Why Wheels Alignment and Balancing Is Important For Your Vehicle?

The words "balancing" and "alignment" isn't only heard in the yoga studio. When you take your car in for service, you'll get to know these words.

But what do balancing and alignment mean outside of the yoga studio? Both contribute to a more comfortable ride, but tire balancing and alignment are two distinct services. A tire balance corrects the weight imbalance on your tire and wheel assemblies, whereas an alignment helps to adjust the angles of the tires so that they make proper contact with the road.

If you've ever wondered, "What is wheel alignment?" or, "What exactly does tire balancing entail?" Then, it's time to take your car-care routine to the next level. Let's learn the difference between the two.

What Is Tire Balancing?

The tire balancing (also known as wheel balancing) is correcting uneven weight distribution in the wheels. Imbalanced wheels can cause vibration, excessive tire wear, suspension damage, and other issues.

Your tires and wheels are always mounted onto a tire balancing machine during a tire balance service. The machine rotates the tire and wheel assembly to gauge the imbalance, allowing a technician to accurately install the correct tire weights for a properly balanced wheel and tire assembly. Wheel balancing and alignment are frequently performed concurrently, but they should not be confused!

How Do Wheels Get Out of Balance?

Tire wear daily contributes to imbalance. Normal manufacturing flaws are also a factor: Tires and wheels do not have an exact weight distribution. As a result, they'll be a little heavier in some places. A weight difference of half an ounce would be enough to cause a vibration while driving.

What is Wheel Alignment?

Alignment is the process of adjusting a vehicle's suspension – the system that connects the vehicle to its wheels. It is not a re-alignment of the wheels or tires. Instead, adjusting the angles of the tires, which impact how they make contact with the ground, is the best approach to proper alignment.

A mechanic is primarily concerned with three factors when checking your alignment:

1. Camber – If you will see it from the front, this is the inward or outward angle of the tire. Excessive inward or outward tilt, also recognized as negative or positive camber, indicates poor alignment and must be corrected. Camber misalignment also happens by worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel suspension components.
2. Toe – The degree to which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above is referred to as toe alignment. Look down at your own feet to see what we mean. Toe-in alignment occurs when your toes angle inward, and toe-out alignment occurs when your toes angle outward.
3. Caster – Your caster angle contributes to the balance of steering, stability, and cornering. The steering axis will then tilt towards the driver if you have a positive caster. A negative caster angle indicates that the steering axis has tilted towards the front of the vehicle.

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Signs That Your Car Needs an Alignment

If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle may require an alignment:

• The vehicle is veering to one side of the road.
• The treads on the tires are wearing out prematurely or unevenly.
• The tires are making a squeaking sound.
• When you're driving, the steering wheel tilts off-center.
• When you accelerate, the steering wheel vibrates.
• After being in a car crash, driving over a pothole, or trying to run into a curb, your alignment can become out of whack.

Are you experiencing balancing and alignment issues in your vehicle? Don't let them sour your mood. Make an appointment with your local auto service center for a zen-like ride that is both relaxing and dependable.