In the shop
Road Force balancing and tire diagnostics
At Powell Ag Tire, computer tire diagnostics and Road Force balancing are one machine and one process. The shop's Hunter Road Force balancer balances the wheel and tire and, in the same pass, checks whether a vibration comes from something weights cannot fix.
What a standard balance can miss
A standard balancer spins the wheel in the air and finds where weight is needed. That fixes an out-of-balance wheel. But a tire can be perfectly balanced and still shake the steering wheel, because the problem is not weight: it is a stiff spot in the tire, a wheel that is not perfectly round, or a tire that is not seated evenly on the rim.
What the machine measures
- The wheel and the tire: lasers measure the wheel, and the tire for runout, how far it runs out of round.
- The tire under load: a roller presses against the tread while it spins, the way the road does under the weight of the vehicle.
- Problems that are not balance: stiff spots in the tire, a bent or out-of-round rim, and a bead that is not seated evenly.
- Balance: it shows where the weights go, like any balancer.
What happens with the results
Often the fix is to turn the tire on the wheel, lining up the tire's stiff spot with the wheel's low spot so they cancel out. The machine shows how far to turn it. When the tire or the wheel is too far out to correct that way, the machine shows that too.
With the roller switched off, the same machine works as a standard balancer.
Signs it is worth a Road Force check
- A shake in the steering wheel or seat at highway speed
- A vibration that came back after a standard balance
- A shake that started with new tires
- Low-profile tires or larger wheels, which show small problems more
- A vehicle that seems to pull, when the tires may be the cause
A diagnostic, not a cure-all
Road Force testing narrows down whether a vibration or a pull starts in the tires and wheels. When it does, the fix is often a balance correction or turning the tire on the wheel. When it does not, the cause is somewhere else, such as alignment, tire pressure, suspension or brakes, and a damaged tire or wheel may need to be replaced. Not every routine tire job needs it.
How the machine works is described from Hunter Engineering's own description of its Road Force balancers, from Dustin, and from Ethan's Road Force research brief for this site (2026-11-04).
What to expect when you call
Calls only, to the shop landline. No forms, no email and no texts.
Call Us (270) 622-4171Dustin answers, or the machine does
It is a landline with an answering machine. If he is out on a farm call, leave your name and number.
He asks for the size
And any tire you have in mind, plus the year, make and model.
You bring it to the shop
Cars, pickups and SUVs are worked on at the shop in Scottsville.
Questions people ask
Are Road Force balancing and computer tire diagnostics the same thing?
At this shop they are one machine and one process. The Hunter Road Force balancer measures the wheel and the tire, loads the tire with a roller the way the road does, and shows whether a vibration can be corrected by turning the tire on the wheel. With the roller off, it works as a standard balancer.
What is Road Force balancing?
It balances the tire and wheel, then tests how they behave under a load like the weight of the vehicle on the road.
How is it different from a regular balance?
A regular balance corrects weight imbalance. Road Force testing also checks for problems that only show up under load, such as a stiff spot in the tire or a wheel that is not perfectly round.
Can it stop a shake at highway speed?
It can help when the cause is in the tire or wheel: imbalance, a stiff spot, runout or how the tire sits on the rim. A shake can also come from other parts of the vehicle, and those need their own repair.
Can it fix a vehicle that pulls to one side?
It can find some pulls that start in the tires. A pull can also come from alignment, tire pressure, brakes or suspension, so it is one check among several.
When should I ask for it?
When a vibration is still there after a standard balance, especially at highway speed, or when you want a closer check of the tires and wheels after a new set goes on.
What should I have ready when I call?
The tire size off the sidewall and any brand you have in mind. For a farm call, where the machine is. For a car or truck, the year, make and model.
Call and talk to Dustin
Have the year, make and model ready. And the tire size off the sidewall if the call is about tires, plus any brand you have in mind. Calls only: it is a landline with an answering machine, so leave a message if Dustin is out.