Wheel Alignment and Balancing
Other Services
The difference between alignment & balancing
Looking for local wheel alignment or balancing? Not sure if you need both or if you need both done together? Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t… it’s not quite that simple.
‘Wheel alignment’ is often confused with ‘wheel balancing’. Although they both affect ride and handling they are otherwise unrelated.
If a wheel is out of balance, it will cause vibration at highway speeds that can be felt in the steering wheel and/or the seat.
If the alignment is out, it can cause excessive tyre wear and steering or tracking problems, where your car might pull to one side.
Does your vehicle need wheel alignment?
To find out if your vehicle needs a wheel alignment, you can check each tyre and look for uneven wear patterns. However, if you can already see wear, it may be too late to save that tyre. This is why it is a good idea to have your wheel alignment checked periodically by our qualified staff at your local Payless Tyres & Brakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, wheel alignment is one of the most important maintenance tasks. If your wheels are misaligned, your vehicle will experience a dramatic drop in handling capability. It’ll possibly pull in one direction, or wear your tyres so that your cornering grip is compromised. This can greatly affect your ability to turn or manoeuvre your vehicle.
The best time is generally when you have 2 or more tyre fitted. This then gives the tyres the best chance of lasting as long as possible. If you don’t have an alignment done then the tyres won’t meet the road at the appropriate angle and that they are possibly not centred correctly in the wheel wells. The other best time is when you have your annual service as a part of your routine maintenance.