It is recommended that you have your wheels aligned every 10 000 to 15 000km, about every six months, or when you have hit something. But why is regular wheel alignment and balancing important, and what does it actually mean to balance and align your wheels?

Alignment

To have your wheels aligned means to have them adjusted so that they sit correctly and evenly on the road. Facing the right direction and at the right angle to the rest of the vehicle’s body.

Incorrect wheel alignment has a knock-on effect and can cause other problems with your vehicle. It can affect your suspension (the system that connects your vehicle to its wheels), steering, and brakes and cause premature and uneven wear of your tyres. Poor alignment and balancing can also affect your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and overall handling.

When your wheels are aligned the guys at Autoworld 4×4 will adjust your vehicle’s suspension components. Adjusting the angles of the tyres when they touch the road.

They will look at the camber – the angle of the wheel when viewed from the front of the vehicle. The toe alignment – the angle of your wheels in relation to one another, or the inward or outward angle when viewed from above. And your caster angle – the angle of the steering axis, one wheel might appear too far forward or backward in the wheel well.

Signs you may need to align your wheels

• Over time misaligned wheels will cause uneven or premature tread wear.
• Your car will pull to the left or right when you drive straight.
• The tyres might squeal.
• Your steering wheel may start to vibrate when you accelerate.

Reasons to align your wheels

Sudden impact. When driving at enough speed and you hit a pothole, an uncovered manhole, bumped a curb, or experienced an accident.
Sharp turns. By taking a turn too sharply you place strain on the wheel or axle which can cause a shift in alignment.
Wear and tear. Over time your parts will be affected by wear and tear. It is recommended that you have your wheels aligned every 10 000 to 15 000km.
New tyres. You should have your wheels aligned and balanced every time you get new tyres.

Balancing

Alignment and balancing are two different actions performed on your wheels and tyres. But as they have very similar causes and effects on your vehicle they’re often performed together.

Wheel balancing is performed when there are weight imbalances in the tyre/wheel combination. Your wheel might vibrate when you drive because one side is heavier or lighter than the other.

To balance your wheels, the guys at Autoworld 4×4 will take the wheels off the vehicle and use a precision wheel balancing machine to spin each tyre and wheel combo. Once the machine has measured the imbalances, they install small lead weights to the lightest areas of your wheel using bonding cement to correct the imbalance.

Signs you need to balance your wheels

• A vibration in your steering wheel and/or seats
• Excessive and uneven wear on tyre tread
• Damage to your suspension

Causes of imbalance

Alignment. Can occur due to uneven tyre wear, which can be due to alignment as we already mentioned.
Impact. The weight of the tyre can be disrupted after you hit a curb, pothole, or uncovered manhole. This can be due to damage to the rim or the small lead weights in the tyre might fall off.
Inactivity. Vehicles parked for long periods can potentially develop flat spots in the tyres which can cause imbalances.

To ensure your safety while driving and an overall smooth driving experience it is important to regularly align and balance your wheels. Call the guys at Autoworld 4×4 if you have any questions or to make a booking.