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United Tire and Service News
Wheel Alignment vs Tire Balancing
2/7/2020 9:39:00 AM
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(538) View Count
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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.
Related
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2/15/2022
Different Types of Wheel Alignment
6/9/2020
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10/14/2021
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11/11/2020
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Tires
5/12/2021
Can I Drive With Low Coolant?
6/15/2023
Tags
Tires
,
alignments
,
tire balancing
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Auto Repair 101
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United Tire & Service
15 Evergreen Dr,
Concordville, PA 19331
Phone:
610-859-4416
Fax:
19331
39.88292,-75.52377
United Tire & Service
637 West Bridge St,
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone:
(610) 634-8399
Fax:
19460
40.12979,-75.52659
United Tire & Service
1140 Easton Rd,
Willow Grove, PA 19090
Phone:
(267) 662-2033
Fax:
19090
40.15891,-75.12309
United Tire & Service
87 E Lancaster Ave,
Paoli, PA 19301
Phone:
(610) 723-7664
Fax:
19301
40.04239,-75.47919
United Tire & Service
340 Street Rd,
Southampton, PA 18966
Phone:
(267) 223-7298
Fax:
18966
40.17837,-75.0511
United Tire & Service
224 E Street Rd,
Feasterville, PA 19053
Phone:
(267) 662-2239
Fax:
19053
40.14797,-74.99648
United Tire & Service
4094 Chestnut Street,
Emmaus, PA 18049
Phone:
(610) 967-5625
Fax:
18049
40.51937,-75.52203
United Tire & Service
614 Westtown Rd,
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone:
(610) 590-8479
Fax:
19382
39.95898,-75.58625
United Tire & Service
980 E Lancaster Ave,
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone:
(610) 590-9116
Fax:
19335
40.01662,-75.68335
United Tire & Service
100 Robbins Rd,
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone:
(610) 590-8493
Fax:
19335
39.99897,-75.70103
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