It’s common knowledge that regular tire balancing is vital. Is the same true for UTV tires?
There’s been some speculation that UTV tires can’t be balanced. Even if they can be balanced, what factors determine whether or not they need to be balanced?
All of these questions may run through the mind of any new UTV tire owner.
We understand that the transition from a regular tire to a UTV tire can be overwhelming. That’s why, in this article, we’ll try to clear everything up. We’ll answer all of your questions, including, “Do you need to balance UTV tires?”
Can You Balance UTV Tires?
You may have heard that you can’t balance UTV tires, but this is not the case. UTV tires can be balanced, and in some cases, it’s necessary.
Unbalanced UTV tires can give you a hard time. They’ll start transmitting constant vibrations that you’ll even feel through the steering wheel. These vibrations are caused by flaws in the rim or the tire.
The more you speed up, the more you’ll feel these vibrations throughout the vehicle. If you don’t know, driving a vehicle with such vibrations is extremely inconvenient.
Not to mention that when the tire’s balance is off, it’s more likely to throw when it rotates. Over time, this type of damage will cause your tire to wear out faster than usual.
That being said, balancing your UTV tires would be your way out of all of these problems. It dampens and, in some cases, eliminates vibrations caused by flaws in your tires. The good news is that if your UTV tire has a removable center cap, you can easily balance it.
Nonetheless, some UTV rims have a significantly larger center hole than usual. In such cases, you won’t be able to center the rim using the standard taper found in most garages. Therefore, you’ll most likely need to visit the dealership, as they’ll have specialized tools that’ll handle your tire.
Do You Need to Balance UTV Tires?
If you only ride on smooth roads and for light purposes, you may wonder if you need to balance your UTV tires. Well, there are a few factors that’ll determine whether you need to balance them or not:
1. Speed
The first thing to keep in mind is the speed you’re used to riding at. If you’re used to exceeding 30 mph, imbalanced tires can be extremely dangerous.
As previously mentioned, when the balance in UTV tires is off, the vehicle begins to vibrate. You can only imagine the dangers of a high-speed vibrating ride, which can cause your car to skid at any time.
However, if you typically drive at or below 30 mph and don’t experience any of the aforementioned issues, you can postpone the balancing process.
2. Usage Type
The second thing to think about is how you intend to use these tires. In other words, what types of roads will you be riding on?
Balancing your tires is recommended if you mostly drive on smooth trails or paved roads. Because you can feel the slightest change in your vehicle while driving on smooth roads, experiencing vibrations along the way won’t be so nice.
The other scenario is that you’re used to driving off-road, in mud, or rock climbing. If that’s the case, then you’ll be limited to low speeds and won’t have to deal with the problems associated with unbalanced UTV tires.
Yet, on muddy trails, the amount of mud that enters the rim will almost certainly cause the tire to lose its balance. Consequently, you’ll need to balance it with an efficient method that we’ll go over later.
3. Tire Design
This point expands on the one above, usage type. If you purchased a radial UTV tire, it’s most likely because you intend to ride on paved trails. So, balancing them will greatly benefit you on the road by giving you more control at high speeds.
Whereas if you purchased the large mud UTV tires, you probably won’t go at speeds above 20 mph off-road. Unless you’ll drive through the mud, then you need to check its balance before it starts vibrating.
Two Methods for Balancing UTV Tires
There are two main techniques for balancing UTV tires. Here, you should also consider how you intend to use the tires when deciding which technique to use.
As you’ll see in a moment, balancing methods can be inefficient if they’re paired with the wrong type of usage.
1. Adhesive Weights
This is one of the most popular tire balancing methods because it gets the job done and is very simple to install.
When you stick the weights to the rim, they provide static balancing. However, you must ensure that you get weights with high-quality adhesive tape.
Besides, you must thoroughly clean the rim with a degreaser before installing them to ensure proper grip. If you follow both installation instructions, you’ll be extending their lifespan.
It’s important to note that these weights will work perfectly for you if you only use them on paved roads. Otherwise, you’ll experience one of the most common complaints about these weights, which is that they become loose. True, if you use them off-road, they’ll become loose and throw the tire out of balance.
2. Balancing Beads
This method will be useful if you ride on rocky or muddy trails, as stick-on weights won’t suffice.
Balancing beads are tiny round balls, usually made of ceramic. You simply insert them into the tire valve. When the tire begins to spin, the beads spread and give you the desired balance as you drive.
Because it doesn’t work until the vehicle moves, this method may cause a temporary imbalance.
Another disadvantage is that when changing tires, it can be challenging to get them out of the old ones. Moreover, while trying to get them out, they may get stuck in the rim, causing potential damage.
In Brief
Do you need to balance UTV tires? That’s dependent on how you normally use your vehicle!
Yes, you’ll need to balance your UTV tires if you drive on smooth roads or compete in on-road races. Adhesive weights will be a good balancing method for you in this case.
On the other hand, if you ride on rocky trails, balancing your UTV tires can be delayed. However, if you go in deep mud, you should put some ceramic beads in your tire for better balance.