one of my wheel weights is missing, is that bad or do i need one asap? does it really matter?
That's amazing you actually noticed your wheel weight missing. I think short term no big deal but for long term you better go get a new one. By the way, just think about all those people out there that have lost them and don't have a clue. Yeah go get your wheels balanced in the next week or so you will be fine.
It matters. The weights are to keep the wheel balanced. If the wheel is out of balance, the heavier part will tend to be thrown outwards by centrifugal force as the car drives, making the wheel bounce, and often (but not always) making the steering wheel vibrate. It reduced your traction (the wheel may even bounce off the road in extreme cases), and causes premature wear on your steering, suspension and wheel bearings. The wheel will also tend to skip under heavy braking, resulting in much longer stopping distances. Your tyre will also wear unevenly, and much faster. And it's not expensive to fix - any garage or tyre place can do it quickly and cheaply.
Take it for a good run on the freeway and if it's out of balance the car will vibrate, it should if the wheels were properly balanced before. You'll need that wheel balanced, not expensive at all.
