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Wheel Alignment Vs Wheel Balancing Understanding the Difference
When the talk shifts to keeping a heavy vehicle running smoothly, wheel alignment and wheel balancing are often mentioned. While both sound similar, they cover different aspects of your vehicle's maintenance, each contributing to the overall performance, safety, and longevity of your tyres as well as vehicle. Understanding the difference between these two is important for keeping your ride smooth, saving on repair costs, and improving fuel efficiency.
In this blog, Amigo Tyres—trusted for truck tyre services in Rocklea—decided to share the guide on the key differences between wheel alignment and wheel balancing, why they’re important, and when you need them.
Let’s start with our guide.
What is wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment is the process of adjusting the angles of your vehicle's wheels. The goal is to make sure that each wheel is positioned correctly in relation to the car’s body and the road. When the truck is properly aligned, it helps drive straight, prevents uneven tyre wear, and makes driving smoother and more comfortable.
If your wheels are aligned, it means they are all pointing in the right direction and will make proper contact with the road surface. Three main factors affect wheel alignment: camber, caster, and toe.
Camber is the angle of the wheel in relation the the ground when viewed from the front. If the top of the tyre leans in or out, it affects how the tyre wears.
Caster is the angle of the steering axis as seen from the side of the car. It’s involved in steering and stabilising your vehicle.
The toe is the tyres' pointing direction. If the fronts of the tyres point toward the middle of the car, that’s called “toe-in,” and if they point away, it’s “toe-out.”
The importance of wheel alignment
Wheel alignment ensures that the tyres wear evenly, which can extend their life and improve fuel efficiency. Misalignment may cause the car to pull to one side, produce steering vibration, and lead to faster tyre wear. If you notice your car pulling to one side or your tyres wearing out unevenly, it’s worth checking your alignment.
What is Wheel Balancing?
Wheel balancing is simply about making sure your tyres and wheels have equal weight. Thanks to tyre wear and road conditions, minute imbalances can form in your tyres over time. Imbalanced wheels lead to vibrations within your truck trailer, especially at higher speeds.
During the balancing process, weights are added to the wheel to correct any imbalance. The goal is to ensure that the wheel spins evenly and smoothly without causing any shaking or discomfort while riding it.
Why is wheel balancing necessary?
Wheel balancing will help to stop vibrations that can make driving uncomfortable. It also reduces wear and tear on your tyres and vehicle suspension system. If your car shakes or vibrates at higher speeds, it’s usually a sign that your wheels need balancing. Without proper balancing, the tyre wear will increase, and your ride will become rough.
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Wheel Alignment Vs. Wheel Balancing
Both wheel alignment and wheel balancing are important aspects of driving experience, but the two are not the same, focusing on different things.
Wheel alignment is specifically based on angles of the wheels and the way the wheels make contact with the road surface. Misaligned wheels can lead to uneven tyre wear and even cause the car to pull to one side. Alignment can impact the steering and handling of your vehicle.
Wheel balancing is concerned with the weight of the tyres and wheels. Weight discrepancies can lead to vibrations and an uneven ride. Balancing makes sure that the tyres spin smoothly and evenly.
Why are Wheel Alignment and Balancing Important?
Ensure longer tyre life: Misaligned wheels, unbalanced wheels and worn-out tyres will lead to uneven tyre wear and costly replacements sooner than you will want to. Good alignment and balancing help your tyres last longer.
Improved Comfort: A well-aligned and balanced vehicle ensures a smoother ride. No trucker likes handling vibrations or wrestling with the steering wheel to keep the vehicle on course.
Improve Handling and Safety: A properly aligned vehicle will drive better and be safer. Less vibration and increased vehicle control make a more comfortable ride, and a safer one as well.
Improve Fuel Efficiency: Misalignment can cause your car to drag, which uses up more fuel. When your wheels are properly aligned and balanced correctly, your car uses less energy to drive forward, and improves fuel efficiency.
Wheel Alignment and Balancing in Rocklea
Proper wheel alignment and wheel balancing are the important keys to keeping your car running smoothly, safely, and efficiently. Whether you're facing uneven tyre wear, steering issues, or vibrations on the road, Amigo Tyres in Rocklea is ready to help! We specialise in professional wheel alignment and balancing services for all sizes of tyres.
Still got any queries to ask? Contact us today to have them answered by our experts! Or visit our Rocklea workshop to see how we balance, align, and fine-tune your truck wheels like pros!
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