properly balanced tire will wear more evenly over it life, so there are advantages to taking the extra step, if only because it's cheap insurance. "In most cases, if it's left to its own devices, and if it was mounted correctly and balanced, it should run okay," she notes. Many balancing issues arise if tires are not centered exactly on the rim. You'll get a high spot in the tire's rotation, which will be felt by the driver as a vibration – much the same feeling as an unbalanced tire. Some new tires have colored balancing dots on the sidewall of the tire, these aid in aligning the light spots on a tire with the heavier sections of the rim, i.e., the valve stem. Follow manufacturer's guidelines to align the dots properly. If that doesn't get it, try rotating the tire 180 degrees with respect to the wheel, remount and check concentricity again. If you still have no luck, try another tire or another wheel. Beads, Bags, and Bangles Balancing compounds can be installed when the tire is mounted, or in some cases through the valve stem after the fact. Look for powders that are moisture resistant, or liquids that contain corrosion inhibitors to prevent rim damage. Be aware that some powders can clog valve stems, or if it clings to the lubricant on the wheel flange when mounting, it could prevent a perfect seal. Balancing rings are yet another alternative, but these too, come with a caveat. Mounting at the lug nuts can cause problems if the material isn't properly hardened. Fisher warns the mounting surface could deform under torque. "It compresses, and after repeated use, could become burred. That can eventually lead to loose wheels," advises Fisher. As Michelin's Tolbert suggests, read the instructions first. "We strongly caution our customers to read the product warnings and data sheets that come with all the product out there," says Tolbert. "Stay away from anything that can damage or deteriorate rubber, such as petroleum-based products, or alcohol, silicon, or high-Ph materials." The same thinking can be applied to wide-base single tires as well. The issues and solutions will be the same, although Fisher did say you might experience more lateral run-out because the tire is that much wider. "They're heavier and more cumbersome to maneuver than a single 11-in tire, but you can still use a powder. You'll have to use more of it," she notes.
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Chris Tolbert, a business segment manager at Michelin says balancing generally isn't necessary with Michelin tires.
