Brookfield
Why It’s Important
Due to the increasing demand for tight and responsive controls, vehicle manufacturers have been creating vehicles with lower tires and tighter suspension systems. Although this has led to an improved driving experience, it has also left the tires and wheels more susceptible to being thrown off balance and developing inconsistencies. Normally, a typical wheel balance service can do the job, but there are some factors that the service fails to address. That’s where road force balancing comes in. By looking for specific inconsistencies that aren’t accounted for in a typical wheel balance service, we’ll be able to minimize the vibrational forces a driver can experience while they’re driving.
At Silver Lake Auto and Tire Center in Brookfield, WI, we’ll be able to offer you the road force balancing service you need. Our ASE Certified technicians and professionally trained service experts can quickly identify and fix the inconsistencies in your wheels and tires! When you visit our shop, know you’ll be working with some of the best balancing specialists in Waukesha County!
Understanding Road Force Balancing
So, how does Silver Lake Auto and Tire Center go about performing our road force balancing service? Well, it all starts by taking into account two elements — run-out and force variation. Run-out is typically caused by inconsistencies in stiffness, weight, and balance. We can determine these inconsistencies by evaluating the low and high points of a tire and wheel design, known as a lateral and radial run-out, respectively. As for force variation, it is simply a spot that is stiffer than the rest of the tire.
Our technicians utilize a balance machine that simulates the force of the road, which can measure the run-out and force variation of the entire tire and wheel. Based on the information they gather from the balance machine, they then can create the best solution to fix the inconsistencies. This will be unique to each tire and wheel, as some tires may need to be rotated and remounted while others will just need additional weight. By implementing these solutions, the driver should experience no vibrations during their next drive!
Schedule an Appointment With Us!
If your vehicle is suffering from minor or major vibrations, consider a road force balancing service from Silver Lake Auto and Tire Center in Brookfield, WI! Our ASE Certified technicians and professionally trained service experts utilize the latest tools and technology to properly compensate for your vehicle’s wheel inconsistencies! Give us a call at (262) 288-4562 and schedule an appointment with us today! In the area and have questions about our road force balancing service? Visit our shop — 645 Main Street — and ask our service experts how we can help you and your vehicle! After-hours vehicle drop-off is available!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tire balancing evens out weight around the wheel/tire assembly to prevent shake. Proper balancing reduces vibration, improves ride quality, and helps tires wear evenly—especially at highway speeds.
Road force balancing uses a loaded roller to apply pressure to the spinning tire/wheel, simulating how it rolls on the road. This reveals force variation or stiffness spots a standard spin balance may miss. When needed, we match-mount the tire on the wheel (aligning the tire’s low spot to the wheel’s high spot) to minimize variation and deliver a smoother ride.
Any time new tires are installed, after rotations, wheel repairs, or if you notice vibration at certain speeds or see uneven wear. If a standard balance doesn’t cure a shake, a road-force test is the next step.
Often, yes. Many vibrations come from imbalance or road-force variation. A loaded-roller test identifies whether the fix is a simple re-balance, match-mounting, or replacing a tire/wheel that’s out of spec.
You can end up with persistent vibration, faster tire wear, and added stress on suspension parts. Our process includes recording the road-force variation (RFV) values for each wheel/tire so you know the results meet spec before the vehicle leaves.