We all want to keep our vehicles in good condition, don’t we? All those regular maintenance, servicing, and repair bills we care to spend are only to ensure the vehicle is in good condition for driving. While it is obvious how important tyres are, many tend to overlook tyres’ health to avoid those extra expenses associated with tyres. As a machinery with several interconnected systems working together to ensure a safe and cushioning driving experience, your vehicle needs more care than that meets the eye.
Wheel alignment and balancing are equally important while considering the many dynamics of safe driving. This is also crucial to prolong the shelf life of your tyres and keep your ride in good condition. Wheel alignment determines how your vehicle performs on the ground (any structure) and affects the suspension system of your vehicle along with the tyres’ health. When the wheel alignment is asymmetrical, it is bound to cause other problems. If you own a vehicle, you would certainly want to know more about wheel alignment and balancing and how it impacts your tyres.
Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing
Wheel alignment and wheel balancing may peripherally feel the same, but they are entirely different things. Wheel alignment is what you call the adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension system (the common point of wheels and the vehicle). Wheel alignment determines how tyres make contact with the surface (the angle at which tyres touch the surface).
Wheel balancing or tyre balancing refers to the symmetric distribution of wheel weight through the tyre. If there is a slightly uneven distribution of weight on the tyre, it can have a huge impact on the tyre’s health and the overall performance of the vehicle. An unbalanced wheel results in vibration in steering wheels and a jolty riding experience while driving at high speeds that too on smooth surfaces.
Improper wheel alignment and wheel balancing cause premature tyre wear and uneven wear on the rear and front wheel sections. Riding a vehicle in such conditions on any surface (smooth or rough terrains) is one reason people frequently feel the need to buy new sets of ATVs or quad bike tyres, or any others.
Buying new sets of ATV tyres or quad bike tyres is an investment worth hundreds of dollars. Considering other vehicle maintenance expenses, you do not want to aggressively throw hundreds of dollars on new sets of tyres. The only pragmatic approach would be to make sure your wheel alignment and wheel balancing are perfect, the results of which are appealing to a rider;
- Prolongs the shelf life of your tyres, saving unprecedented expenses on new tyres
- Ensures your ride is smoother (on any terrain)
- Provides better gas mileage
- Prevents vibrating steering wheels and jolty rides
- Enables superior control of the vehicle, and
- Creates room for a safer and more cushioning ride.
How to know if you need Wheel Balancing?
Riding on rough terrains and high speeding on potholes causes failure of wheel balancing and wheel alignment quicker than you think. If you regularly drive your vehicle, it is recommended to balance tyres every six months or 5,000 miles. If your vehicle starts acting up;
- Vibrating steering wheels at high speeds
- Lower gas mileage (than usual), or
- Uneven and premature tyre wear,
To balance your tyres, you should consider visiting a licensed service provider. You can ensure the longevity of your tyres with balanced and perfectly aligned wheels.
