Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

The wheels on your vehicle are one of the most important parts. It’s important to regularly take care of your tires, or else you can have some serious problems down the road. Wheel alignment and balancing are two of the routine tire services that people receive, but it isn’t always clear how they differ from each other. That’s why the service experts here at Sunshine Chevrolet, LLC have made this guide to the differences between wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment for the Asheville area. Keep reading to learn more, then come receive wheel balancing or wheel alignment in Arden. 

What is Wheel Balancing Service?

Over time, wheels lose their balance. When your wheels are unbalanced, the steering wheel may shake or vibrate, which can make driving around Hendersonville unpleasant. Unbalanced tires also wear differently because of how one part of the tire is heavier than the others. 

When your wheels are balanced, your ride automatically becomes smoother. It extends the lifespan of your tires, your traction and control improve, and your tire bounce less. Usually, your tires are rotated every 5,000-6,000 miles or every six months, and it’s recommended that you have your wheels balanced at the same time. 

What is Wheel Alignment Service?

Wheel alignment isn’t necessarily part of your routine maintenance. Instead, you should have your wheels aligned when the need arises. Your tires can become unaligned from simple accidents like hitting a curb, but if it happens you will notice. One of the most common symptoms of wheels being misaligned is vehicle pulling, where you have to fight your steering wheel to keep your car from going in a particular direction. A wheel alignment consists of a service technician ensuring that your tires are perpendicular to the road and parallel to each other, which stops this problem.

When your wheels are misaligned it can also result in excessive, uneven tread or unnecessary wear on your tires. The dangers of the steering issues are also very real, and can lead to drifting into the next lane as you drive through Fletcher. If you find yourself experiencing any of the above while driving, schedule a wheel alignment in Arden at our dealership right away. 

Which to get? Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

When you look at the differences between these two tire services, it should be easier to see which you’ll need based on your experience while driving. If your steering wheel is vibrating, you likely need to get your wheels balanced. If, instead, your car is pulling to one side, schedule a wheel alignment. You can contact our service center to learn even more about these services.

The cost of Wheel Alignment and Balancing

How much does a wheel alignment service cost? It may depend on your location or your vehicle, but a front-end alignment typically costs between $65-$100. Usually an alignment is just for either the front or back wheels, but if you’re getting all four wheels aligned, it could cost double.

How much does a wheel balancing cost? Wheel balancing is less expensive, but the price can also depend on your vehicle and location. Usually the average cost for a wheel balancing in the US is somewhere between $40-$75.

For either one, make sure to check our service specials before you come in to see if you can get a deal on the price! 

Get Your Wheel Services at Sunshine Chevrolet, LLC!

If you still have questions about wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment, get in touch with us here at Sunshine Chevrolet, LLC! If you contact us, we’ll be happy to answer any and all questions. Then come to our Arden service center for your service!