Tire Balancing vs. Alignment
Tire balancing and tire alignment are two crucial services that ensure your car drives safely and avoids preventable wear and tear. If your vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight, you notice uneven or rapid tire wear or you feel vibrations on your steering wheel or floor while driving, you should have your tire balancing and tire alignment checked.
Learn more about what tire balancing and tire alignment are, how to know when you need them, what their benefits are and more.
What Is Tire Balancing?
Tire balancing, also known as wheel balancing, is a service that corrects uneven weight distribution in the wheels, resulting in smoother and safer driving. Whether the issue comes from manufacturer imperfections on the tires or damage from potholes, curbs, or rough roads, you should regularly balance your tires.
How Does Tire Balancing Work?
Tire balancing involves adding small metal weights to correct uneven weight distribution in the wheels and between the car’s different wheels, ensuring proper tire functionality and a longer tire life.
How Do You Know Your Tires Need Balancing?
Vibrations in your steering wheel, floorboard, or seat, and uneven tire wear are signals that your car needs tire balancing. In addition to annoying vibrations, imbalanced wheels also lead to excessive tire wear, damage to your car’s suspension and other costly problems.
We recommend you have your tires balanced during rotations, after flat tire repair and as part of your regular maintenance.
How Does Tire Balancing Benefit Your Car?
It’s clear that an unbalanced tire is more than just an inconvenience — it can potentially become a safety hazard and your passengers.
Fortunately, balancing your tires can help prevent several issues, keeping you — and your wallet — safe. Tire balancing services can help prevent rapid tire wear and potential tire flats, reduce the chances of your car’s suspension breaking down, cut down on dangerous vibrations that become safety hazards and decrease or eliminate certain car maintenance costs.
Tire Alignment vs. Balancing: What’s The Difference?
The difference between tire alignment and tire balancing is that tire balancing adjusts your tires’ weight distribution, while tire alignment, also known as wheel alignment, involves adjusting your car’s steering and suspension.
Tire alignment prevents your car from veering to the right or left and will improve your car’s handling and road safety capabilities.
Signs that your car tires require alignment are tires squealing when turning, the steering wheel tilting off-center while driving and tire treads wearing out prematurely or unevenly.
Fixing Your Unbalanced or Misaligned Tires
Whether you notice your car needs a tire balancing, a wheel alignment or you are unsure which service your car requires, it’s always best to have it addressed at a certified car service solution provider.
Tire balancing and alignment both require specific skills, tools and expertise to be done correctly and should not be done DIY. Consult a professional to ensure your car operates properly and safely.
Learn more about car tire balancing, alignment and more with our online resource library!
