How often should tires be re-balanced?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
When you feel them bouncing up and down in your butt or steering wheel while driving down interstate.
As tread wears, they can go from balanced to out of whack ... so use the butt-meter
As tread wears, they can go from balanced to out of whack ... so use the butt-meter
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2014 E63 / 2017 CLS 63 / 2015 G63
Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 123
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From: Buchanan, SK CANADA
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Balancing tires is a service that - when done right - probably helps but not nearly as much as tire vendors would like you to believe. The more common situation though is that it is poorly done. Some minimum wage tire jockey looks at a computer screen and starts sticking weights around a rim until the computer is happy, with no native knowledge or common sense involved. If the tire is vibrating or you can see abnormal wear patterns its already too late to fix it with weights. I read somewhere that Dale Earnhardt only used a static balancer. I don't know whether that's true or not but it has become true for me. I buy my tires online, mount them with my post tool and static balance them. It works for me - I get what I consider normal tire life and wear. That's one single data point from an elderly internet goof so take it for what it cost you. To answer the original question, I've never rebalanced a tire in my life. Maybe if you have someone you trust and if its done often enough it might make some small difference but if you wait until you can feel the problem its already too late. If you do it proactively and often enough to make any difference, I'd question the economics. ie. if you get another 5,000 miles of tire life, what did that cost you c/w just replacing the tire?
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
I have never rebalanced as a matter of routine, preemptive strategy.
I rebalance only when I feel a shimmy in the steering/vibrations in the staring, and sometimes when I go to get them rebalanced, they end up, finding some type of dinger dent in the rim, kind of a win lose.
Often they can just rebalance the rim enough to keep it comfortable for me (doesn't solve the bend) but now at least I know there's a bend in the rim.
that being said, I have rebalanced tires that developed a shimmy in multiple vehicles that I have and when I take it to discount tire they're able to get out the shimmy and often don't tell me about any wheel problem. I'm not sure if they're looking for a wheel problem or if they're just zipping through the rebalance procedure since it's free to re balance as a customer of theirs.
I rebalance only when I feel a shimmy in the steering/vibrations in the staring, and sometimes when I go to get them rebalanced, they end up, finding some type of dinger dent in the rim, kind of a win lose.
Often they can just rebalance the rim enough to keep it comfortable for me (doesn't solve the bend) but now at least I know there's a bend in the rim.
that being said, I have rebalanced tires that developed a shimmy in multiple vehicles that I have and when I take it to discount tire they're able to get out the shimmy and often don't tell me about any wheel problem. I'm not sure if they're looking for a wheel problem or if they're just zipping through the rebalance procedure since it's free to re balance as a customer of theirs.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6
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From: North Carolina
Benzo S430, GLS 450, Bimmer 740iL, Cadi, Hyundai Equus, Chevy Impala
I may have to get my 'butt meter' switched-on or totally recalibrated, lol. I'm new to SUV driving, and it's a different experience for me. Going down the interstate I must admit I'm a bit timid at the floatiness of the ride. Nothing wrong with the tires, alignment, air pressure, struts or bags. It's just floaty. Got to get used to I suppose....
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6
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From: North Carolina
Benzo S430, GLS 450, Bimmer 740iL, Cadi, Hyundai Equus, Chevy Impala
I do agree with not spending money unnecessarily. With MBs you don't impress the stealership, they'll just watch to see how much money and how often you're willing to pay them. I've ended the spend thrifts by purchasing a bi-directional scanner and bore scope. Now, I just hook it to the OBD II port and rock-n-roll.
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Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Colorado
G550
Many tire dealers, such as Discount Tire (not your MB dealer) do free balance and rotations every 5K miles. If you ever try to assert a treadwear warranty claim, regular balance/rotation is a prerequisite.
