What is the difference between Alignment and Balancing?

Balancing is done when tires are installed, while alignment is done when there is uneven tire wear, and suspension components and other parts are already worn out. Balancing is needed when there are broken belts and mud in the rim, while alignment is necessary when the car has gone over potholes or has bumped into something or when steering and suspension parts are worn out.

Unbalanced tires can cause the vehicle to vibrate, while misaligned tires can pull the car in one direction. Having problems with the balancing of tires can be uncomfortable while having issues with alignment can lead to a severe accident.

If you ever go to the mechanic, he may tell you that you need your tires balanced or your wheels aligned. If you are like me, then you have no idea what he is talking about. I just agree and hope that he doesn’t overcharge me for the procedure. However, there are differences between alignment and a balance. With tire balance, you may feel that your steering wheel or even your car starts to shake at high speeds, usually on the interstate. For wheel alignment, you may notice that your tires have a lot of wear on them.

The mechanic will do two different things to correct the tire balance and wheel alignment. For tire balance, weights are used and for wheel alignment, the mechanic will move the wheels back to where they should be.