How Long Can You Drive On Unbalanced Tires?

To ensure safety when traveling, keeping the tires in a stable state is essential. However, you still have to driving with unbalanced tires in some cases because they cannot be repaired or replaced immediately.

If you wonder: “how long can you drive on unbalanced tires?” to determine the appropriate repair time, please read the following article immediately.

Many skilled repairmen say that you can still ride with unbalanced tires for a few months (2-3 months) without problems if you pay attention to safety.

This article will provide detailed information on this topic. Let’s find out!

What happens if you keep driving with unbalanced tires?

Balance is when the weight of the wheels is evenly distributed around the axles of wheels. If the balance wheel is static, the revolution will not rotate on its own.

Dynamic Balancing is a method of adding weight on the rim (wheel) to distribute the wheel’s importance during the revolution evenly, or dynamic tire balancing by adding the corresponding mass to the opposite side.

It can be that continuing to move with unbalanced tires is not too dangerous. Yet, you need to be aware of the problems if you drive on unbalanced wheels.

Large wear and tear of the tire

First, when the tire is not balanced, the risk of tire wear and tear is higher. Therefore, it can be the cause of accelerated shaft and tire wear.

In the long run, this condition can cost you a new tire, and this cost is worse than balancing.

Consistent vibrations

Besides, traveling with unbalanced wheels can cause consistent vibrations. Simply, you can feel this vibration right on the car.

Over time, it can affect the comfort of the driver and occupants of this vehicle.

Low fuel economy

When your tires are not balanced, the ride will not run smoothly and smoothly. Your vehicle needs to use more power to overcome these obstacles. Of course, it is also the cause of low fuel economy.

When you drive with unbalanced wheels, the car’s fuel consumption will increase faster.

Impact on suspension

In addition, when traveling with unbalanced tires, you are also creating a great deal of stress on the suspension. The shock absorber is responsible for reducing vibrations to give you a comfortable ride.

Therefore, when the tire is out of balance, the suspension must work hard to keep it stable to reduce this vibration.

When you move with unbalanced wheels in a short time, there is no problem. But if this situation lasts, the suspension system parts are worn and damaged, and the repair costs are very high.

More noise

When the tires are not balanced, you will feel the vibrations and noises when moving through rugged terrains, such as rough roads or potholes.

These noises make you uncomfortable, and over time, they can distract you during hazardous driving.

How Long Can You Drive On Unbalanced Tires

So, how long can you travel with unbalanced tires? It is difficult to determine an exact number because it depends on the tire’s condition.

You can move with unbalanced wheels for about a few months. You don’t even need to adjust the balance until the tires are worn and replaced if you can accept the problems of vibration, fuel consumption, and noise. Because it also does not affect your safety too much.

However, you will need to take risks from the problems we mentioned in the previous section, especially the rate of tire wear and the risk of damage to the suspension components. At that time, the cost you needed to pay to repair these parts was many times higher than the cost of balancing the wheels.

You should check and adjust the tire balance periodically so that all parts of the vehicle are in good working order. At the same time, it is also the condition to help you have a safe and comfortable trip.

You should pay attention to this problem because although it does not directly affect driving, it causes many other components.

How Do Mechanics Balance Wheels?

We have compiled several ways that mechanics balance wheels to help you solve this problem. Let’s refer to these options to apply when repairing your wheels!

Visual inspection

The simplest way is visual observation. For skilled mechanics, they can detect tire balance through direct observation.

The mechanic will inspect the rim to make sure it’s not dented and check the camber and footing of the wheel to assess alignment and fit the wheel and tire in place.

With their knowledge and practical experience, they can determine the exact level of tire balance.

Balancing Machine

At the same time, you should also use a balance meter to determine this level accurately. After removing the wheel, the mechanic will place it on this unit for inspection.

In particular, when using this device, they could precisely determine where to put extra weight to help the wheel maintain balance.

Add weight

Besides, adding weight is also an option to help you balance the tires quickly and effectively. To do this, auto mechanics add small and light weights, weighing only about one-hundredth of an ounce.

This addition is quite difficult to notice because workers often choose the position where the rubber and metal rims meet.

After adding the weight, you should use the balancer to check it is correct before mounting it on the vehicle and proceed with the remaining wheels.

Tire rotation

Finally, tire rotation is also a way to correct tire imbalances. Usually, the repairman will periodically check the balance when changing the oil and rotate the tire position to ensure this balance.

As a result, you can save on adjustment costs and still ensure the balance of your tires for safe travel.

Watch this video below for more information:

Conclusion

If you pay careful attention, you can still drive safely with unbalanced tires for a few months. In the long run, however, it is the cause of many other problems with your car.

You need to pay attention to checking the condition of your car and decide to rebalance the tires to ensure safety. Hopefully, the mechanical balancing methods we have provided can assist you in solving this problem.