Tire Balance - Dynamic Balance

Dynamic Balance

Dynamic balance describes the forces generated by asymmetric mass distribution when the tire is rotated, usually at a high speed. In the tire factory, the tire and wheel are mounted on a balancing machine test wheel, the assembly is accelerated up to a speed of 300 RPM or higher, and sensors measure the forces of unbalance as the tire rotates. These forces are resolved into static and couple values for the inner and outer planes of the wheel, and compared to the unbalance tolerance (the maximum allowable manufacturing limits). If the tire is not checked, it has the potential to wobble and perform poorly. In tire retail shops, tire/wheel assemblies are checked on a spin-balancer, which determines the amount and angle of unbalance. Balance weights are then fitted to the outer and inner flanges of the wheel. Dynamic balance is better (it is more comprehensive) than static balance alone, because both couple and static forces are measured and corrected.

The dynamic balance can only be conducted if the driver comes to the garage and has the garage check for imbalances. With the existing sensors found in many cars, however, the imbalance can be estimated in real time, as seen in a recent SAE paper: sensors such as the ABS wheel speed sensors were used to detect an imbalanced tire or tires in real time.