A wheel balance and a wheel alignment are two entirely different procedures, however, many drivers often get them mixed up.
What's the Difference
As already discussed, a wheel alignment will help your car to drive straight. On the other hand, a wheel balance will allow you to drive your vehicle at speed without any vibrations being felt through your steering wheel or in your seat.
This is achieved by using a wheel balancer machine that spins your wheel and the computer inspects it for any weighty spots on the wheel-tyre combination. Once a spot is identified, a tyre technician will place a small metal weight on the opposite site of the wheel. This compensates for the imbalance that was found on your wheel.
Wheels that are out of balance will create more noise and can cause your car to vibrate at certain speeds, more often than not between 80 and 100 km/h.
Quality Lasts
The vast majority of quality brand name tyres will keep their balance rather well and go out of balance slowly but surely as they age.
Should you notice a vibration that wasn't there yesterday, it's likely that one of the balancing weights has fallen off one of your wheels. As a rule, if you can feel the vibration in the steering wheel, the trouble is nearly always in a front wheel. If the vibration is felt mostly in the seat, the problem is most likely in one of the rear wheels.
To ensure the feeling of a new car ride, at St Marys Tyre and Wheel Centre, all new tyres are electronically balanced before they are fitted to your vehicle.
If you're not sure if any of your wheels may need a wheel balance, just drop in to St Marys Tyre and Wheel Centre for a complimentary tyre inspection today.
