Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

To ensure a safe ride and responsive handling on New London-area roads, it is crucial that you keep up with all scheduled automotive tire maintenance and service. In addition to regular tire rotation, wheel alignment and balancing will help ensure that your Honda car, SUV, or truck delivers optimal performance. Curious about the difference between wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment? This guide from the experts at Westbrook Honda will explain what wheel alignment and balancing entails and how to know which service you’ll need the next time you visit our Service Center. 

What is Wheel Balancing Service?

Wheel balancing is a recommended part of your Honda maintenance schedule. Over the course of daily driving in the %target_city_2%% area, the wheels on your vehicle will eventually get out of balance. This can lead to problems such as:

• Shaking or vibrating in the steering wheel
• Uneven tread wear 
• Steering and handling issues

With wheel balancing service at Westbrook Honda, you can count on improved traction and even tread wear, which will extend the life of your tires. It is recommended that you have the wheels balanced with each tire rotation.

What is Wheel Alignment Service?

While wheel alignment isn’t a part of your routine maintenance schedule like wheel balancing, it is still something that should be done every two or three years. Wheels typically become misaligned as the result of a collision, running over a pothole, or hitting a curb. If your wheels are out of alignment, you will likely experience:

• Increased wear and tear on tires
• Misaligned steering wheel when driving straight
• Noise from the steering wheel
• Vehicle pulling to the right or left

When our certified technicians perform wheel alignment service, they adjust the wheels so that the tires are perpendicular to the road and parallel to each other. This enhances your safety while improving handling and control on the Middletown roads.

Wheel Alignment or Balancing: Which Do You Need?

Now that you have a sense of the difference between wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment, it should be easier for you to determine which service you need. If your car pulls to the right as you drive along Westbrook streets, then you should schedule a wheel alignment at Westbrook Honda. If your steering wheel vibrates under normal driving conditions, a wheel balancing service may be required.

Schedule Wheel Alignment and Balancing at Westbrook Honda

The service team at Westbrook Honda can quickly let you know whether your vehicle needs wheel balancing or wheel alignment. If you’d like to know how much wheel alignment and balancing costs, contact our Service Center. Don’t forget to take a look at our current service specials and coupons to save on your next Honda service.