Many people in the trucking industry are still undecided on the importance of tire and wheel balancing. In today’s day and age tires are manufactured to a much higher standard than they were in the past, allowing for much more uniform tires to be produced. Some think that modern tires do not need balancing,
The faith in the manufacturers precision is good, but in theory after one mile on the road your tires are different than the ones that rolled off the assembly line. Rubber wears differently, tread gets ripped up, and there may be irregular wear and tear on your tires. Maintaining a perfect balance in your tires may require a bit of assistance.
The people that subscribe to the idea that you do not need to balance modern balance say that as long as they are installed properly you do not need to balance them. After the tiers are installed you check then for runout and a heavy spot while on the vehicle. Your rims should be inspected with a runout gauge before your tire is mounted.
Then there are people that routinely balance their tires, typically the steer tires, not the drive or trailer tires. If your fleet balances tires, there are a few different options to do so, there are balancing compounds, balancing rings, and weights.
Whether or not you believe that your tires need to be balanced, we think that everyone can agree that maintaining your truck’s tires is vital to your success, comfort, and safety. At FCC we have an industry leading maintenance team to keep you out of the shop and on the road. If you are ready to make a career change, or are interested in driving for FCC, please contact a recruiter today.