Have you ever wondered what keeps your vehicle running? The answer always comes to a few components: engine, transmission, and tires. Tires play a central role in a vehicle’s safety and strength. Wheel alignment and balancing are two often overlooked yet crucial things. It helps to maximize tire performance and longevity of tires. These repairs should be performed on a regular basis to ensure the safety of the tires. So, in this blog, we will look into the importance of wheel alignment and balancing.
What is Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment refers to the alignment of a vehicle’s suspension. The suspension components set wheels to the manufacturer’s specifications by the technician. It ensures that your wheels are perpendicular to each other. This leads to optimal handling and minimal tire wear. Misaligned wheels lead to several problems. These are the following:
Uneven tire wear
When the suspension is out of alignment, this puts uneven pressure on one tire. This means that one tire has to bear more load than the other. This increases the resistance between the tire and the road. In such a case, the tires wear much faster than they should, leading you to change them often.
Poor Handling
Misaligned wheels impact the handling of a vehicle. It causes the vehicle and steering wheel to pull to one side, making it difficult to steer straight. It can also lead to a loose steering wheel, or vibration in the steering further impacts the vehicle’s handling. These factors not only cause discomfort while driving but also compromise your safety.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
Wheel misaligned has to do a lot with the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. As discussed earlier, uneven tire wear results in increased rolling resistance. This means that the engine has to work harder to move the car. Hence, the vehicle uses more fuel, compromising fuel efficiency.
Safety Concerns
By far, the biggest problem with misaligned wheels is compromised safety. Your vehicle may pull to one side. This could make it difficult to maintain control, especially during emergency maneuvers. This can prove very dangerous, showing the importance of proper wheel alignment.
To ensure the safety of your vehicle and avoid these issues, you should have your wheel alignment checked by your technician. This would maximize tire longevity and performance and ensure your safety.
What is Wheel Balancing?
Wheel balancing is the process of distributing the weight of wheels on both axles. It is usually done by attaching small weights to the wheel’s rims. The purpose of wheel balancing is to ensure that the wheel’s entire circumference is in contact with the road when it rotates. Wheel Balancing concerns the wheels themselves. While alignment relates to suspension. Wheel Balancing is essential for your vehicle’s functioning. Lack of it can lead to the following problems:
Vibration
Vibration is the most common issue faced when the vehicle requires wheel balancing. You might experience shaking in the steering wheel. This usually happens due to out-of-balance wheel-tire assembly. A bent wheel or damaged tire, among other things, could also play a part. Vibration is a significant symptom of an imbalanced wheel, and you should act immediately.
Uneven or Fast Tread Wear
Uneven tire wear could happen due to improper wheel balancing. Like out-of-shape wheel alignment, tires face uneven pressure and friction when not balanced. This leads the tread to wear faster, causing tire damage much faster.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side
This is one of the dangers carried by imbalanced wheels. Due to uneven orientation, your car can pull to a side, posing a significant threat to your safety.
Damage to Suspension Components
The suspension on your vehicle plays a crucial role in keeping your wheels in balance. Prolonged imbalance in the wheels can cause severe damage to the suspension and steering components. This, in turn, affects the comfortability of the vehicle as it can no longer absorb the shocks and is not well balanced.
You should keep looking for these problems in your car. You should immediately contact your technician for wheel balancing if they appear.
Maximizing Tire Performance and Longevity
Regular wheel alignment and balancing are vital to ensuring better performance and prolonged life of the tires. Below are the biggest benefits of performing these maintenance procedures:
Longer-Lasting Tires
Regular Wheel alignment and balancing ensure that tires are in equal contact with the road. This means that there is uniform wear and tires last longer.
Smoother Ride
The vehicle would not pull to the sides with wheels and suspensions functioning. So you would have better control over it. This ensures that your ride will not only be smoother but safer as well.
Enhanced Safety
The most significant benefit of a well-aligned and balanced wheel is safety. It contributes to better handling and stability. This gives you greater control and improves safety.
The benefits of having well-aligned and balanced wheels show how critical maintenance is. You should always pay attention to such an important thing because it enhances tire performance and longevity. Most necessarily, it ensures your safety. Thus, you should get your car inspected by qualified technicians. This would avoid imbalances in the wheels and ensure your safety.
Omega Auto Sales & Service
If you plan to get your vehicle’s wheels and suspensions checked, we at Omega Auto Sales and Services have you covered. We have been serving for the last two decades with experienced technicians. We are the most reliable auto services provider on Crain’s Highway, Maryland. So, next time you see any problems with your vehicle’s tires, visit us to get it sorted out at the best price.