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United Tire and Service News

Wheel Alignment vs Tire Balancing

2/7/2020 9:39:00 AM | (549) View Count | Return
Naturally, when you have brand-new tires installed, both an alignment (or alignment check) and tire balancing should always occur. However, when you’re experiencing difficulties while driving, it’s easy to be confused when determining which service is actually the core concern, simply because the experiences are very similar.  
 
There are various signs to identify the difference between wheel alignment and tire balancing concerns. 
 

Typical Signs for Needing Tire Balancing 

  • Uneven tire wear 
  • Vibration in the steering wheel 
  • Vibration in the floorboard or seats 
  • Decreased handling, especially at highway speeds
Read some more signs and symptoms of tire balancing.
 

Typical Signs for Needing a Wheel Alignment 

  • Vehicle pulls to one side while driving 
  • Premature tire wear 
  • Off-centered steering wheel while driving 
  • Excessive shaking or vibration in the steering wheel 
 

Choosing an Alignment vs. Balance 

Although tire balancing and wheel alignment both contribute to a smoother ride, they are uniquely different services and provide specific benefits, as well as distinct safety contributions.   
 
The role of tire balancing (also sometimes referred to as wheel balancing) is to correct the uneven distribution of the weight in a tire, which can be the result of the manufacturing process or a specific root cause, after manufacturing. The technician will mount your wheels on a tire balancing machine, which spins the tire at a high rate of speed and measures the amount of weight that is needed to bring it to a precisely balanced proportion. From there, the technician applies ounce-sized weights to the wheel and spins the tire again to ensure accuracy. 
 
The sole purpose of a wheel alignment is to correct the angles of the tires so that your vehicle drives straight. After performing a test drive of your vehicle for any obvious signs of suspension problems, the technician will use a computerized alignment machine to analyze and detect any irregularities in the angles. A computer print-out is used to determine exactly which angles need to be recalibrated to bring the alignment into manufacturer specifications. During this process, our technicians will also inspect the suspension parts to ensure there aren’t any repairs needed or potential areas of concern in the future, for your safety. 
 

Contributing Factors and Root Causes

The contributing factors for needing an alignment vs. balance are also very similar and can be very helpful when discussing your concerns with our technicians.  
Common root causes and contributing factors for needing either service include:  
 
  • Hitting a pothole at a normal rate of speed
  • Bumping into a curb, even slightly, while parking  
  • Being involved in a minor accident or fender bender
  • Driving on an unusually rough or bumpy road  
  • Driving recklessly or too fast around corners
  • Front suspension parts that are worn or defective  
United Tire & Service is committed to being the premier repair shop for all drivers throughout the Philadelphia community and surrounding areas. We want to be your primary choice when you need service or repairs for your vehicle. Therefore, please don’t delay in reaching out to one of our 13 independent locations to have our technicians diagnose your specific alignment vs. balance situation.
 

 

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Tags

Tires, alignments, tire balancing

Categories

Auto Repair 101

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