A balancer machine is a piece of shop equipment that helps a technician ensure the tire/wheel assembly’s weight is even and balanced, so it rotates smoothly once mounted onto the vehicle. Once balance is checked and any points of imbalance established, the technician then can add wheel weights to correct any issues.
The most advanced balancing equipment not only checks the tire/wheel assembly for balance, it also shows the technician precisely where and how much weight needs to be added to “balance” the entire assembly. This helps to solve for imbalance and static, quickly showing the technician how to address any conditions that might lead to tire vibration or other drivability concerns once remounted onto the vehicle.
Most common to professional and high-volume tire service shops are dynamic wheel balancers. These larger, powerful units offer incredible precision, resulting in efficient and high-quality work. They typically are a larger investment than the other two types of balancers.
These heavy-duty machines are designed to recreate the natural movement of a wheel on a vehicle. The wheel assembly is placed on a motorized spindle on the balancing equipment, which then is used to simulate the same spinning forces as if the wheel were attached to the vehicle.
Advanced measurement technology allows for more accurate results and better, faster wheel balancing. Different types of dynamic wheel balancers are designed for different sizes and types of tires –- covering outside tire diameters up to 50 inches and more.
Most balancing equipment is designed specific to the type of vehicles serviced, such as passenger, commercial, motorcycle, materials handling and more.