• Home
  • Tires
  • Wheels
  • Services
    • Tire Services
    • Wheel Services
    • Suspension Services
    • Brake Services
    • Powder Coating
  • Coupons
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Awards
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
J. Postle's Tire BarnJ. Postle's Tire Barn
J. Postle's Tire BarnJ. Postle's Tire Barn
  • Home
  • Tires
  • Wheels
  • Services
    • Tire Services
    • Wheel Services
    • Suspension Services
    • Brake Services
    • Powder Coating
  • Coupons
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Awards
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
Tire Balancing vs. Tire Alignment: What is the Difference?

Tire Balancing vs. Tire Alignment: What is the Difference?

Alignment, tire balancing, tire wear, Tires, wheel alignment

Tire Balancing vs. Tire Alignment: What is the Difference?

Your tires are the connection between the road and your vehicle and are extremely important for your vehicle’s safety and fuel efficiency.  Because your wheels are constantly being shifted as you make turns on the road, uneven wear and tear must be checked and corrected from time to time.

Financially, this might be a difficult decision for you, but it’s important to seek a qualified repair center such as Postle’s Tire Barn to provide a long-term plan for wheel alignment and balancing that will save you money down the road.

Why Both Balancing And Alignment Are Needed

Tires seem to be perfectly round and symmetrical when they are new, but they actually have minute imperfections in both shape and weight distribution. In many cases, the tread can be as much as one-eighth of an inch thicker on one side than the other. As tire treads wear down, this mass distribution imbalance can become even more pronounced. Tires are initially balanced when they are mounted on your vehicle, but periodic re-balancing is necessary.

Tire alignment is not the same thing as tire balancing. Tire alignment involves correcting the forward-facing position of the tires through mechanical settings on your vehicle. Your wheels normally point forward so that the front of the tires roll exactly in the direction you want to drive. Over time, your wheels can shift slightly to the right or left. This result might be a swaying sensation or a side-pull when driving. Periodic wheel alignment is necessary in order to prevent more severe damage to the vehicle and loss of control by the driver.

Wheel Alignment

Wheels that are out of alignment can actually work against each other. This increases wear and tear on your tires, suspension, axle, or wheel mounts. It also decreases fuel mileage because more and more energy is being wasted through friction and heat buildup.

Signs of misaligned tires might include tire vibration, pulling to the right or left uneven tire wear, and an off-center steering wheel. The latter refers to a steering wheel that is slightly turned to the side even when the car is rolling straight down the highway. Repair specialists look at three things when examining tire alignment. These are camber, caster, and toe. Camber refers to the wheel angle, and caster refers to the wheel pivot angle. Toe is the angle of the tires themselves in relation to the rest of the vehicle.

If any of these are out of alignment, alignment correction is needed. Proper alignment increases fuel mileage, reduces uneven tire wear, and improves the overall handling of the vehicle.

Tire Balancing

New tires have small metal weights attached to your wheel. (Even new tires and wheels from the manufacturer are seldom perfectly round and balanced without the use of wheel weights.)

These are placed by a tire technician at strategic locations to balance out any imperfections in the tire’s mass distribution. The tire is mounted on a spinning machine to check for vibration. The weights are moved along the perimeter of the wheel until the spin is smooth. As tires become worn down and the tread becomes uneven, the vehicle may begin to vibrate, especially at higher speeds.

This is the most common sign of tires in need of balancing. Balancing your tires is generally inexpensive and should be performed soon if one or more of the weights has moved or has fallen off, or if you notice a vibration in your tires as you are driving.

Proper maintenance of your vehicle’s tires and wheels ensures longer tire life and safer driving for you. Contact Postle’s Tire Barn if you have any questions concerning your car’s performance as it relates to your wheel alignment and tire balancing.

Contact Us

Postle Tire Barn is a family owned and operated tire and auto shop located in Tuscaloosa, AL. We’ve been serving the tire and automotive needs of the West Alabama area for more than 35 years. For more information, please email us at [email protected].

You also might be interested in

Tires 101: Information, Care Tips, & FAQs

Tires 101: Information, Care Tips, & FAQs

Apr 25, 2023

Tires 101: Information, Care Tips, & FAQs Most people do[...]

7 Proven Tips for Extending the Lifespan of Your Tires -Postles Tire Barn

7 Proven Tips for Extending the Lifespan of Your Tires

Mar 27, 2024

Tire are a vital component of your vehicle, serving as[...]

vehicle shaking

Reasons Your Vehicle Might Be Shaking

Apr 27, 2022

Is Your Vehicle Shaking? Have you noticed your vehicle shaking[...]

Recent Posts

  • Top 7 Reasons to Choose All-Terrain or Highway Tires Wisely
  • 5 Benefits of Road Force Balancing for a Smoother Ride
  • Top Driving Safety Tips to Prevent Tire-Related Accidents
  • How Suspension Issues Can Impact Your Braking Distance
  • The Importance of Regular Wheel Alignments for Your Vehicle’s Longevity

Recent Comments

  • Dale on Can I Put Larger Tires and Wheels on My Vehicle
  • Don on Can I Put Larger Tires and Wheels on My Vehicle
  • Dustin Avant on What Causes Tires to Wear Out Too Quickly
  • Dennis on What do Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Ratings Mean on Your Tires?
  • A Blog About Our Blogs - J. Postle's Tire Barn on Are Used Tires Safe?

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • December 2015

Categories

  • Alignment
  • anti freeze
  • brake inspection
  • brake noise
  • Brakes
  • coolant
  • CV
  • fuel
  • fuel economy
  • gas mileage
  • gifts
  • informational
  • light truck tires
  • oil change
  • powder coat
  • powder coat vs paint
  • powder coating
  • safety check
  • Shaking
  • Suspension
  • Suspension Services
  • things to powder coat
  • tips
  • tire balancing
  • tire inflation
  • Tire load capacity
  • tire wear
  • Tires
  • truck tires
  • Uncategorized
  • used tires
  • Vehicle Tips
  • wheel alignment
  • Wheel Repair
  • wheel services
  • wheels
  • windshield wipers
Postle Tire Logo

Open Monday - Friday 7:30a - 5:00p
  • J. Postle's Tire Barn
  • 4717 Jug Factory RD, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
  • 205-391-0062
  • Info@PostleTire.com
  • https://PostleTire.com

About Us

J. Postle’s Tire Barn is located in Tuscaloosa, AL, on Jug Factory Road just off of McFarland Boulevard. As a family owned business, we make sure hometown service and genuine courtesy are delivered to every customer. Our store offers one of the largest selections of new tires in the Southeast. We specialize in tire and wheel services, front end repair, alignments, brake repair, wheel straightening and refinishing and more. Come see us at Postle’s Tire Barn today!

© 2025 · Postle's Tire Barn

  • Home
  • Services
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Coupons
Prev Next