5 Symptoms of Unbalanced Tires on Your Car
It may seem like all tires, especially new ones, are perfectly symmetrical with with no faults and should lead to an ultra comfortable ride. The truth is that no tire is perfect and when rolling at driving speeds, even tiny imperfections can feel like major defects.
This is why having your tire (wheel) balancing is so important. Not doing so will lead to a reduction in tire life, performance, and safety. Here are the most common signs of having unbalanced tires.
Note: The terms “tire balancing” and “wheel balancing” refer to the exact same service and are used interchangeably throughout this article and by auto repair shops.
Related: Best Tire Brands (Updated Rankings)
How Wheels Get Balanced
Before discussing symptoms, it’s helpful to understand how wheels are balanced. Modern repair shops use specialized equipment to identify where small weights need to be added to your wheels for proper balance.
The most common method uses a computerized balancing machine that spins the wheel for 10-15 seconds. Sensors detect any imbalances and tell the technician exactly where to place small weights (typically 0.25 to 2 ounces) to correct the issue.
These weights come in two types: adhesive weights that stick directly to the wheel’s inner surface, and clip-on weights that attach to the wheel’s edge.
While older “bubble balancer” methods still exist, most shops now use these computerized systems for faster, more precise results. A properly balanced wheel will spin true with no vibration at any speed.
Common Signs That Your Wheels Are Out of Balance
It’s often, but not always, obvious when your tires are unbalanced, as you may notice one or more of these abnormalities as you drive your vehicle. While some symptoms are immediately noticeable, others develop gradually over time.
Here are the typical warning signs of unbalanced tires, starting with the ones you’re most likely to experience.
#1 – Vibration and Shaking
The most common and earliest warning sign of unbalanced tires is vibration in your steering wheel. While it can happen at any speed, it’s most noticeable once you reach 45+ MPH. As little as 0.5 to 1 ounce of imbalance can cause this noticeable effect.
When the imbalance worsens, the vibration will increase and affect the entire cabin of your vehicle, including the floorboards and front and rear seats. While other problems can also cause shaking, such as a damaged tire, problems in the wheel assembly, or a bent rim, it’s important to get the problem diagnosed ASAP.
#2 – Poor Handling and Steering Response
Unbalanced wheels make steering more difficult and delay the response time of your steering wheel. In short, it makes for an uncomfortable driving experience.
You’ll notice the car doesn’t track straight, often pulling to one side, especially during acceleration or when maintaining highway speeds. The vehicle won’t steer confidently in a given direction, making it harder to maintain your intended path.
This worsened performance becomes particularly noticeable in wet conditions, where balanced tires are critical for maintaining proper road contact.
#3 – Uneven Tire Wear
Regular tire tread inspection can reveal a lot about wheel balance. Unbalanced wheels often cause scalloped or cupped wear patterns, where patches of the tire wear faster than others. The tire can thin unevenly on the outside or inside edges, potentially leading to spontaneous rupture if ignored for too long.
Any new tires installed should be balanced immediately to prevent these wear patterns from starting. Any respectable dealership or tire shop will most certainly balance the new tire/wheel setup before installing them on your vehicle.
But if you’re buying used tires or having work done at an unfamiliar shop, always ask to confirm that balancing is included in the service. This is especially important if you’re having tires rotated, as wear patterns can change the balance of a tire over time.
#4 – Increased Tire Noise
As you drive, unbalanced wheels often create a distinct humming, roaring, or whirring noise that gets louder the faster you go. You might also notice squealing during turns.
While some tire noise is normal (especially with winter or off-road tires), an unbalanced setup creates irregular sound patterns that get worse over time. This noise often accompanies the vibrations and shaking you feel inside the cabin and through your steering wheel, making for a not-so-enjoyable driving experience.
#5 – Reduce Gas Mileage
Unbalanced tires force your engine to work harder due to increased rolling resistance. The engine requires more fuel to maintain speed under these conditions, resulting in decreased fuel efficiency.
While other factors like underinflated tires and a heavier wheel/tire combo can also affect fuel consumption, if your tire pressures are normal but you’re using more fuel than usual, wheel balance is a possibility.
Since the reasons for a decrease in MPG are so numerous, other symptoms on this page should exist before spending the money on what could be unnecessary wheel balancing.
#6 – Premature Wear on Suspension Components
The continuous vibration and uneven forces from unbalanced wheels put extra stress on your vehicle’s suspension system. Shocks, springs, bearings, and other wheel assembly components will simply wear faster than normal under these conditions.
If you simply ignore it, what starts as a simple balancing issue can lead to expensive replacement of one or more of these suspension parts.
Can Wheels That Were Already Properly Balanced Become Unbalanced?
Yes, even perfectly balanced wheels can lose their balance over time. Here are the most common causes:
- Lost Wheel Weights – Those small weights attached to your wheels can fall off due to impact, poor installation, or simply age. Once a wheel loses even one weight, the balance is immediately affected. When an average tire is spinning at approximately 750-850 revolutions per minute at 60mph, any slight change will be felt.
- Road Impact Damage – Hitting potholes, curbs, or road debris can cause more than just immediate damage. These impacts can bend wheels slightly, create flat spots on tires, or shift the tire on the wheel. Even minor impacts that don’t cause visible damage can disturb the wheel’s balance.
- Normal Wear Patterns – As tires wear, they don’t always wear evenly (even with proper inflation and alignment). This gradual change in the tire’s weight distribution affects the wheel’s balance. Frequent highway driving, aggressive cornering, and regular heavy braking can accelerate uneven wear.
- Temperature and Pressure Changes – Significant temperature swings can affect tire pressure and shape, potentially disturbing the wheel’s balance. While minor pressure changes are normal, chronic underinflation or overinflation can lead to uneven wear that creates balance issues.
This is why manufacturers recommend regular tire rotations and balancing, typically every 5,000-6,000 miles or whenever you notice any vibration symptoms.
Wheel Balancing vs. Alignment
Many drivers confuse tire balancing with wheel alignment since both services can address similar symptoms like vibration and uneven tire wear. However, they’re two distinct maintenance procedures that fix different issues.
Wheel balancing corrects weight distribution around each wheel. When a tire/wheel assembly spins at high speeds, any small imbalance creates vibration. During balancing, a machine spins each wheel to identify heavy spots, then small weights are added to counteract these imbalances.
Wheel alignment, on the other hand, adjusts the angles of your wheels relative to the road and each other. Proper alignment keeps your wheels perfectly parallel and perpendicular to the ground. When alignment is off, your car might pull to one side, your steering wheel may be crooked, or your tires might wear unevenly (especially on the inner or outer edges).
Both services are important: balancing ensures smooth rotation of individual wheels, while alignment ensures all four wheels work together properly. You might need both services if you’ve hit a major pothole or curb, but they solve different problems.
Although your wheel alignment doesn’t need to be checked as often as a wheel balancing, the cost of an alignment is typically much higher.
He’s known for his attention to detail and problem-solving skills and enjoys coming up with out-of-the box solutions when the situation requires it.
When he's not troubleshooting customers' cars, you'll most likely find him working on his current project ('96 Bronco) or cooking Italian food for his family.
My 67 Chevy p/u has a notable vibration only between 35 and 45 mph. After that or before that it’s as smooth as a can be!
When I go over bumps. My back kicks to the right anyone knows y
Sounds like it might be a rear suspension issue. You should also check your axle nuts (if the vehicle is rear wheel drive or all wheel drive) and check the hubs as well.
Still same issue car lost balance very much afraid..
You should take your car to a mechanic to have a professional look at it.
Respected sir madam Hyundai accent 2121 model suddenly loose balance plz advise reasons very much afraid too much loss of funds plz advise steps to indentify the reasons thx..
Hard to say what the cause is, but perhaps you hit a pothole that bent a wheel. It’s possible you simply knocked a wheel weight off. Getting the tires rebalanced shouldn’t be too expensive if that is the issue.