Comparing Tire Services: Wheel Alignment vs. Tire Balancing Service

wheel alignment vs tire balancing

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It can be all too easy for Lincoln, NE-area drivers to let tire maintenance fall by the wayside, but that doesn’t mean these services are unnecessary. By following a comprehensive tire maintenance schedule, you can reduce your wheels’ risk of blowing out, protect your tires from uneven wear, and even enhance your car’s fuel economy.

The first step toward improving your tire maintenance strategy is building a genuine understanding of the various services your tires need. With that in mind, read on for our full overview of wheel alignment, tire balancing, and other tire services.

Why Wheel Alignment Matters

While your tires’ angles may not sound like a big deal, wheel alignment can have a notable effect on your vehicle’s overall well-being. If your wheels become misaligned, you could encounter issues such as:

  • Trouble keeping your steering wheel straight. If you were to let go of your steering wheel while driving, it should normally stay straight. That may not be the case when your tires are misaligned.
  • Steering wheel vibrations. Is your steering wheel vibrating while you drive? If so, this could be a sign of a problem — this shouldn’t happen under normal circumstances. Wheel alignment issues can contribute to vibrations in your steering wheel, especially while you travel at high speeds.
  • Unusual tire wear. Usually, tires that receive proper maintenance will wear down at roughly the same rate. If you’re keeping up on tire rotation but still have uneven or rapid tire wear, your wheels might not be aligned correctly.

While collisions and other impacts can negatively affect your wheel alignment, your wheels could also become misaligned due to everyday wear and tear. Because of that, it’s wise to get your wheels aligned and professionally inspected every so often (whether or not you’ve noticed potential alignment problems).

How Tire Balancing Helps Your Wheels

Your car’s tires are designed to work together as a set of four. The more closely your tires resemble each other, the better performance they will deliver.

This means that the weight of your tires matters. If one tire weighs differently than the others, it can affect the overall performance of your vehicle. This usually isn't an issue with a new set of tires, but tread wear and other factors can change the weight of your tires over time.

To resolve this issue, you’ll need to visit an tire shop in the Lincoln area for tire balancing. The mechanics responsible for this work will use specialized equipment to analyze your tires’ weight distribution. With the help of that info, they’ll install new weights on your tires, restoring their correct balance.

Are Wheel Alignment and Tire Alignment Different?

Even though wheel alignment and tire balancing are similarly named tasks, these jobs only resemble each other in the sense that they both focus on protecting your tires. As a result, you’d be forgiven for thinking the same is true for two other tire maintenance terms: wheel alignment and tire alignment.

However, wheel and tire alignment are both names for the same task. Regardless of which name you and your shop uses, this work still focuses on adjusting your car’s suspension in order to change the angles of its tires.

Other Tire Services To Consider

Though wheel alignment and tire balancing are crucial steps toward the goal of keeping your wheels in good shape, other tire services should also be on your radar. More specifically, you’ll want to know a bit about:

Tire Rotation

Many Lincoln drivers think that tires naturally wear down at identical rates, but this isn’t true in practice. Based on their position on your car, tires can wear down faster or slower than average. Making matters worse, uneven tread wear could shorten your tires’ lifespan and cause other problems.

Tire rotation is the key to keeping your tread wear as even as possible. When you prioritize this service, the mechanics at your go-to auto shop will move each wheel on your car to a new spot, following a predetermined pattern along the way. 

Tire Repair

By taking care of tire repair, tire rotation, and wheel alignment regularly, you’ll be a truly responsible driver when it comes to tire maintenance. Even so, these tasks can’t protect your tires from the possibility of damage.

The good news is that many forms of tire damage can be fixed. If that’s the case for your wheels, you won’t need to buy a new set of tires — instead, you can visit your local auto shop for tire repair work.

Tire Replacement

While some damaged tires can be safely repaired, this isn’t true 100% of the time. If your tires suffer from sidewall damage or bubbling, they won’t be eligible for repair. And even undamaged tires don’t last forever; in fact, the average set of wheels lasts just three to five years.

Buying replacement tires for your car might sound like an expensive hassle, but this doesn’t have to be overly complicated or costly. When you choose the right tire store for this process, you’ll enjoy benefits such as a wide tire selection, help from knowledgeable employees, and fair prices.

Choose Lincoln’s Most Trustworthy Tire Shop

Do you need wheel alignment, tire balancing, or something else entirely? No matter what tire services you’re looking for, one thing won’t change — the importance of choosing the right shop for the job. Not all Lincoln-area tire shops are equally qualified to take care of this work, so you’ll want to do some research before getting service at one of these businesses

As part of this process, keep an eye out for shops that hire ASE-certified mechanics — the most knowledgeable people working in this industry. But while hiring these workers is a huge green flag, that isn’t the only benefit your go-to tire shop should provide. These businesses should also offer a wide selection of tire and auto services, locations near you, and ways to save money (including coupons and financing options).

Here at T.O. Haas Tire & Auto, we’re proud to deliver all of these advantages to our valued customers. If your vehicle is ready for any type of tire repair or maintenance work, set up an appointment today!

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