Wheel Balancing vs Wheel Alignment

Tyres endure significant stress as they absorb all the harsh driving forces, such as rotation, poor road conditions, speed, and heavy braking. This constant pressure makes proper tyre care crucial for maximising car performance and safety. Poorly maintained tyres also significantly impact fuel efficiency, vehicle handling, and overall driving comfortability. 

Regular wheel balancing and alignment services ensure your tyres are in mint condition for smooth, jolt-free driving and extend tyre life. At Tufflift, we offer state-of-the-art wheel balancers and wheel aligners to ensure your vehicle's longevity and quality.

This blog will uncover the importance of wheel alignment and wheel balance, explain their purposes, and highlight the signs indicating your car is due for these essential services.

What is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel alignment refers to a series of mechanical adjustments to all four wheels to ensure they are correctly aligned. Maintaining aligned wheels is important as it directly impacts tyre wear and fuel efficiency. Aligned wheels improve overall car safety and driving experience, as tyres move with less resistance on the road and allow you to have greater vehicle control.

Signs Your Tyres Needs Alignment

• Vehicle pulling to one side
• Shaking or noisy steering wheel
• Squealing tyres
• Uneven tyre wear
• Steering wheel not centred

Wheel Alignment Procedure

Technicians perform a wheel alignment by placing the car on an elevated alignment rack to identify misalignment. Once identified, the camber, toe, and castle angles of each wheel are adjusted to match the manufacturer's specifications. The vehicle is then taken on a test drive to ensure the alignment is correct.

There are three types of wheel alignment.

Front-end alignment refers to realigning only the front two wheels. Four-wheel alignment involves realigning all four wheels. Thrust alignment is realigning the front two wheels with the back two wheels.

What is Wheel Balancing?

As the name suggests, tyre balancing eliminates any unbalanced weight from the tyre to ensure an even wheel rotation. Even weight distribution improves tyre longevity, improves your vehicle's road safety, and makes for a smoother driving experience. Balanced wheels also improve fuel efficiency and extend the tyre's life.

Signs Your Wheels Need Balancing

• Shaking or vibrating while driving
• Decreased fuel economy
• Uneven tyres
• Steering issues
• Worn out suspension
• Tyre wear

Wheel Balancing Procedure

A wheel balance is performed by taking the wheels off the vehicle and placing them on a wheel balance machine. The wheel is spun for 10 seconds, and the machine identifies the required weights for an even balance. The technician will apply weights where necessary to restore equilibrium, and then the tyres are placed back on the machine to ensure perfect balance. After the procedure, the vehicle is taken on a test drive to confirm a smooth and steady drive.

When Does My Car Need Wheel Balancing and Alignment?

If you've recently driven over a pothole or hit a curb, your tyres will likely become unbalanced or unaligned. When incidents like this happen, it's vital to immediately check your tyre balance and alignment.

For routine maintenance, checking your tyre balance every 10,000km or when applying new tyres is recommended. Check tyre alignment every six months or as soon as symptoms occur.

Generally wheel alignment and wheel balancing services are performed when replacing your tyres.

Choose Trusted Wheel Aligners and Balancers For Road-Safe Results

Choosing reliable wheel balancers and aligners is essential to performing these procedures effectively and preventing serious issues. At Tufflift, we provide state-of-the-art wheel equipment with a proven track record of reliability and quality. We design our equipment to automatically provide regular software updates, ensuring your machines have the latest features and improvements. Additionally, we offer training to equip your team to operate the equipment efficiently and safely from day one.

Our products encompass modern technology and user-friendly features to ensure your wheels get the necessary care. We are dedicated to our customers, and our experts are here to provide support when it comes to maintaining your tyres. Trusted by automotive professionals across Australia, contact us for high-performing and effective tyre balance and wheel alignment products.