Tire sealant moves, and the balance moves with it
On a farm or a rural route, a slow leak often gets fixed on the spot with a can or a bottle of tire sealant. It is a sensible way to get a pickup, a trailer or a piece of equipment back to work, and it frequently does the job.
It also leaves something behind. Liquid sealant stays inside the tire, and it does not stay evenly spread. When the tire stops, it pools at the bottom. When the tire turns, it moves, and it can collect into clumps or a heavy band that the wheel was never balanced for. A tire that ran smoothly before a sealant fix can develop a vibration afterwards, and the vibration can come and go as the sealant shifts.
That has two practical consequences.
Tell the shop. A tire with sealant inside it needs to be handled differently when it is dismounted, repaired or balanced. Some sealants also interfere with tire pressure sensors. Saying so up front saves time and surprises.
Fix the leak properly when you can. Sealant is a way to get home. A proper repair from inside the tire, followed by a balance, is what makes the assembly run smoothly again.
Other everyday causes
A vibration that started after a tire was repaired, a weight that has fallen off the rim, or a new tire fitted on an old wheel are all common reasons to rebalance. If several assemblies need attention, check them in one visit rather than one at a time.
When it is something else
A pull rather than a shake is alignment. A vibration that survives a proper balance is often the wheel, and wheel refurbishing is at this store. The national tire and wheel balancing page covers the occasions worth asking for a balance.
Other stores nearby
Paducah Commercial & Consumer and Henderson also balance tires and wheels.
About this store
The Princeton store carries all nine Purcell tire categories and is managed by Stephanie Fakouri.
See the national tire and wheel balancing page for all 51 locations.