I have bout 11,000 miles on my 02 LX. Lately, ever since maybe the 8,000 mile mark, I've noticed a drop in that solid feel that impressed me when i test drove it. But now that I got my wheels rotated and balanced, its returned. Also, when u rotate your wheels, do you have to balance them every time ? I've heard some yes and so no's.

 

No, you do not normally have to balance your wheels after rotation.

 

Only the dealers or I mean "stealers" want to balance a wheel when its removed. They are also the ones who say to turn your rotors when you replace the pads. Tire rotation is just another money grab for garages, they come to you in their crappy waiting room wit 3 year old magazines and tell you with tears in their eyes that you need 1000 dollars worth of work done. Sorry, don't get me started on Dealers.

gimly

 

Lol, i didnt go to a dealer. I felt a little shaking in my front right tire. So i took it to this garage by my college. They said 20 for rotation, which was a little high to take out 16 lugs. But whatever. He said another 5 to balance them. I said what the hell, why not. A dealer is at least 50 to balance them. I'd never go to a dealer. They can SMA.

 

Yes, if you don't feel any weird vibrations, it isn't really necessary to balance your tires when you rotate them (it also depends how often you rotate your tires).

But of course there's no harm doing it either.

 

Good rule to follow is always balance the tires going to the front. Thats what we do here at my store. Always balance the tires going to the front unless the customer is complaining about a vibration then balance all four..........

 

I usually get my tires balanced at Sears. They offer lifetime balancing and rotation for the current set of tires. I take them in every 5K and they balance and rotate.

I've heard of other chains offering the same deal.