Does Walmart Balance Tires in 2024? Here‘s How Their Service Works
Keeping our vehicles running smoothly is essential in today‘s world. One important but often overlooked maintenance task is tire balancing. According to experts, tire balance can affect ride comfort, handling, and tread life. Unbalanced tires may also increase the risk of blowouts at high speeds. So does Walmart provide tire balancing services to help keep your car safe?
The good news is yes, many Walmart stores do offer tire balancing! Here‘s a detailed look at Walmart‘s tire balancing service, who it‘s best for, what it costs, and step-by-step what to expect when you use it.
Overview of Walmart Tire Balancing
Walmart provides tire balancing services as part of their Auto Care Centers located in many Superstore locations across the United States.
Key facts about Walmart tire balancing:
- Available at stores with an Auto Care Center (call ahead to verify)
- Cost starts at $14 per tire
- Duration is usually 40 minutes to 2 hours
- Balances all tires, including those bought elsewhere
Tire balancing helps improve ride quality, tire treadwear, and handling by minimizing vibration and wobble from the tires at high speeds. Out of balance tires can affect steering and suspension parts.
Importance of Tire Balancing
Unbalanced tires put excess stress on suspension components and reduce control. Here are some key statistics on how tire balancing impacts performance:
- Vibration from unbalanced tires increases road noise by up to 30%
- Correcting imbalance can improve fuel economy by up to 3%
- Unbalanced tires wear out tread up to 25% faster
- At highway speeds, unbalanced tires increase the risk of blowouts and handling issues
By contrast, keeping your tires in proper balance optimizes performance, safety and saves money in the long run.
Comparing Walmart Tire Balancing vs Other Providers
Benefits of using Walmart for tire balancing:
- Convenient one-stop shop if you already planned to visit Walmart
- Lower cost vs tire shops and dealerships
- Ability to book whenever tires require balancing, not just during replacements
Potential downsides to Walmart tire balancing:
- Limited locations compared to dedicated tire shops
- May involve waiting 1-2 hours for an open time slot
- Their technicians may have less specialized training than other shops
Many drivers find it convenient to get tires balanced while already out running errands. But for those wanting the highest level of service, a tire specialty shop may be preferable.
Walmart Tire Balancing Packages and Pricing
Walmart offers tire balancing as part of these packages:
| Package | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Balance & Rotation | Balances and rotates every 7,500 miles | $14 per tire |
| Basic Tire Installation | Mounting, valve stems, lug torque, balancing, rotation | $15 per tire ($10 extra for non-Walmart tires) |
| Value Tire Installation | Basic package + road hazard warranty (Walmart tires only) | $25 per tire |
Table showing Walmart tire balancing package details and pricing
The Basic plan adds the most value if you need new tires installed. The low-cost Lifetime plan is ideal for quick balancing of existing tires.
Note the Basic plan charges an extra $10 per tire for non-Walmart branded tires. The Value plan‘s road hazard warranty only applies to tires purchased at Walmart.
Step-by-Step Process at Your Appointment
When you arrive for your tire balancing appointment, here‘s what you can expect:
- Check in at the Auto Care Center counter with your receipt and keys
- Leave your vehicle for the duration of the service
- Technician will remove each wheel and mount the tire on the balancing machine
- Small weights added to the inner or outer wheel to offset any imbalance
- Balanced tires are reinstalled and lug nuts tightened to spec
- Vehicle test driven to verify smooth ride before return
- Total time is usually 1-2 hours based on store volume
Newer tires in good condition generally take less time to balance than heavily worn ones. The technician will inform you if they notice any issues like worn suspension parts affecting the balance.
Walmart Will Balance Any Brand of Tires
A nice perk is that Walmart will balance tires purchased anywhere – you don‘t need to buy them at Walmart. The Lifetime Balance & Rotation plan works for any tires.
The Basic Installation package does charge an extra $10 per tire for non-Walmart purchased tires. But it can still be worthwhile for the convenience if you need mounting and balancing together.
Follow-Up Care After Tire Balancing
Once your tires are balanced, be sure to pay attention to any vibrations or pulls when driving. If you notice the ride become rough again soon after balancing, one or more tires may have gone out of balance.
Return to Walmart and have them recheck the balance for free under the Lifetime plan. If the issue persists, have the technician inspect your suspension parts for any worn components (ball joints, control arms, etc.) that could affect balance.
Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly
Regular tire balancing every 5,000-7,500 miles helps optimize ride comfort, handling, tread life, and safety. Walmart offers a budget-friendly option to balance tires right while you shop. Just be sure to verify your local store has an Auto Care Center before you head over.
Keeping your vehicle well maintained improves safety and saves money over the long run. Tire balancing is one key service to remember.
