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Have you ever wondered why you need to balance your wheels and tires? The short answer is because tires and wheels aren't perfectly uniform in weight distribution. A wheel balance, also known as a tire balance, corrects weight imbalances by matching the heaviest part of the wheel to the lightest part of the tire. Wheel weights can also be used to create balance between the tire and its wheel.

The reason that tires and wheels aren't perfectly uniform in their distribution of weight is due to several factors:

1. Manufacturing Imperfections: Both tires and wheels have slight variations and imperfections from the manufacturing process. For example, the rubber compound in a tire may be denser in some areas, or the wheel may have small variations in material density or thickness.

2. Assembly Variance: When a tire is mounted onto a wheel, the combination of the two can lead to further imbalances because the heaviest part of the tire may not be aligned with the lightest part of the wheel.

3. Valve Stems & Wheel Weights: The addition of valve stems and pre-existing wheel weights can create further imbalance. In theory, the heaviest part of a tire will be the location where the valve stem is present.

4. Wear & Tear: Over time, tires can wear unevenly due to driving habits, road conditions, and vehicle alignment issues. This wear can change the balance of the tire and wheel assembly. 

5. Damage or Deformation: Hitting potholes, curbs, or road debris can damage the tire or wheel, causing an imbalance. Even minor damage can affect the balance.

Because of these factors, the weight of the tire and wheel assembly is rarely distributed evenly around the entire circumference. This imbalance can cause the assembly to wobble or hop as it rotates, which can lead to vibrations, increased tire and suspension wear, and decreased fuel efficiency.

To correct these imbalances, technicians use a balancing machine to identify where the heavy spots are located. They attach small weights to the wheel to counterbalance these heavy spots, resulting in a smooth rotation of the tire and wheel assembly. Regular balancing ensures that existing variations, and any new variations that have appeared since the vehicle has been in operation, do not lead to the problems mentioned prior.

At Canada Tire Company, we provide wheel balancing and other tire services to keep you rolling in Alpharetta, GA. If you're experiencing vibrations while driving or suspect your tires and wheels aren't balanced, contact our team. We're happy to take a look and correct the imbalance, so you can get back to your travels.