Do I Need a Wheel Alignment or Wheel Balance?

Wheel checks are vital to vehicle maintenance, and ensuring that your vehicle continues to perform safely and effectively. Although built to last – and cover many miles! – certain issues can arise within the tyres and their positioning over time.

If left unchecked and uncorrected, these issues can quickly develop into a bigger problem, and significantly compromise your vehicle’s safety and performance.

Two of the most common wheel positioning issues are wheel alignment and wheel balance. So, to help you ensure your tyres are performing at their peak, we’ve shared our complete guide to these common tyre issues below.

Is Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing the same thing?

No – wheel alignment and wheel balancing both refer to different areas of wheel positioning and performance.

Although both wheel alignment and wheel balancing are common issues that can arise with a vehicle’s wheels, they are both different issues.

So, it is key that you are aware of (and regularly check) both the wheel alignment and wheel balancing of your vehicle.

Here at Watling Tyres, our team can check for both wheel alignment and wheel balancing issues – find your closest garage to book your car in.

What is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel alignment refers to how the suspension of the vehicle is adjusted.

The suspension connects the wheels to the rest of the vehicle. So, if the suspension is not correctly adjusted, then it can mean the wheels are not positioned as they should be.

So, wheel alignment is the process of adjusting the suspension, to reset the wheels in the perfect position (so as you can see, wheel alignment is not actually about adjusting the tyres themselves).

During the process of wheel alignment, the wheel is checked to see how well it sits within the vehicle’s wheel well. The alignment of the wheels can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically, to ensure the optimal position.

This involves checking the alignment of the vehicle’s: Camber (the tilt of the tyre, as can be seen when viewed from the front. This can be excessively positive or negative), Toe (the tilt, as can be seen from above), and Caster (the angle of the steering axis, as can be seen from the side).

Wheel Alignment Warning Signs

The warning signs of a potential wheel alignment issue are:

– Uneven wear in your tyres
– You often feel the vehicle pulling to the left or right (meaning you have to frequently correct your steering, even on flat and straight roads)
– The car feels disconnected from the road
– Your steering wheel sits off-centre
– You often feel vibrations in your steering wheel (particularly when driving at high speeds)
– You can hear your tyres make a ‘squealing’ noise when you turn
– You notice that it’s harder than normal to turn the steering wheel

Is Wheel Alignment checked with an MOT?

No – wheel alignment is not one of the specific checks that need to be completed during an MOT.

However, the tyres will be thoroughly checked during an MOT, including their condition, tread depth, and so on. So, if an issue with your wheel alignment has caused damage to the tyres (such as uneven wear) then this will be identified in an MOT.

In fact, uneven wheel alignment is a common indirect cause of MOT failure, as an MOT can fail if the wheel alignment issue causes damage to your tyres.

What is Wheel Balancing?

Wheel balancing involves ensuring the weight distribution within the wheel is even.

If your vehicle’s wheel balance is incorrect, then the uneven weight distribution can cause the wheel to spin unevenly (especially at high speeds).

To ensure a smooth, even ride, and safe vehicle usage, you want to keep the tyre free from any imbalances.

Wheel balance is usually tested by spinning the wheel on a balancing machine. This machine will identify the areas of imbalance (if present), and calculate the weight difference in these areas. Small weights can then be added to the wheel’s rim at precise points (designed to correct the issue of imbalance).

Wheel Balancing Warning Signs

As with wheel alignment, wheel balancing issues can occur over time, or if the vehicle has been damaged or involved in an accident.

The warning signs of potential wheel imbalance are:

– A generally bumpy, uncomfortable ride
– Vibrations in the steering wheel
– Vibrations that can be felt through the seats and floor
– Difficulty steering and handling
– Uneven wear in the tyres
– Bald spots in the tyres
– Signs of scalloping or feathering in the tyre tread
– Excessive wear on the suspension
– Higher fuel consumption
– Low vehicle stability

Is Wheel Balancing checked with an MOT?

As with wheel alignment, wheel balancing is not specifically checked during an MOT. But, it is still a common, indirect cause of MOT failure.

This is because wheel balancing issues can cause major damage to tyres, significantly affecting their performance. So, when the tyres are checked during an MOT, this damage could result in your vehicle failing its MOT.

What happens if you ignore these warning signs?

If you ignore the warning signs for a wheel alignment or wheel balance issue, then the safety, performance and lifespan of your vehicle can all be seriously impacted.

The potential risks of ignoring these signs include:

– Reduced vehicle safety, and a higher risk of accidents
– Uneven tyre wear (resulting in premature replacements)
– Increased fuel consumption
– Higher vehicle maintenance costs
– Reduced tyre traction
– Difficulty driving and handling
– An unpleasant, uncomfortable driving experience

As you can see, wheel alignment and wheel balance checks are an imperative part of vehicle maintenance.

So, if you do spot any of these warning signs, speak to a tyre specialist, and arrange a service for your vehicle.

Book your car for a service with Watling Tyres

At Watling Tyres, we are tyre and car service specialists, offering both wheel balancing and wheel alignment checks.

We are the South East’s No.1 independent tyre dealer, renowned for the exceptional safety, quality, reliability and friendliness of your services.

So, to get peace of mind for any warning signs you’ve spotted, or to get your vehicle prepared for its car MOT, speak to Watling Tyres today.