Where you feel it says where to look
A vibration from an out-of-balance wheel usually shows up at a particular speed, and where in the vehicle you feel it is a useful clue to which end it is coming from.
In the steering wheel. A shake you feel through your hands most often comes from the front wheels, since they connect directly to the steering.
In the seat or the floor. A vibration felt through the seat, the floor or the whole body of the vehicle, with a steady steering wheel, more often points to the rear.
At one speed band. Balance problems characteristically appear in a range, often at highway speeds, and fade above or below it. Note where it starts and where it stops.
At every speed, or only when braking. That is less typical of balance. A shake only under braking points to the brakes. One that is present at all speeds, or that changes with acceleration rather than road speed, is worth describing exactly so the search starts in the right place.
It is not a precise science, and the technician will check rather than assume. A clear description still saves time.
What to say when you book
Where you feel it, at what speed it starts and stops, whether it changes when you brake or accelerate, and when it began. If it started after new tires, a tire rotation or a pothole, say so.
When it is not balance
A pull, or a vibration with uneven tire wear, can be alignment. A vibration that survives a balance is often the wheel itself, and wheel refurbishing is at this store. The national tire and wheel balancing page covers when to ask for it.
Other stores nearby
In Salt Lake City, the Commercial & Consumer store and the Truck Tire Center also balance tires and wheels.
About this store
The Orem store carries all nine Purcell tire categories and is managed by Travis Olsen.
See the national tire and wheel balancing page for all 51 locations.