How much does Tire balancing cost?

Based on 372 real quotes from businesses in United States.

$15

TYPICAL

$40

$80

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Yelp calculates estimated costs by gathering and analyzing real quotes provided to consumers by businesses on Yelp. Actual costs may vary.

Key takeaways

Tire balancing costs vary, so it pays to shop around.
Imbalanced tires can cause premature tire wear.
A lifetime tire balancing package costs more upfront but can save money down the road.

You’ve been shopping for new tires and comparing prices, but all of your quotes include an extra charge for “tire balancing”. What is that? Why do your tires need balancing? And what determines the cost?

In this guide, you’ll learn about tire and wheel balancing, why it’s important for maximizing the life of your tires, and why the cost of tire balancing varies among tire shops.

Why your car’s tires need balancing

A car’s tires and wheels need to be as balanced as possible to ensure a smooth ride and even tread wear, especially at higher speeds. If not, they can compromise your vehicle’s ride comfort, handling, tire life, and fuel economy. They can also put undue stress on suspension parts.

Signs of tire imbalance can include vibrations in your steering wheel, floorboards, or seats, or even the entire vehicle shaking at certain speeds. A steering wheel vibration points to an imbalanced front tire, while vibrations in other areas could be from an out-of-balance rear tire.

Imbalanced tires can also cause wheel hop that may result in uneven tire wear. Any of these signs are a good reason to have a tire shop check your vehicle.

Pro tip: Have your tires checked for proper balancing any time you feel vibration in the steering wheel or elsewhere in the car.

Even the best tires and wheels have heavier and lighter spots in their construction. To offset those uneven areas, an auto repair technician mounts the tire and wheel assembly on a special wheel balancing machine that spins it while measuring different forces. This helps the technician pinpoint the uneven areas.

To correct an imbalanced tire, the technician installs small wheel weights in precise areas to offset the heavier spots. They might hammer these wheel weights onto the wheel’s outer lip or stick them to the inner part of the wheel—behind the spokes—with an adhesive.

When done correctly, this will eliminate virtually all vibrations from the wheel and tire when driving (other than those stemming from defects or wheel alignment issues).

When should tire balancing be performed?

In addition to having your tires checked when you feel a vibration, plan on having them balanced at these other times:

After a wheel or tire installation
After a tire rotation (check the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual)
Following a tire repair
When a wheel weight has fallen off, requiring a replacement

The wheel weights may also need to be repositioned on a worn tire if its weight has shifted. You can expect this to occur every 5,000–15,000 miles.

Total cost of tire and wheel balancing

Tire balancing costs vary greatly; you can expect to pay anywhere from $15–75 per tire. This includes the wheel weights and wheel balancing service. Some repair shops break the cost down into parts and labor, but most will simply label it “tire balancing.”

What affects your tire balancing cost?

A range of factors affect how much you pay:

Wheel type. Some custom wheels require a special balancing machine and wheel weights, which adds to the cost. For example, taped-on wheel weights—those that adhere to the inside of the wheel—generally cost more than hammer-on wheel weights.
Type of wheel balancing machine. Some balancing machines are more sophisticated than others. They can help an auto repair technician pinpoint heavier spots more accurately, but they can also have a higher service cost.
A tire shop’s policy. Some tire shops offer free or discounted balancing when you buy new tires or wheels from them.
Warranties. Getting an extended warranty or lifetime warranty on wheel balancing can reduce your costs on future visits.

How to save money on tire balancing

Here’s how you can save money on tire balancing:

Shop around. Tire balancing costs vary a lot. So look for top-rated shops in your area, then call for pricing.
Look for four-wheel specials. Some car owners try to save money by balancing only the front tires, while later learning that the rear tires are also out of balance. Prevent this by balancing all 4 tires at once. Some shops offer four-wheel balancing specials. For example, it may be $15 per wheel for standard balancing, but a four-wheel balance package may cost only $40, saving you $20.
Opt for lifetime tire balancing. A lifetime balancing package may cost more upfront when you purchase new tires, but savings can add up. A one-time charge for balancing all 4 of your vehicle’s wheels may be $60, for example. But buying a lifetime package could cost only $100, which means you’ll pay only $40 for all future balancing for those tires.

FAQs

Is tire balancing worth it?

Absolutely. Tire balancing not only makes your vehicle more comfortable to drive, but it optimizes the lifespan of your tires by preventing premature tread wear. This helps you save money down the road.

Are tire balancing and a wheel alignment the same thing?

Tire balancing is different from an alignment service. Tire balancing ensures that the tire and wheel assembly spins as evenly as possible, with no troublesome vibrations in the vehicle. A wheel alignment ensures the wheels are positioned correctly on the vehicle to provide optimum steering control, handling, and tire life.

How long does tire balancing take?

A simple tire balancing should take 30–45 minutes. However, more complex balancing services on custom wheels can take upward of 2 hours.

Can I drive on imbalanced tires?

If the vibration is mild enough to not affect your driving, you can generally drive on imbalanced tires for a month or two without doing significant tire damage. However, like most automotive issues, the longer you drive with the problem, the worse it gets.

Find a tire balancing professional in your area.

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