Tire Balancing in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
Tire balancing spreads the weight of each tire and wheel evenly all the way around, so it spins smoothly instead of wobbling.
An out-of-balance tire usually shows up as a shake in the steering wheel or seat somewhere between 50 and 70 miles per hour. You know the one: you are cruising up US-56 toward McPherson, the needle hits 60, and the steering wheel starts buzzing in your hands like a phone on silent. It is easy to fix, and fixing it early saves your tires, your suspension and your patience, so bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
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Highway shakes, decoded
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Text us which onesWhat tire balancing at Moxie actually looks like
We let the machine find the heavy spot, not our guesswork. We put each wheel on a balancing machine, which spins it and shows exactly where it is heavy. We clip or stick small weights to the wheel to even it out, then spin it again to confirm the result. A quarter of an ounce sounds like nothing, but at highway speed it is enough to shake the steering wheel in your hands.
If a wheel will not balance, it is telling us something. A bent wheel, a tire with damage inside it or a worn wheel bearing can all feel like a balance problem. We check for those instead of adding more weight and hoping, and we tell you what we found before doing any other work.
We check the right thing first. Balancing is about the weight of the wheel, while alignment is about the angle it points. A shake at speed is usually balance, and a pull to one side is usually alignment.
Why Hillsboro trusts Moxie with its tire balancing
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We find the real cause
If balancing will not cure the shake, we check wheels, bearings and suspension instead of guessing.
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Hunter alignment equipment
If the problem turns out to be alignment, we can fix that too, on all makes.
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Free pickup and delivery
Within 40 road miles, including Newton, Moundridge and Lindsborg.
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Warranty in writing
New tires carry their manufacturer's warranty and a road hazard warranty is available. Alignment and suspension repairs carry the NAPA 24/24 nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Tire balancing myths we hear at the counter
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What knocks tires out of balance around here
- A small metal wheel weight that has fallen off, which happens more on rough gravel roads
- Normal tread wear changing how the weight is spread around the tire
- A tire that was repaired or remounted and not balanced afterwards
- Mud or ice packed inside the wheel, a common one after a wet week on gravel or a January thaw
- A bent wheel or a tire with a shifted belt inside it, which balancing cannot fully fix
How we find the source of a vibration
- We ask at what speed the shake starts and stops, and whether you feel it in the steering wheel or the seat, since that points to the front or rear.
- We spin each wheel on a balancing machine that measures exactly where it is heavy or light.
- We check the wheel for bends and the tire for bulges or out-of-round spots while it spins.
- If balancing does not cure it, we look further at wheel bearings, suspension parts and the driveline.
What we check
- Each wheel and tire on the balancer
- Wheels for bends, cracks or damage from potholes
- Tires for bulges, flat spots or separated belts
- Wheel bearings and front suspension parts
- Lug nut torque when the wheels go back on
What the fix usually is
- Balancing all four wheels with new weights
- Cleaning packed mud or debris out of the wheels
- Remounting a tire in a different position on the wheel to cancel out a heavy spot
- Replacing a tire with internal damage or a wheel that is bent too far to balance
Tire balancing across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Tire balancing questions we hear every week
How often should tires be balanced?
Tires should be balanced every time they are mounted, so with new tires or after a repair, and whenever you feel a new vibration at speed. Many drivers also have them checked every other rotation. On gravel roads, wheel weights get knocked off more often, so it is worth a check if a shake suddenly appears.
Can unbalanced tires cause damage?
They can over time, even though it is not an emergency. The constant shaking wears the tires unevenly and puts extra strain on wheel bearings, shocks and steering parts. Fixing the balance is inexpensive, while replacing the parts it wears out is not. Text us when the shake starts, and we will get you in.
What is the difference between balancing and alignment?
Balancing evens out the weight around each wheel so it spins smoothly, and it cures a shake at highway speed. An alignment adjusts the angles the wheels point, and it cures a pull to one side, a crooked steering wheel and uneven wear on one edge. Many vehicles need both from time to time, and we can check them on the same visit.