Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

As the owner of a high-performance vehicle, you want your Porsche to accelerate, handle, and turn as you expect. When something is off, you can feel it. It might be time to get your wheels or tires serviced as part of regular vehicle maintenance in Merriam, KS. We’re here to compare wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment. They sound similar, but they use different techniques to make sure your car, truck, or SUV handles properly around Wichita, KS.

Read more with our guide to wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment. That way, you’ll know what type of service your vehicle is having done. Wheel alignment and balancing are crucial, yet often overlooked, aspects of car maintenance.

What is Wheel Balancing?

More properly called tire balancing, the technicians at our service center will use a machine that spins the tire quickly as if it’s traveling 60 mph. The machine measures any wobbles in your tire due to an uneven distribution of weight. All tires are balanced because the rubber’s imperfections can cause small amounts of weight to change as the tire is manufactured. Service technicians will clip small metal weights at certain points around the wheel rims (where the rubber meets the metal) to balance the weight properly.

Why have your wheels balanced? Unbalanced wheels can cause the steering wheel to shake or vibrate. Your tires could develop uneven wear because one part of the tire is heavier than the others.

Your tires become unbalanced when, for example, one of the tire weights comes off when you hit a pothole. We recommend getting your wheels balanced when you get your tires rotated, which you should have done every 5,000 to 6,000 miles or every 6 months. Your vehicle will have better handling and improved gas mileage with properly balanced tires.

What is Wheel Alignment?

A wheel alignment is not necessarily a regular part of vehicle maintenance for St. Louis, MO drivers. Sometimes called a front-end alignment, the service technician aligns the wheels to make sure they are perpendicular to the road and turn as expected. A special machine gradually and slowly realigns the metal wheels on your car so they operate in the correct direction.

Wheels that are out of alignment could cause uneven wear and steering issues. If you notice your car drifting to one side when you don’t turn the steering wheel, such as when your vehicle drifts into another lane, this could be a sign you need a wheel alignment.

Wheel Alignment & Balancing: Which Do You Need?

Now you know the differences between wheel alignment and balancing. Which do you think you might need? If your car pulls to one side, a wheel alignment is likely in order. Is your steering wheel vibrating? Look into wheel balancing. We can handle either of these services.

Rely on Porsche Kansas City for Your Vehicle Maintenance Needs!

Do you have more questions about wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment? Does your car need maintenance? Contact us, call 913-624-3705, or schedule service with our team. We’re happy to help in any way we can! Make sure to look at our service specials to see how much money you could save on your next visit.