tire balancing without tire rotation?

[ymir]

I brought my Honda Civic Hybrid to the dealership for an oil change and tire rotation and balance. While I was waiting, a service rep told me that since my rear tires were worn, no rotation would be done. He said the tires would probably last till the next oil change, so I passed on replacing them on this visit.

When I received the bill, I was surprised to see a $60 charge for rotation and balance. I asked the rep why I was charged for a service that he himself said I had not received. He replied that although the tires weren’t rotated, they had been balanced.

Two questions:

1. Can tires be balanced without having been rotated?

2. If “yes” to the above question, is this a typical practice?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Who balances old tires?

The only time you ever need to have tires balanced is if they are brand new or if you've thrown a wheel weight (which you'd notice as a vibration at speed). Any mechanic who offers to balance your tires in any other situation is ripping you off by performing a completely unnecessary service.

That said, yes, it's quite possible to balance tires without performing a rotation. It's pointless except in the cases outlined above though.

ZV

 

[NutBucket]

Pretty much. What Zen said. I would add if you hit a pothole and bend a wheel it might be possible to balance it if the vibration is slight.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Pretty much. What Zen said. I would add if you hit a pothole and bend a wheel it might be possible to balance it if the vibration is slight.

IIRC the Civic hybrids all have alloys, not steel wheels. So they're not likely to bend. In those situations alloys usually crack or gouge. Which would be a different, and larger, problem.

ZV

 

[skyking]

NM you asked for the balance.

 

[T2urtle]

When you pay someone to balance the wheels, a rotation shouldn't be charged. As you unmount all 4 wheels to get them balanced, you can easily mount them on any way you want.

But i can see where some systems dont give you that option.

If those tires are really that worn, like 2/32 worn. I think they can legally not allow you to drive the car away in some states.

 

[jlee]

When you pay someone to balance the wheels, a rotation shouldn't be charged. As you unmount all 4 wheels to get them balanced, you can easily mount them on any way you want.

But i can see where some systems dont give you that option.

If those tires are really that worn, like 2/32 worn. I think they can legally not allow you to drive the car away in some states.

I would be really, really surprised if that was the case.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I think they can legally not allow you to drive the car away in some states.

your wrong!!

 

[T2urtle]

your wrong!!

Just random stuff I hear, mostly horror stories of dealerships.

Thinking about it, I figure there is a rule but just never enforced. If u have 1/32 on your tire, it's not street legal. So give the owner back the keys is allowing them to break some type of law. Goofy stuff u read.

 

[jlee]

Just random stuff I hear, mostly horror stories of dealerships.

Thinking about it, I figure there is a rule but just never enforced. If u have 1/32 on your tire, it's not street legal. So give the owner back the keys is allowing them to break some type of law. Goofy stuff u read.

It may be 'allowing' them to break a law, but as a mechanic shop is not a law enforcement entity, they are lacking the authority to seize the vehicle or prevent someone from leaving.

 

[Banana]

As others have mentioned, rotating the tires does not cost extra when you pay to have all four tires/wheels balanced. Since the rotation has zero $ value, the shop can logically argue that there is no discount for NOT rotating the tires.

The shop should have advised you that the balancing was unnecessary, unless you wanted it done due to a heretofore unmentioned problem?

One other thing - Worn tires go in front.

 

[TainToTain]

It may be 'allowing' them to break a law, but as a mechanic shop is not a law enforcement entity, they are lacking the authority to seize the vehicle or prevent someone from leaving.

While the mechanic has no legal duty (or authority) to prevent the customer from breaking the law, they will be rightly concerned about liability if the customer leaves on bald tires and gets into a crash on the way home. The simple way around that is to have the customer sign a waiver stating that he's been informed that the tires are worn and it may be unsafe to drive on them, and the customer wants to take the car regardless.

Dealerships have these forms on-hand.

 

[BassBomb]

IIRC the Civic hybrids all have alloys, not steel wheels. So they're not likely to bend. In those situations alloys usually crack or gouge. Which would be a different, and larger, problem.

ZV

Alloys bend all the time man!

 

[996GT2]

Who balances old tires?

The only time you ever need to have tires balanced is if they are brand new or if you've thrown a wheel weight (which you'd notice as a vibration at speed).

Maybe it's not really necessary, but Costco does it for free every time I take the car in for a tire rotation. I think they just balance all the tires that are to be rotated.