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Is your vehicle vibrating at high speeds? Feel it in your Steering Wheel? Or are you shaking in your seat? If you are, you most likely need your wheels balanced. If one of the front tires is out of balance, you will feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.

Do I need to balance my tires?

When a tire is out of balance, it slams into the road many times each second. That’s when you get a vibration. Many people in Des Moines are surprised at how smooth their ride is after balancing all four wheels.

Tires and wheels are fairly heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel for the first time, it is typically not balanced perfectly. The technician will spin the tire on a machine to figure out where it's too heavy or not balanced and place weights on the wheels in certain places to balance it out.

Generally tires sold at Hilltop Tire Service hold their balance well. They will just get out of balance gradually with normal wear. If you start to suddenly feel a vibration, it probably means you lost a wheel balancing weight somewhere along the way. You will need to get your tires balanced if you change your rims, feel a vibration or get a flat repaired. Putting off a needed wheel balance leads to unnecessary tire wear, and wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts. Having your wheels balanced not only improves your ride and handling, but will also save you repair bills and possibly even an accident down the road. Also, you will get better fuel economy – so why not?!

Many Des Moines area drivers have their tires balanced every time they get a tire rotation. Others do it every other time. So check your owner's manual to see what is recommended for your vehicle, or ask one of our friendly service advisors at Hilltop Tire Service.