There is a lot of confusion regarding understanding the difference between wheel alignment and wheel balancing. Many people think they are the same, but some key differences set them apart. Here we will explore the difference between wheel alignment and wheel balancing to decide which service is right for your vehicle. The Tire Store in Alamosa, Co., can provide you with the best wheel alignment and balancing services.
What is Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment has nothing to do with the wheel but with the vehicle’s suspension system. It's all about the direction and angle that your wheels move in.
Your vehicle's wheels are aligned in three different ways:
The angle of your tires relative to one another is referred to as the toe. This is by far the most prevalent form of misalignment. If your vehicle suddenly pulls one way or won't go in a straight line when you remove your hands from the wheel, it's almost certain that one of your wheels has toe misalignment.
Camber is the angle of your wheel when seen from the front of your car. If your car's camber is misaligned in any way, it's known as having a misaligned camber. Tuners sometimes intentionally alter the camber of their automobiles to create a unique look.
The Caster is the angle of the car's steering pivot when viewed from the side. It may be difficult to notice if your vehicle's camber alignment is incorrect. However, the simplest method is to determine if one of your wheels is too far forward or backward in its wheel well, causing rubbing over large bumps.
What Causes Wheel Non-Alignment?
It's a combination of various things. The alignment can shift if you turn too sharply or put excessive stress on a wheel or axle. Hitting a bump or a pothole can also cause your alignment to shift. Even the stress and strain of driving for years can cause one or more of our wheels to fall out of alignment. It's common for a wheel to come out of alignment. Automotive repair shops will often check your alignment during routine maintenance to ensure it's still within the manufacturer's specifications.
What is Wheel Balancing?
Alignment deals with orientation, angle, and how your wheels are mounted to your vehicle. However, your wheels must be flawlessly balanced to roll smoothly. It's technically impossible to create a wheel or tire that's completely balanced all around, even with the latest design and production technology available to us today. There will always be some materials that are thicker and heavier and others that are thinner and lighter. When one of the wheels in a car is heavier or lighter, it will vibrate as it rotates. According to the speed at which you go, this vibration becomes more intense.
This can be solved by wheel balancing. The professional auto repair shop technique entails using sophisticated equipment to spin each tire and wheel combination to identify which wheel locations are heavier than others. The balancing service technician then applies bonding cement to your wheel's lightest region, including several tiny lead weights. Occasionally, these weights may be found in one location, but there are times when they could be found in various places. This is because even the same automobile's four wheels are unique.
When your tires are replaced at a reputable tire shop, you should know that they will perform wheel balancing during installation. This is critical because out-of-balance wheels will ride badly and produce a lot of unpleasant vibrations. It's also not uncommon for these tiny weights to come off as the bonding cement wears down or when you encounter a significant pothole. If your mechanic does not suggest tire balancing, ask about it. Most of the time, tire balancing is part of your tire installation service, but you should double-check.
The Difference Between Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing
Now that you know the basics of wheel alignment and wheel balancing, it's time to understand the difference between them.
The term "wheel alignment" refers to how your wheels are positioned when installed on your vehicle, and "wheel balancing" ensures that a tire's weight and wheel assembly are balanced for it to move smoothly.
Read here about how often you should change your tires in Colorado.
Final Verdict
While both services are important, they serve different purposes. Wheel alignment is critical to your tires' longevity and your vehicle's safety. On the other hand, wheel balancing is what provides a smooth ride by reducing vibrations.
Ideally, you should have both services performed at least once a year. However, if you notice any of the symptomatic changes we listed above, don't hesitate to take your vehicle in for service sooner.
The reputed tire store in Alamosa, Co, can provide these services to keep your vehicle running safely and smoothly.
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