General GM Chat When starting new posts, please specify YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE type, and whatever modifications you have made. Chat about all things GM (and related cars). Off-topic stuff should be in the Lounge, and all Model specific mechanical problems should be posted in the proper forum.

How often should tires be balanced?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-16-2010, 10:13 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
 
02SpcGhst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
02SpcGhst is on a distinguished road
Default How often should tires be balanced?

So i just had them balanced last year. Almost a year already. I was wondering, since we in OHIO have gotten massive snow this winter and all the potholes and etc is it reccomended to get them balanced right now? I dont notice anything bad but just wondering if the potholes and the bumpy roads here in OHIO will throw the balance of the tires off.
Old 04-16-2010, 10:47 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
rjolly87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 7,270
Received 457 Likes on 359 Posts
rjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant futurerjolly87 has a brilliant future
Default

Bumpy roads, uneven tread wear, etc can affect the balance. The biggest tattle tail though is highway drving. If you need a balance bad enough, you will know it.
Old 04-16-2010, 11:08 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Purplehazeir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 7,979
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Purplehazeir is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by rjolly87
Bumpy roads, uneven tread wear, etc can affect the balance. The biggest tattle tail though is highway drving. If you need a balance bad enough, you will know it.
X2...At 40 mph or greater, you will feel it when a tire needs balancing. At the time you take it in, have all four road force balanced, and then rotated. You'll get much more time and miles with a set of tires this way.
Old 04-16-2010, 12:20 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
sawgunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Dover, NH
Posts: 7,122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sawgunner is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by Purplehazeir
X2...At 40 mph or greater, you will feel it when a tire needs balancing. At the time you take it in, have all four toad force balanced, and then rotated. You'll get much more time and miles with a set of tires this way.
WTH is toad force ballanced? i do it all the time when it rains! new version of roadkill bingo!
Old 04-16-2010, 06:40 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
MouSe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,988
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
MouSe is on a distinguished road
Default

Road Force balancing is nice if it'* available. It'* not really needed though. I've done regular motion balance AND Road Force on a two sets of tires and didn't notice any significant improvment.

Now, what I did do for my third set of tires though was to use the Road Force machine to match tires to rims to area on the car. Anybody else done that? That gave me the best life out of my tires.
Old 04-16-2010, 10:45 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Purplehazeir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 7,979
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Purplehazeir is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by sawgunner
WTH is toad force ballanced? i do it all the time when it rains! new version of roadkill bingo!
Ever play the game Frogger? Just like that Gunner.

Friggin fingers.....
Old 04-17-2010, 04:04 PM
  #7  
Administratus Emeritus
Certified Car Nut
 
GXP Venom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Purgatory, Pennsylvania
Posts: 16,539
Received 15 Likes on 10 Posts
GXP Venom is on a distinguished road
Default

Meh, I don't see it. Really don't. I do all my own tires at a friends with an old school tripod bubble balancer and see even wear on all my vehicles. Two even go back and forth each year between snow and highway tires. If it comes free with mounting, sure. But to pay a premium many charge for road force balancing? I don't see it paying off.
Old 04-17-2010, 04:10 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
MouSe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,988
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
MouSe is on a distinguished road
Default

That'* why I said it doesn't. The regular old centripital force balancing is good enough.
Old 04-17-2010, 04:22 PM
  #9  
Administratus Emeritus
Certified Car Nut
 
GXP Venom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Purgatory, Pennsylvania
Posts: 16,539
Received 15 Likes on 10 Posts
GXP Venom is on a distinguished road
Default

LOL! Maybe if I take a F1 vehicle to speeds of 200+ I would splurge.
Old 04-17-2010, 04:38 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
MouSe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,988
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
MouSe is on a distinguished road
Default

That'* what I was thinking. The only time I Road Force my tires is whenever I head to my Stepdads shop, since it'* free.


Quick Reply: How often should tires be balanced?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:27 AM.