Keeping your car’s tires in good condition and aimed properly is crucial for driving safely and comfortably. There are three maintenance services that help your tires stay on track — wheel alignment, tire balance, and tire rotation — but what do they do, and what is the difference between them?
What is a Wheel Alignment?
A tire alignment, sometimes called a wheel alignment, adjusts the angle of each tire on the car’s suspension for optimal road contact. When tires become misaligned, the tread wears down unevenly, puts strain on the suspension and steering, and leads to a rougher ride. The alignment service corrects the tires on three angles — camber (inward or outward vertical angle), caster (forward or backward angle), and toe (inward or outward horizontal angle) — to align with the vehicle’s axis.
When Should I Get a Wheel Alignment?
While a tire alignment should be part of your car’s regular maintenance schedule recommended in your owner’s manual, sometimes your tires can be knocked out of alignment between your scheduled appointments, usually by hitting potholes or curbs. Luckily, there are signs to indicate something is wrong. If you notice your car pulling to one side, your tires have uneven wear, or your steering wheel is crooked — sits off-center when driving straight — then it is likely time to stop by Parents Autocare in Minneapolis for a tire alignment.
What is a Tire Balance Service?
Tire balancing is the process of correcting weight imbalances in car tires. The process removes uneven points in the tire, keeps wear even, and makes the ride smoother for the driver and passengers. Balancing is a simple process, often included in or done at the same time as wheel alignments. It consists of placing the tire and wheel assembly on a balancing machine, removing old weights, and letting the balancer measure. Once the auto technician has the results, new weights — small metal clip-ons — are added in the appropriate places, and the tire is placed back on the car.
When Should I Get a Tire Balance?
As with alignments, a recommended schedule for tire balancing can be found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, though most cars should have their tires balanced about every 5-6,000 miles or after any changes to your tires (repairs, rotations, etc.). If you are having a tune-up, rotation, or maintenance, a balance may be included, so be sure to ask. Otherwise, if you notice that your seat, steering wheel, or floor is vibrating when you drive, especially at high speeds, that may be a sign that your tires are unbalanced.
What is a Tire Rotation?
Tire rotations are the simplest of the three maintenance services discussed in this article. There are no measurements or tests that need to be run with external machinery. Instead, the four tires on your car are just being moved to different positions. The front tires are being moved to the back, the back tires are moving to the front, and, sometimes, all tires will switch sides. This is done to keep wear on the tires as even as possible, as some tire positions may take more of a beating than others in your day-to-day driving. Rotating tires through these heavy duty positions keeps any one tire from deteriorating faster than the rest. Additionally, staying on top of your tire rotation can improve your car’s fuel efficiency by keeping rolling resistance low.
When Should I Get a Tire Rotation?
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend rotations approximately every 5-8,000 miles, but you can check your owner’s manual for the specific maintenance schedule for your car. Rotations may also be included in some general maintenance services, such as oil changes, tune-ups, or other tire services, so be sure to ask your local auto technician.
Tire Alignments, Balances, and Rotations in Minneapolis
Parents Autocare can do all manufacturer recommended maintenance services, including tire maintenance. We are happy to handle your tire rotations, balances, and alignments, individually or all at once if you want to knock them out in one go. If you’re not sure what you need, make an appointment, stop by, or give us a call. We can answer any questions or figure out a plan together.