Wheel Alignment Special: $149

Let's keep things straight.

You’ve definitely heard of wheel balancing and wheel alignment in the past, and at some point, have probably experienced it as well. We’ve been receiving questions by email and in our service department about the difference between the two.

Wheel balancing is generally necessary when you experience vibrations in the steering wheel, floorboard, or seats at certain speeds. On the other hand, improper wheel alignment results in uneven or rapid tire wear, and can also lead to the car pulling away from a straight line when driven on a flat road.

Wheel Balancing

At some point in your life, you’ve probably driven a car that would vibrate at certain speeds and not others. For example, a car can vibrate between 100 km/h and 110 km/h, but be perfectly smooth beyond 110km/h. Although other (more serious, in some cases) factors can contribute to this vibration, one of the most simple causes is out-of-balance wheels. In order to resolve the issue, our technicians will use a machine to check for a heavy-spot on the wheel, and will compensate the weight difference by placing a lead weight on the opposing side of the wheel. This will balance the weight on each side, therefore eliminating vibrations.

Wheel Alignment

Misaligned wheels are often difficult to spot, because in many cases the symptoms aren’t noticeable until it is too late. The clearest indication of necessary wheel alignment is uneven wear on the tires, which generally is not distinguishable until the tires are worn beyond saving. The best practice is to have your alignment tested periodically, as this will prevent damage to tires. However, to check for yourself, you can use a coin and check tread depth on each side of your car’s tires. If one side is deeper than the other, your wheels are not aligned correctly. Next, carefully run your hand back and forth along the width of the tires. If the tread edges feel smooth in one direction but not the other, you are experiencing an issue that causes rapid tread wear.

Take advantage of our Wheel Alignment special for just $149 and we'll throw in a tire rotation. For more information or to book an appointment please contact our Service Department at 519.772.6464.