Today’s vehicles tend to ride on larger diameter rims and tires, making them more sensitive to vibration. Usually standard balancing is effective in addressing these issues but in persistent cases, road force balancing is an alternative solution.
WHAT IS TIRE BALANCING?
Tire balancing is a tire maintenance process that balances the weight of a tire and wheel, ensuring they work together seamlessly. You typically will know your tires are unbalanced when you notice vibration or noise from your steering wheel, seat, or floorboards — especially at highway speeds of 45mph or higher.
Imbalance occurs when a wheel and tire assembly’s distribution of weight or mass becomes uneven. Tire balancing restores this balance so that they spin on the same center of gravity. Discount Tire’s mounting and balancing process includes visual inspection, consistent mounting techniques, and the highest quality balancing machinery possible (we use Hunter wheel balancing equipment).
You can learn more at our tire balancing page.
TIRE BALANCING AT DISCOUNT TIREWhat Causes Vibration When Driving?
There are a number of potential causes of vibration.
Tires are unbalanced
Worn suspension components
Brake damage/wear (if shaking occurs during braking)
Engine issues (misfires, motor mounts, clogged filters, etc.)
Watch to learn more
Learn about tire balancing and road force from the experts at Discount Tire.
Your tires are the most common cause of vehicle vibration. Luckily, the fix is usually a simple rebalance.
Wheel and tire manufacturing is very precise but challenging as it must create a perfect circle. The inevitable consistencies result in force variation. Force variation is a measure of tire uniformity, and is the umbrella term for fluctuating forces that cause vibration. There are several types: lateral runout, radial runout, and tangential runout.
Below is a table explaining these terms and how they affect your vehicle.
| Types of Force Variation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term | Definition | Causes & Symptoms |
| Lateral runout (LVF) | Side to side wobble of wheel, tire, or brake rotor as it rotates | Cause: rust, dirt, improperly torqued hub fastener Symptom: Steering wheel shimmy, brake pedal pulsing |
| Radial runout | Measures the up and down “out of round” hopping motion from rotating component’s central axis | Cause: Manufacturing defects, improper mounting, damage or wear, extended storage Symptom: Vibration, rough handling, uneven wear, instability, premature bearing failure |
| Tangential Variation | The forward and backward force that affects acceleration and braking | Cause: Non-uniformity in tire structure, irregular treadwear, improper inflation, misalignment Symptom: Subtle shaking |
What is Ride Matching?
Ride matching is another term for road force balancing. Like its name suggests, it involves matching a “high spot” of a tire with the “low spot” of the wheel to minimize vibration.
HOW ROAD FORCE BALANCING WORKS
A common solution to persistent vibration is road force balancing. We typically recommend this only if standard balancing proves ineffective.
Here is how it works:
Simulation
A road force tire balancer simulates the force of the road using a load-rollerData assembly
The computer gathers data on the uniformity of the tire and wheel package (ex: force variation such as radial and lateral turnout)Correction
The computer reports to the tire technician where the issue comes from and suggests solutions
BALANCING vs ROAD FORCE BALANCING: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
| Feature | Tire Balancing | Road Force Balancing |
|---|---|---|
| What it fixes | Weight imbalance | Weight & structural variation |
| Technology | Standard balancer | Road force machine with roller |
| Result | Reduces vibration | Improves ride quality & smoothness |
While standard balancing corrects weight distribution, road force balancing identifies and corrects inconsistencies in the tire and wheel assembly itself.
WHY YOUR VEHICLE MAY STILL HAVE WHEEL VIBRATION
If your vehicle is still vibrating after getting road force balanced, the issue is likely not related to tire or wheel weight. Vibration could be caused by:
Bent wheel
“Out-of-round” tire (no longer perfectly circular)
Structural tire defect
Worn suspension or steering components
Drive train issues
Brake issues
WHEN DO YOU NEED ROAD FORCE BALANCING?
Discount Tire recommends drivers have their tire balanced every 6,000 miles, even if they don’t experience vibrations or other issues. Discount Tire offers a wide range of FREE tire services, including flat repair, to customers!
DISCOUNT TIRE SERVICESYou may need road force balancing if:
A regular balance service does not remove vibration
You just installed new tires
Have high-speed driving issues
Own a sensitive vehicle (such as luxury or performance)
IS ROAD FORCE BALANCING WORTH IT?
Yes, road force balancing is absolutely worth it if you are having persistent, unexplained vibration while driving. It is simply a more in-depth dive into your tire’s uniformity and relationship with its wheels using advanced machinery.
Compared to standard balancing, road force balancing offers a highly detailed report on your tire’s structure and seat on the wheel, giving you a clearer look into possible solutions to vibration.
DOES DISCOUNT TIRE OFFER FREE TIRE BALANCING?
Yes! Discount Tire offers free tire balancing to our customers. Road force balancing is also included in this service (if required).
If you’re experiencing unexplained vibration, please bring your vehicle in for an inspection. Save time and book an appointment ahead of time!
BOOK A BALANCING APPOINTMENTYou need to select the “Tire Balancing” option when making your appointment. It will not mention “Road Force Balancing”.
FAQ
Below are some of the most common questions we receive about road force balancing.
Standard tire balancing focuses on weight distribution while road force balancing also investigates structural variations as potential causes for vibration.
Ride matching is another word for road force balancing. It refers to the fact that this process is trying to match the “high spot” of a tire with the “low spot” of its wheel.
You only need road force balancing if a standard balance service has not remedied your vehicle’s vibration. It may also be recommended if you have a sensitive luxury or sports vehicle.
Yes, road force balancing is worth it if you need to diagnose potential causes of vehicle vibration. If you have bought your tires from us, road force balancing and regular balancing are free! If your tires aren’t from us, ask your local store manager for pricing.
Yes, Discount Tire offers free tire balancing and road force balancing for our customers!