Computer Tire Balancing in San Antonio, TX
1,310 Google reviews · 3 locations, walk-ins welcome
Martinez Tire & Auto Center does computer tire balancing at all 3 San Antonio locations. If your steering wheel shakes at highway speed or you feel a vibration through the seat, an out of balance tire is the most common cause. Balancing spins each wheel, finds the heavy spot, and corrects it with small weights.
Computer Tire Balancing
Computer Tire Balancing
No tire and wheel is perfectly even in weight. A few grams heavier on one side does not sound like much, but at 65 miles an hour on I-10 that heavy spot turns into a steady vibration you can feel in the steering wheel or the seat.
A computer balancer spins the wheel and tire together and measures exactly where the weight is uneven and by how much. We add small weights to the wheel to cancel it out. The result is a smooth ride and even tire wear.
When to balance
- Every time a tire is mounted on a wheel, new or used
- When you feel a vibration that shows up at certain speeds, often 55 to 70
- After a flat repair that required taking the tire off the wheel
- When tires start wearing in patches, often called cupping
- If you notice a wheel weight missing
Balancing fixes vibration. It does not fix a car that pulls to one side. That is an alignment problem, handled through wheel alignment at our O'Connor Rd location. A bent wheel can also cause a shake that balancing will not solve, and our wheel repair shop can check for that.
Part of our tire shop
Balancing is included when we do tire installation through our tire shop, and it is available on its own at all 3 locations. It pairs well with a tire rotation.
Questions we hear
What does an unbalanced tire feel like?
Usually a vibration in the steering wheel for front tires, or in the seat and floor for rear tires, often strongest in a particular speed range.
Is balancing the same as alignment?
No. Balancing corrects uneven weight in the tire and wheel. Alignment adjusts the angle of the wheels to the car.
How often should tires be balanced?
Whenever tires are mounted, and any time you notice a new vibration. Many drivers have it checked with every rotation.
Computer Tire Balancing at all 3 locations
Every Martinez location does this. Walk in at the one closest to you, no appointment needed. Hablamos español.