Right balance for safety

In the wake of the latest government statistics indicating injuries and fatalities were up by four per cent in the 2013/14 period, Tyre Bay Direct is urging motorists to realise the importance of wheel balancers.

Leigh Stote, sales and marketing director at Tyre Bay Direct said, ‘Unsafe driving is a major concern however many people underestimate the lethal consequences of vehicles that don’t meet roadworthy regulations. Unbalanced wheels are one of the key culprits, causing vehicles to vibrate at high speeds, jeopardise handling and create traction problems. This makes it critical for all motorists to ensure their wheels are correctly balanced, particularly after a tyre change.’

Most people consider British roads as relatively safe places, however the latest government statistics reveal otherwise. In the year ending March 2014, road deaths increased by four per cent. The number of killed or seriously injured casualties rose by two per cent while the total number of all reported road casualties was up one per cent. While unsafe driving does account for some of the incidents, un-roadworthy cars are also a major cause of concern.

According to Tyre Bay Direct, unbalanced wheels can cause vehicles to lose control, particularly at high speeds. This is due to the fact that unbalanced wheels cause tyres to wear prematurely, as well as accelerate the deterioration of shock absorbers, struts and steering components. Fortunately, motorists can counteract this risk by ensuring that the wheels of their vehicle are correctly balanced.

The importance of wheel balancing applies to all vehicles, regardless of whether or not they’re fitted with steel or alloy wheels. Using knock on or stick on balancing weights, mechanics can easily determine whether or not a wheel is unbalanced. Wheel balancing checks should always be carried out by a qualified tyre fitting professional using high quality equipment. The most efficient and accurate way to do this is by using a professional wheel balancing machine. Equipped with computerised technology and automatic data input, the state-of-the-art wheel balancing machines offer precise wheel weight placement with accuracy of within 1 gram.

To keep on top of wheel balancing maintenance, Tyre Bay Direct urges all motorists to get vehicles checked after a tyre change. The experts also cite vibration at high speeds and steering problems as a tell-tale signs of incorrectly balanced wheels.