Every car owner might have heard about the significance of wheel alignment and balancing. These services are crucial for extending tyre life and enhancing handling performance. However, many people find themselves confused with the meaning of both these terms. There is a fine difference between them which every driver needs to understand. Considering both the services as the same thing will only give you problems in the long run.
Let us break down the differences between wheels balancing and alignment. Gaining knowledge about them will help you to increase the lifespan of your summer or Winter Tyres Bolton.
What Is Wheel Alignment?
A wheel alignment means an adjustment to the suspension of your car. Suspension means the system that links the car to the wheels. Wheel alignment is done to ensure that the wheels are placed correctly in position with the road. During the process of wheel alignment, three types of angles are adjusted.
- Camber: It is the interior or exterior angle of the tyre when you see it from the front portion of the car.
- Toe: It is the interior or exterior angle of the tyre when you see it from above your car.
- Caster: It is the steering axis angle when you see it from the side of the car.
If you neglect the correct alignment of the wheels, then they will not follow the steering commands. It will cause the car tyres to wear at an uneven pace. Frequent wheel alignments will enable your Tyres Bolton to perform optimally. It will also enhance their longevity.
What Is Wheel Balancing?
Wheel balancing means adjusting any weight imbalances in a wheels or tyre. If your tyre is not properly balanced, you will experience an uneven ride. Moreover, if you keep ignoring wheel balancing services, the uneven distribution of weight will raise your tyres’ chances of wear and tear. Hence, you will have no option but to replace your tyres frequently, which will inevitably lead you to bear more expenses.
When a certified technician performs wheel balancing, they will first dismount the wheels from your car and place them into a specialised balancing machine. This machine will spin the tyre and enable the technician to figure the places of imbalances. After that, the technician will mount small wheel weights to the wheel and tyre assembly and rectify the imbalances.
Causes of Unbalanced Tyres
Unbalanced tyres can be caused by the following:
- Comes into contact with numerous potholes.
- Experiences jarring impacts.
- Experiences usual wear and tear.
- Has worn suspension parts.
- Has mismatched tyres.
If you drive aggressively, then also you need to check the wheel alignment.
Causes of unbalanced wheels are mentioned below:
- Old suspension parts.
- Imperfections and tyre wear.
- Unexpected impacts like hitting a curb.
- How Do You Know That Your Car Has Misaligned Wheels?
- Your car drifts to right or left.
- Your car abnormally pulls to a particular side when you are driving in a straight path.
- Your car’s steering wheel vibrates.
- Your car’s steering wheel is not centred.
- Your vehicle’s tyre is wearing out unevenly.
How Do You Know That Your Car Has Imbalanced Wheels?
- You experience vibrations that increase as the speed of your vehicle increases. If the vibrations are coming from the steering wheel, there is a fault with your front wheel. If the vibrations are coming from the seat, the fault is in the rear.
- You notice an uneven pattern of tread wear.
- You notice cupped or scalloped wear patterns on your tyres.
- Wheel Balancing and Alignment Have Become More Important Today!
Two trends, namely, suspension systems that are lightweight and tyres that are low-profile, have raised the need for regular balancing and alignment. These new car models are more vulnerable to imbalances than older models, which were heavier.
Improper wheel balancing and alignment can lead to many problems with vehicle handling. It also makes you vulnerable to accidents. Moreover, it also exerts a negative influence on the stability of your tyre’s tread. Thus, the overall performance of your car significantly deteriorates.
