Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

What’s the difference between wheel alignment and balancing? Both are important maintenance tasks that help your wheels drive smoothly on the roads of Kansas City, MO and Wichita, KS. However, both services offer different benefits, which is why it’s so crucial to schedule both. Go over the key differences between wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment below, and schedule service at Alfa Romeo Kansas City today.

What is Wheel Balancing Service?

When your wheels are properly balanced, they roll evenly as you drive. The result is a smooth, efficient, and powerful ride. But, issues like wheel damage and uneven tire wear can cause your wheels to become unbalanced over time. An unbalanced wheel can lead to everything from poor fuel economy to steering wheel vibrations. Most manufacturers recommend scheduling a wheel balance at the same time as a tire rotation, which is around every 5,000 miles to every 6 months.

What is Wheel Alignment Service?

A wheel alignment involves resetting the angle of each wheel in order to make proper contact with the road. This is important for your car’s performance and handling, as well as safety. When your wheels are out of alignment, you may experience anything from steering problems to lane drift. But, an alignment is a simple service that can bring your car back up to speed quickly. Most manufacturers recommend scheduling an alignment every 6,000 miles or as needed.

Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment: Which Do You Need?

While most Omaha, NE drivers can schedule a wheel alignment and balancing a few times a year without an issue, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your car in between service center visits. If you notice any of the following red flags, we recommend scheduling an inspection sooner to get the issue resolved quickly. 

• Wheel balance: Steering wheel or floor vibrations, faster tread wear, poor fuel economy, wobbly handling
• Wheel alignment: Car pulls to one side, uneven tire wear, noisy tires, unresponsive steering wheel

Schedule Service with Alfa Romeo Kansas City Today

The service team at Alfa Romeo Kansas City can take care of all of your automotive needs, including everything from routine maintenance to more intensive repairs. So, when it’s time for your wheel alignment and balancing services, feel free to contact us or schedule your appointment in Merriam. We’d be happy to go over our service specials, as well as other tips and tricks to keep your car in impeccable condition.