What Are Wheel Weights?
Did you know that every single automobile’s rims are clipped with wheel weights during the process of balancing tires? No matter the year, make, age, or model of your vehicle, wheel weights are required to properly balance your vehicle to avoid a wobbling or bouncing feeling.
What’s the Issue with Lead Wheel Weights?
The most common wheel weight that is used by many businesses is lead. These often come loose and fall off extremely easily. The federal EPA estimates that roughly 2,000 tons of lead falls off of vehicles annually in the U.S. This number is constantly rising everyday causing the tires to heat up excessively, which shortens the life of the tires by unevenly wearing them. When these lead wheel weights fall off, they are either washed down storm drains and end up in water ways, or are collected and thrown into landfills. Because lead is a mineral, it does not decompose and is known as a persistent pollutant. You may be thinking, “it’s just four small pieces of lead, it can’t be that bad!” Actually, 50 million pounds of lead is used to produce wheel weights worldwide and 1.6 million pounds are lost when these weights fall off during normal driving conditions according to EPA’s web archive.
Why Luke’s Auto Service Made the Switch To Zinc Wheel Weights
Knowing all of the issues that come with lead wheel weights and that the United States banned lead in paint and gasoline in the 1970’s because it has been directly linked to permanent issues with the nervous system and brain damage, we decided to make the intelligent decision to switch to Zinc wheel weights. This is a greener, Eco-friendlier alternative without the crucial sacrifice of accuracy, retention, and corrosion resistance. These weights not only have the exact same functionality as lead weights, they also have a protective coating that prevents corrosion, are designed for both steel and alloy wheels, and like we said previously, are saving the environment!
Head down to Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, NJ and make the switch with us! We have the latest, top of the line Hunter wheel balancing and tire changing equipment available for all your tire needs. Call us today to schedule your next tire balancing appointment and find out yourself why Zinc is the best alternative when it comes to wheel weights!