What may be the effect of not balancing the wheels of the vehicle?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
C. Uneven tread wear.
Explanation
In the photo you can see a close-up of a car wheel: a metal balancing weight is clipped to the edge of the rim. Unbalanced road wheels cause uneven wear of the tyre tread - answer C. They do not cause the wheels to lock (A) and they do not make the tyre last longer (B) - in fact they shorten its life.
An unbalanced wheel "wobbles" as it turns, that is, it vibrates and bounces, because its mass is not spread evenly around the axis. The result is vibration of the steering wheel at a certain speed (usually 80-120 km/h), faster wear of the bearings, shock absorbers and joints, and the tread being worn in typical patches. The Road Traffic Act requires the vehicle to be kept in such a condition that it does not endanger safety, and an unevenly worn tyre has poorer grip, especially on a wet surface. The wheels are balanced at a tyre shop after every tyre change and whenever the steering wheel starts to shake.
Legal basis: Art. 66 para. 1 point 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)