Is balancing and alignment the same thing?

The Difference: Wheel alignment is the term for how your wheels sit when mounted to your car and wheel balancing is what’s done to perfectly balance the weight of a tire and wheel assembly so that it travels evenly.

What is the most accurate way to balance a tire?

The correct way to balance a wheel statically is to split the weight amount in half and place equal weight amounts on both sides of the wheel. Some tire manufacturers recommend this procedure when the amount of weight exceeds 20 grams or . 71 ounce.

What causes a tire to go out of balance?

A tire might go out of balance due to uneven wear or if one of the wheel weights fall off. For example, this often happens when a rim is scraped against the curb. A wheel might also go out of balance if the rim is bent (even slightly) after hitting a large pothole.

At what speed are tires balanced?

HOW DO I KNOW MY TIRES NEED TO BE BALANCED? You might need your tires balanced if you notice your steering wheel, seat or floorboard vibrates while driving at highway speeds, typically 45mph or higher.

How often should you balance your tires?

How Often Should I Get My Tires Balanced? Many experts argue over how often the tire balance should be checked. It is usually recommended that they be examined every 5000 to 7500 miles or every 2 years.

How long should a tire balance take?

Balancing a set of four tires may take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours as a standalone service. An older tire that’s seen its share of bumps and bounces (and accumulated more imbalances) will often take longer to balance than a new tire that’s only picked up minor imbalances during shipping and storage.

Is it okay to drive a car with unbalanced tires?

Unbalanced car tires can cause damage to different parts of your vehicle. For example, driving with tires that aren’t properly balanced puts undue stress on your shocks, bearings, and wheel assembly. Increased fuel costs. Driving on tires out of balance may cause your fuel costs to rise.