Back to all

Wheel Balancing at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield

December 16, 2015



So you love your job, and your family life is great. Congratulations! You have achieved balance. But can you say the same for your wheels? Plainfield drivers can tell if their tires are out of balance by vibrations at higher speeds on Illinois interstates. If one of the front tires is out, you feel the vibration in the steering wheel. If it's a back tire, you'll feel the vibration in your seat.

Tires and wheels are pretty heavy. When a tire is mounted on a wheel at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield, it is usually not perfectly balanced. So the tech will spin the tire on a machine to determine where it's too heavy. He will then place weights on the wheels in strategic locations to balance it out. When a tire is out of balance, it actually bounces down the road instead of rolling smoothly. Since the average size tire rotates at about 850 revolutions per minute at 60 MPH, it is actually slamming into the pavement 14 times a second. That's where you get your vibration.

Most Plainfield motorists are surprised at how smoothly their car rides after balancing all four wheels.

Most high-quality tires sold in Plainfield hold their balance pretty well for drivers. They just get out of balance gradually with normal wear and tear. If you suddenly feel a vibration, it is probably because you lost a wheel balancing weight along the way. Definitely get a balance at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield in Plainfield if you feel a vibration, change your rims or have a flat repaired. Putting off a needed balance job leads to excessive and dangerous tire wear, wear to your shocks, struts, steering and suspension parts. Wheel balancing not only improves your ride and handling, but also can save you some costly repair bills and possibly an accident. Additionally, you will get better MPG.

Some Plainfield drivers have their tires balanced at every rotation. Others do it every other time. Check your owners' manual for your requirements, or ask your friendly Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield technician. Doing this will put you on the path to mechanical wheel balance.

More articles from Tuffy Plainfield

Before You Buy a Used Vehicle (Car Inspection before Buying a Used Vehicle)

November 2, 2025

Before You Buy a Used Vehicle (Car Inspection before Buying a Used Vehicle) Perhaps this sounds familiar. Your vehicle seems like its been around forever, and youve decided its time to move on. But when you check the price of new vehicles, the sky-high price tags have you considering a nice, pre... More

If the Shoe Fits (Brake Shoe Replacement [Rear])

October 27, 2025

When it comes to brakes on your vehicle, we all know how important it is to keep them working well because they are vital safety equipment. After all, if you cant slow down and stop, you cant drive safely. While many vehicles use what are called disc brakes, theres another type of brakes that ... More

That Vexing Vapor Venting (Vapor Coming out of Vents)

October 23, 2025

You may have noticed sometimes on a hot and humid day, vapor will come out of your vehicle's vents when you have the air conditioning on. Is that something to be concerned about? Well, it depends. Sometimes that steam or vapor can be caused by water accumulating in the vent system after it has c... More