YOU DRIVE IT WE FIX IT​

Wheel alignment and Wheel Balancing are two totally different things, but many people often get them confused.  In a nutshell, wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road.  Wheel Balancing, on the other hand allows the tires and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations.  This is accomplished by checking for any heavy spots on the wheel-tire combination and compensating for it by placing a measured lead weight on the opposite site of the wheel from where the heavy spot is.

 

 

 

The symptoms of a car that is out of alignment are:

 

• Uneven or rapid tire wear

• Pulling or drifting away from a straight line

• Wandering on a straight level road

• Spokes of the steering wheel off to one side while driving on a straight and level road.

 

 

The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance are:

 

• Vibration in the steering wheel at certain highway speeds.

• Vibration in the seat or floorboard at certain highway speeds.

• Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the tires

 

 

 Wheel Alignment: To find out if you need an alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. The problem with this method, however, is that if you can see a wear pattern like the ones listed below, it may be too late to save that tire. This is why it is a good idea to have your alignment checked periodically.

 

 

At each tire, take a coin and insert it in the tread at the inside, center and outside.

 

If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the center, the tire is over inflated.

 

If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is under inflated.

 

If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon.

 

  Wheel Balance: Out-of-balance tires will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70 mph. A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the others. One ounce of imbalance on a front tire is enough to cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at about 60 mph. To balance a wheel, the technician will mount it on a balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the heavier part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on the opposite side. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels.

Most high quality tires will hold their balance fairly well and go out of balance very gradually. If you notice a vibration that wasn't there the day before, it is possible that one of the lead balancing weights fell off. If you feel the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, the problem is most likely in a front wheel. If the vibration is mostly in the seat, the problem is probably in the rear.