Wheel alignment and balancing are two different services that contribute to a smoother ride, but they are not the same thing. Here are the key differences between the two:

Wheel Balancing

• Corrects the uneven distribution of weight in the wheels, also known as tire balancing.
• Imbalanced wheels can lead to vibration, excessive tire wear, damage to the suspension, and other problems.
• During a tire balancing service, the tires and wheels are mounted onto a tire balancing machine. The machine spins the tire and wheel assembly to measure the imbalance so that a technician can precisely install the correct tire weights to achieve a properly balanced wheel and tire assembly.
• Tire balancing should be done every time you buy a new set of tires or wheels, and it can also be done as part of regular maintenance.

Wheel Alignment

• Refers to the adjustment of a cars suspension, which is the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Its not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves.
• An alignment keeps all of your wheels pointing in the same direction for safety and performance.
• Regular wheel alignment will maximize tire life and enable a vehicle to track in a straight manner. A car that is out of alignment will pull or drift away from a straight line.
• Wheel alignment should be done when you feel your vehicle pulling to one side or if you hit a curb or pothole.

In summary, wheel balancing corrects the weight imbalance on your tire and wheel assemblies, while wheel alignment corrects the angles of the tires so they always come in contact with the road in the right way.