This is often the million-dollar question that vehicle owners are confused about! Even though wheel alignment and wheel balancing are separate services, both of them are important and necessary for enhancing the life and performance of your tires.
How often should wheel balancing be done? With enough miles, wheels lose their balance. Out-of-balance tires affect both the quality of the handling of your vehicle and the wear of the tires. While wheels and tires are machine-made, and theoretically uniform, in reality, there are slight irregularities that make them slightly heavier on one side than the other. As the tread on your tire wears down, the distribution of weight around the tire changes. This leads to an imbalance that causes the vehicle to shake or vibrate.
During a wheel balancing service, the technician will use a calibrated spin balancer and usually will test both static (non-moving) and dynamic (moving) balance. One guideline to remember is to have a tire balancing service each time you have your tires rotated (usually every 5-6,000 miles).
When do you need a wheel alignment? It is obvious that a car performs best with all four wheels straight up and down, and all facing in the same direction. Even though the suspension components are made of steel, they will actually deform slightly over the life of the car, and wheel alignment will be necessary at some point. Most manufacturers recommend having a routine check of wheel alignment about every 10,000 miles. You should also have the wheel alignment checked if you notice your vehicle pulling to one side, or if you have recently been in a collision.
During a wheel alignment service, your technician will adjust the angle of your car’s wheels to the position of the manufacturer’s recommended specification. The tread should be checked for uneven wear (a sign of a poor alignment), as well as the toe, camber, and caster inspected (the main components for measuring wheel orientation).
Have questions about a needed wheel alignment or wheel balancing service? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil’s Service today for more information and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and the surrounding area.
This is often the million-dollar question that vehicle owners are confused about! Even though wheel alignment and wheel balancing are separate services, both of them are important and necessary for enhancing the life and performance of your tires.
How often should wheel balancing be done? With enough miles, wheels lose their balance. Out-of-balance tires affect both the quality of the handling of your vehicle and the wear of the tires. While wheels and tires are machine-made, and theoretically uniform, in reality, there are slight irregularities that make them slightly heavier on one side than the other. As the tread on your tire wears down, the distribution of weight around the tire changes. This leads to an imbalance that causes the vehicle to shake or vibrate.
During a wheel balancing service, the technician will use a calibrated spin balancer and usually will test both static (non-moving) and dynamic (moving) balance. One guideline to remember is to have a tire balancing service each time you have your tires rotated (usually every 5-6,000 miles).
When do you need a wheel alignment? It is obvious that a car performs best with all four wheels straight up and down, and all facing in the same direction. Even though the suspension components are made of steel, they will actually deform slightly over the life of the car, and wheel alignment will be necessary at some point. Most manufacturers recommend having a routine check of wheel alignment about every 10,000 miles. You should also have the wheel alignment checked if you notice your vehicle pulling to one side, or if you have recently been in a collision.
During a wheel alignment service, your technician will adjust the angle of your car’s wheels to the position of the manufacturer’s recommended specification. The tread should be checked for uneven wear (a sign of a poor alignment), as well as the toe, camber, and caster inspected (the main components for measuring wheel orientation).
Have questions about a needed wheel alignment or wheel balancing service? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Phil’s Service today for more information and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of Killeen, TX, and the surrounding area.
