Getting your wheels balanced can keep your ride comfortable, improve gas mileage, and extend the life of your tires. But with costs varying widely, how do you know what to pay?
We’ll break down the average price for 4-wheel balancing and what goes into determining that rate, so you can make an informed decision next time your technician suggests this service.
What Is Wheel Balancing?
Tire or wheel balancing is a procedure that is conducted to offset disproportionately heavy spots within a vehicle’s wheel/tire combo. When balanced, a wheel is weighted to counteract natural inconsistencies within a tire, and the wheel itself. This weight is strategically placed, thereby creating a “balance”, under which no portion of a tire/wheel combo is any heavier than any other.
Tire balancing is generally conducted on a piece of specialty equipment known as a balancing machine. This machine spins a tire/wheel combo at a high rate of speed, all the while measuring irregularities in weight and form.
The computer contained within this unit then uses a series of mathematical equations to determine the exact point at which additional weight should be placed.
Weight is applied to a wheel in one of two ways. The first, and most common means of weighting a tire during the balancing procedure, is through the use of standard hammer-on wheel weights.
Alternatively, stick weights can be used in a similar manner, though these weights adhere to the inner diameter of the wheel itself, using adhesion as a means of retention.
Static vs Dynamic Balancing
There are two major types of tire balancing procedures, one of which is static in nature, while the other is dynamic.
- Static balancing refers to balancing which occurs on a single plane of reference, or centrally through the middle axis of the hub itself.
- Meanwhile, dynamic balancing relates to three individual planes, thereby compensating for runout from any angle.
Currently, dynamic balancing is the only truly acceptable way of balancing a tire to any degree of accuracy. The idea of static balancing is now viewed as antiquated in nature and falls short of the industry standard.
How Much Does Wheel Balancing Cost?
The average wheel balancing cost ranges between $60 and $120 for all four wheels of your car. However, it can cost you approximately $10 to $30 per wheel as dictated by your vehicle’s make and model as well as the rates offered by the service provider.
It is worth noting that wheel-balancing services typically have higher costs at car dealers compared to tire shops (Discount Tire, Le Schwab, etc.), Costco, alignment shops, or independent auto repair shops.
For instance, you can have your four wheels balanced at a typical tire shop chain for about $15 per wheel. On the other hand, a car dealership may charge you $20 to $30 per wheel depending on make and model.
A thoroughly complete wheel balancing takes account of tire mounting and tire rotation. Tire mounting is the process of placing the tire on the wheel while tire rotation involves changing the specific locations of individual tires on the vehicle.
Doing this ensures that tires wear down evenly because front tires erode faster than rear tires and such a process can incur an average cost of approximately $3 to $12 per wheel.
For instance, for the four wheels, several automotive repair shops charge an average of $40 for balancing, $20 for mounting and $12 for rotation. Alternatively, they charge an average of $48 for a complete tire installation package including wheel rotation, mounting, balancing and installing a new valve stem for the four wheels.
Occasionally, various tire repair shops as well as dealership service departments run promotional deals and provide discount coupons to car owners. You should take advantage of these offers to help you save a significant amount of money on car maintenance.
Sticking to one or two shops to service your car is advisable as most of them usually give coupons periodically to their loyal customers. Furthermore, some tire stores and auto repair shops try to attract new customers by giving them discount coupons on sign up.
You can use such offers to cut down the expenses on car maintenance including wheel balancing.
Anytime you experience an irregular vibration through your car’s steering wheel irrespective of the speed at which you are driving at, wheel balancing is often the cure for everything to return to normal.
Precisely, the unevenly balanced mass in the tire results in constant vibrations and transfers to the steering wheel through the suspension system. This sensation is known as steering shake.
Wheel Balancing Prices by Location
Wheel balancing rates can vary quite a bit depending on where you live. Rates tend to be higher in major metropolitan areas compared to rural regions. Here are some average price ranges you can expect to pay in different parts of the country:
Major Metro Areas: $70-$150
Larger cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago tend to have the highest wheel balancing rates, especially the closer you are to the city center. Specialty shops and dealers in these areas typically charge $25-$35 per wheel. The convenience and competition lead to the higher pricing.
Mid-Sized Cities: $60-$120
In midsized metro areas like Atlanta, Denver, or Austin, you’ll find more variation when it comes to wheel balancing costs. Discount tire shops may offer deals as low as $15 per wheel, while some dealers and specialty shops charge up to $30 per wheel.
Smaller Towns: $40-$80
For rural areas and small towns, customers can find the lowest rates for wheel balancing, often paying just $10-$20 per wheel at general repair shops. These small businesses have lower overhead to cover, allowing them to offer more budget-friendly pricing.
Coastal Regions: $60-$110
Even after accounting for metro size, coastal areas like California and the Northeast can come with premium pricing. The higher cost of living and high demand lead to slightly elevated rates for all auto services like wheel balancing.
Central U.S.: $50-$75
On the other side of the spectrum, you’ll find the most reasonable wheel balancing prices throughout the Midwest, South and Central Plains. Less population density brings more competitive pricing to lure customers from farther away.
The price you pay can come down to multiple factors, but your location plays a major role. Always call around for quotes, since cheaper options are often available, even in expensive cities, if you do your research.
Consider trying different shops each time until you find one that offers reliable service and competitive pricing.
When Do Wheels Need Balancing?
Your vehicle needs rebalancing every time you replace your tires and have them installed on your wheels. In addition, wheel balancing is needed if you change wheels such as when upgrading stock wheels to aftermarket wheels.
If you ever feel your steering wheel shake abnormally while driving, you’ll also want to have your wheels rebalanced. One of the weights may have fallen off the wheel or it could be another problem entirely, but wheel balancing never hurt,s even if it’s just used for diagnostics.
How Do Wheels Get Balanced?
Shops use a few different types of equipment and weights to perform wheel balancing. Being familiar with the common methods can help you better understand the process.
Bubble Balancers
One of the oldest technologies still used today, bubble wheel balancers have built-in levels that gauge balance while the tire spins. The tech adjusts where necessary for the bubble to remain centered, indicating proper balance. This method tends to be more time consuming.
Computerized Balancers
Modern computerized balancing machines are equipped with advanced sensors to instantly determine the precise amount and exact location that weights need to be applied during the balancing procedure.
A wheel-balancing machine simply spins the wheel for about 10-15 seconds to determine if the wheel has the right balance as it rotates. As such, the mechanic can easily identify the right spots to place the weights, which guarantees an evenly rotating wheel on the road.
Stick-On Weights
The most common wheel weights used today are adhesive weights that are stuck directly onto the inner or outer part of the wheel rim as needed. They come in various shapes and sizes to allow for precise balancing. Stick-on wheel weights are easy to apply but can fall off over time.
Clip-On Weights
Clip-on wheel weights clip onto the flange of the wheel rim with durable steel clips. These traditional weights shifted out of favor due to corrosion problems but are still securely fastened for accurate balancing compared to stick-on counterparts. However, the clip placements can lead to minor damage if not installed correctly.
What Happens When Tires Are Out of Balance?
Symptoms of unbalanced tires include: uneven tire wear, steering wheel vibrations, poor gas mileage, and other things that may cause extra wear and tear on your vehicle.
Along with wheel alignments, wheel balancing is necessary maintenance. If you have a bad wheel alignment, the symptoms may be similar.
How Long Does Tire Balancing Take?
Generally speaking, it typically takes no more than 1 hour to have a vehicle’s tires balanced. However, the exact time required to accomplish this procedure often differs based on the exact size and style of tire that is to be serviced.
While small tires utilizing hammer-on weights take very little time to balance, heavier tires requiring the use of sticky weights can take inherently longer to balance.
One must also factor in the weight time associated with a particular shop, at the time that their vehicle is taken for service. While you might get lucky enough to catch a shop when they are slack, many shops are busy enough that service can be delayed by 1-2 hours, while waiting for a bay and technician to come available.
Can Tire Balancing Be Done At Home?
In certain instances, one can balance their vehicle’s tires at home without the use of a tire balancing machine. This is most commonly accomplished through the use of a bubble balancer (like this) or similar device, which can often be purchased at discount tool stores, such as Harbor Freight or online retailers such as Amazon.com.
However, it is worth mentioning that this form of balancing is strictly static in nature, rather than dynamic.
For some, the simplicity of taking their vehicle to have its tires balanced outweighs the potential financial advantages of conducting such services themselves. Especially considering the number of shops now offering lifetime rotation and balance services for a reasonable fee,
When Can Happen If You Don’t Balance Tires?
Having a vehicle’s tires balanced is important for a number of reasons, including those which pertain to untimely tire wear.
Tires that are not properly balanced tend to vibrate substantially, thereby skipping across a paved surface while in motion. With time, this can cause choppy, or otherwise irregular treadwear, thereby shortening the life of a tire as a whole.
Out-of-balance tires can also prove burdensome when attempting to achieve the highest possible degree of ride comfort. As stated above a lack of tire balance tends to cause significant vibration, which is then transferred to the chassis of a vehicle itself. This vibration is then felt through a vehicle’s steering wheel or driver seat.