The Impact Unbalanced Tires Has on Driving Safety
Unbalanced tires don’t just put a strain on your engine. They also expose you to various risks on the road. Bald tires with poor tread are prone to skidding and hydroplaning, which makes braking less efficient. Also, if your tires are cracked, they are more likely to blow up during a long drive. Aside from this, poor balance on weight distribution will make the car bouncy, even if you’re cruising on a paved road. Aside from this discomfort, unbalanced tires do a lot of damage to your vehicle.
What happens when your tires are unbalanced? Here are some of the potential problems you may face:
Uneven tread condition
The biggest problem with unbalanced tires is that your wheels will not have equal tread. One side will have bald tread while the other will have thicker tread. When this happens, you’ll have to replace tires faster, not to mention the difficulty of steering. Take note that as the other half of your tires lose its tread, it will also lose traction.
You should also be aware that tires with poor tread can blow out easily.
Excessive vibration
When your tires are properly balanced, it reduces the vibration that the pavement sends into your car. This makes steering and maneuvering way easier. However, if your car tires are unbalanced, the vibration increases, causing higher rates of wear and tear on your car’s components. It will also affect your auto glass.
Also, such vibration will make your car unsafe for driving at high speeds. If it rains, hydroplaning will occur, making it more difficult to engage the brakes for abrupt stops.
Increase fuel consumption
Since your tires are unbalanced, your engine will compensate by using more fuel. If you drive an unbalanced car at high speeds, you’re consuming more fuel. Take note that your car tires can be properly inflated but still unbalanced, either in alignment or installation.
It’s best to bring your vehicle to an auto shop if you have doubts.
Signs that your car tire is unbalanced
The bad thing about having unbalanced tires is that the process happens gradually, making it difficult to spot. You’ll only know of the problem once your tires have uneven tread.
So to prevent the damages unbalanced tires could bring to your car, you should look for the following signs.
*You notice louder road noises
*Excessive vibration in your car’s chassis
*You recently hit a curb
*You figured in an accident that displaced your car’s wheels
*Steering problems or difficulty maneuvering the car
Under these circumstances, you should bring your vehicle to an auto shop to have it checked. Auto shop technicians use special tools and computer programs to configure the alignment and balance of car tires. So even if you can’t see it, they can diagnose the problem before it puts you at risk on the road.
Remember that safety is always the priority when driving. Whenever you notice something off in your vehicle, it’s best to perform a visual inspection or tap the help of an auto shop.