How to find the best wheel balancer

Oct. 11, 2024
Kyle Harris from The Coats Company explains what to look for when purchasing a new balancer.

As an automotive shop owner, you know the necessity of a durable wheel balancer. It is a specialized machine that balances the weight of the vehicle’s tire and wheel, ensuring its performance, safety, and longevity.  Proper wheel balancing helps reduce tire wear, improving vehicle handling and ensuring passenger comfort.

There are a lot of wheel balancing tools available in the market nowadays. The process of choosing a perfect machine for your shop can be daunting. You need proper knowledge to understand key factors to select a precise option for your business. This guide takes you on the journey so you can avoid mistakes and get a perfect machine that helps your business grow.

What are the essential features to consider before buying a wheel balancer?

The first factor before choosing a perfect wheel balancing machine is to analyze the scale of your business. It means how many vehicles you deal with regularly for balancing their wheel, whether cars or heavy-duty trucks. After understanding the number of vehicles influx in your business, you can move on to other features that play a decisive role in choosing a perfect wheel balancing tool that exceeds your expectations.

1. Precision and accuracy

You must look for a wheel balancing tool that gives precise and accurate results whenever you try to balance the vehicle. An accurate balancing machine in your shop helps you get more ROI and fewer customer returns due to imbalance issues. Look for a machine with built-in consistent technology that instantly detects a minor imbalance in the vehicle. With the Coats Direct Drive balancers, you can get the static and dynamic forces down to zero, not just OK. This means that it is precisely balanced. This consistency will improve customer satisfaction significantly.

2. Ease of use

You must opt for a wheel balancing machine that’s convenient to use in your shop, reducing the learning curve for your technicians and increasing overall efficiency. Look for a machine with straightforward buttons or an LED touchscreen that can improve data entry speed and is easy to use.  Moreover, speeding up the balancing can reduce the fatigue of technicians while enhancing their efficiency.

3. Durability and reliability

You must choose a balancing machine assembled using high-quality materials and components, making it durable, and able to withstand the demands of a busy automotive shop. Providing reliable results to your customers will build long-lasting trust in your business, greatly increasing your profit margins.

4. Versatility

Consider the types of wheels you typically work with. Ensure the wheel balancing machine can accommodate a broad range of wheel sizes, including passenger vehicles, light trucks, and even larger commercial or off-road tires. It will expand your business scale and help you earn more customers and profits.

5. Balancing technology

Look for a wheel balancing tool that utilizes advanced balancing technology. This includes dynamic balancing, which measures static and dynamic imbalances, ensuring precise wheel balancing and reducing vibrations. Balancing wheels with hub-centric rings will give you a competitive edge and make your work faster and more accurate, attracting more clients.

6. Exceptional support and service

Choose a machine provider who will stay beside you from the initial installation to the periodic maintenance. They will also provide in-depth knowledge of choosing a perfect machine based on your business. Look for a company that offers durable machines for your shop, ensuring minimal downtime and continuous operation.

7. Cost-effective solutions

Invest in high-quality and reliable balancing machines for your business. It seems a little steep initially, but with the machine providing fast and accurate results, it will eventually become the most cost-efficient investment for your company. Moreover, a well-made machine increases customer satisfaction, boosting your shop’s profitability.

These are some prominent features you must consider before purchasing a balancing machine for your automotive shop. You can select any model and machine that provides maximum productivity and the least hassle for your business.

Types of wheel balancing tools

There are three common types of wheel balancing instruments. Each one has a unique design that indicates its eccentric process. Research thoroughly and choose one best suited for your business needs and requirements.

Heavy duty balancer

This perfect machine for delivery vehicles and trucks has a Direct Drive system that integrates the balancer’s strong motor and spindle into a single, factory-pre-balanced assembly for increased accuracy without belts. Crafted from sturdy material, you can expand your business from cars to holding light or heavy-duty trucks to fulfill balancing needs. The Coats 6450 Heavy Duty Wheel Balancer is built with a Direct Drive system that integrates the balancer’s robust motor and spindle into a single, factory pre-balanced assembly for increased accuracy without belts or pulleys.

Space saving balancers

These space-saving balancing machines follow the phenomenon of a smaller footprint. While providing accurate results, they can be installed anywhere and moved to any small space in the shop. This model is ideal for shops with heavy client traffic and those who need to make frequent changes to their arrangements or mobile tire service shops. The Coats 1885 and 885 are designed for light to medium-duty environments but offer features you’ll find on much larger, more elaborate machines.

Direct Drive Series balancers

This Direct Drive Series balancer is the most cost-effective option for balancing machines. This machine does not require belts, reducing the fear of slippage while providing precise results. No belts means less maintenance or adjustment costs for a long time. This machine works on fast spinning my technique, deriving the results faster than other variants. The Direct Drive Series combines the accuracy and durability of Coats’ Direct Drive system with an exclusive set of easy-to-use balancing features designed to get the job done right the first time, every time.

A wheel balancer is vital in any automotive shop, ensuring that vehicles operate smoothly, safely, and efficiently. Considering various factors like usability, reliability, technology, and cost-effectiveness, you can select the perfect balancing machine that fits your needs and expand your business significantly. Remember, focusing on quality instead of price helps you get the precise machine that will benefit you in the long term.

If you are looking for a company that sells high-quality balancing machines, Coats Company should be your ultimate stop. We provide the most precise and wide range of machines that encompass your business needs with versatility. We also offer a convenient customer care service so all your questions can be answered instantly. For more information and to place an order, visit our contact page!

About the Author

Kyle Harris

Kyle Harris, senior product manager for tire changers and balancers at The Coats Company, is a passionate industry veteran with over a decade of experience. TIA-certified in commercial and automotive tire service, Kyle continually advances his expertise, most recently earning his ASE badge as an ADAS Advanced Level Specialist. His technical acumen is unmatched at Coats.

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