Properly mounted and balanced tires are important for traction and keeping every vehicle safely on area roads. They also help to increase fuel efficiency, ensure a more comfortable ride and provide for more evenly wearing tire tread. For a professional mount and balance, tires in Fort Washington, MD need Wiygul Automotive.
Depending on the auto maker’s recommendation and an owner’s driving habits, all vehicles need to have their tires balanced at about 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If not accomplished, uneven tread wear starts quickly, leading to other problems and even tire failure, possibly while driving. At $20 per wheel, a Wiygul Automotive Clinic tire balance is far more time- and cost-efficient than waiting for a tow or replacing a flat.
Depending on conditions, it is sometimes necessary to balance tires sooner than recommended. If road repair recently became part of your daily route, the torn-up surface increases wear on the tires and can also knock them off-balance. Repair and construction can also throw the wheels out of alignment, leading to damage of the steering and suspension. Resurfacing or a massive pothole can quickly send your car or truck to the nearest garage.
As an ounce of prevention, there are four things to be aware of that can tell you it is time to schedule a balance service.
Steering Wheel Shaking – If this happens when you have a tight grip on the wheel, especially when accelerating, then one or both of your front tires are out of balance.
Poor Handling – This occurs first at highway speeds, but for a local driver who rarely gets off surface streets, difficulty turning at any speed indicates you may have an issue.
Increasing Vibrations – If your vehicle begins to vibrate enough that it shakes the entire car, especially when braking or accelerating, the front tires, and probably the rear tires as well, are out of balance.
Uneven Tire Tread – This is the last sign of out of balance tires, but is often the first one that vehicle owners notice. The most common uneven pattern is the inside or outside edge of the tire wearing down more quickly than the rest of the tread. Other wear patterns are where the tread wears down faster in the middle or when one side wears down more quickly than the other. These problems require a professional mount and balance. Tires and wheels on Fort Washington, MD vehicles get a thorough inspection at every Wiygul Clinic for damage and manufacturing imperfections. Technicians then use a high-tech device to carefully align the tire, adding weights where needed, to place it in its correct, driving position. If you need new tires, a mount and balance are required to get the most out of them. If you haven’t balanced your tires recently here in Fort Washington, MD, you need to bring in your auto for service. To schedule a visit, call us at 866-702-8050 to find the Wiygul Automotive Clinic nearest you.
