What’s the Difference Between Wheel Alignment and Balancing?

As the only point of contact on the road, your tire maintenance is essential to your smooth trips around Dallas. It’s natural for tires to see gradual wear and tear over time, but when your ride gets too bumpy and uneven, it may be time for a wheel alignment and balancing. Read on with Bob Moore Auto Group to learn about the difference between a wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment, and when it’s time to schedule your service, reach out to a service center near you today!

What is Wheel Balancing?

During your typical Edmond driving experience, the bumpy and uneven roads cause your tires to lose their natural balance. When weighing whether your vehicle needs a wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment, it’s more likely that you’ll need a balancing more often. Some of the signs that hint it’s time for a balancing include: 

• Shaking or vibrating steering wheel
• Uneven tire wear and tear caused by one part of the tire being heavier than the rest
• Unpleasant driving experiences

On top of restoring your tire traction on the road, a wheel balancing helps reduce tire bounding and extends the overall lifespan of the tire. Automotive experts recommend that drivers should schedule a wheel balancing service every 5,000-6,000 miles, or approximately every 6 months.

What is Wheel Alignment?

While looking to improve your performance around Tulsa with a wheel alignment and balancing, alignments are mostly recommended on a case by case basis. Wheel alignments are needed for vehicles that are often hitting curbs and potholes, or have suffered significant damage from an accident. As a result of misaligned wheels, you may observe problems such as: 

• Excessive, uneven tire tread wear
• Unnecessary wear and tear on tires
• Steering issues
• Vehicle pulling

For your wheel alignment service, the technicians at Bob Moore Auto Group ensure that your wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the road. 

Deciding Between Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

It’s simple to identify when your Tulsa driving experience doesn’t feel right, but deciding whether you need a wheel alignment or balancing may be more subtle. The more notable sign pointing to needing an alignment is when your vehicle pulls to the right or left on its own. Otherwise, when your drive doesn’t feel smooth or your steering wheel is vibrating, it may be time to contact a service center near you to see if wheel balancing is the way to go. 

Schedule Tire Service with Bob Moore Auto Group!

Now that you know how to identify whether you need a wheel alignment or balance, explore the other ways you can stay on top of your tire care. Learn about the importance of rotating tires and how to perform a tire rotation at home, or learn about how long your tires last and what you can do to expand their lifespan. If you have any questions about your tires or other service, don’t hesitate to contact us today!