Do I Need a Wheel Alignment or Wheel Balancing After Changing Tires?
3 Answers
After changing tires, you don't need a wheel alignment, but you do need a wheel balancing test. Here are the specific details about wheel balancing: 1. Other situations requiring wheel balancing: In addition to tire repair or replacement, changing to valve stems made of different materials, replacing rims, or installing tire pressure monitoring modules all require wheel balancing. Essentially, any time the tire is disturbed—meaning the tire and wheel are separated and then reassembled—wheel balancing is necessary. This is primarily because these situations can cause uneven weight distribution in the tire. When the vehicle is driven at high speeds, the wheels rotate rapidly, and uneven weight distribution can affect tire stability, posing a safety risk. 2. Consequences of skipping wheel balancing: The car body may experience shaking, which worsens at higher speeds, affecting ride comfort. It can also lead to abnormal and severe wear on the vehicle, reducing tire lifespan and compromising driving safety. Additionally, it can accelerate abnormal wear on the wheel bearings.
When I last changed my tires, the mechanic strongly recommended getting a wheel balance. This ensures even weight distribution of the wheels to prevent steering wheel vibration or body shaking while driving. After installing new tires, wheel balancing is almost always necessary because the new tires might be slightly off-center in their mounting position. Imbalance can accelerate wear or cause noise. As for wheel alignment, it mainly adjusts the wheel angles to keep the tires parallel to the ground and the car body. It's usually needed after replacing suspension components or after a collision. If you're just changing tires and the alignment hasn't changed, there's no rush to get an alignment unless you notice the car pulling to one side or uneven tire wear. I've had it done a few times on my own car—without wheel balancing, the vibration at high speeds is severe and quite uncomfortable. Remember, wheel balancing isn't expensive, usually costing just a few dozen bucks. Skimping on this might lead to higher repair costs later.
Getting a wheel balance done immediately after changing tires is basic knowledge, as it prevents unnecessary shaking while driving. Simply put, wheel balancing evens out the weight distribution between the wheel hub and the tire. Skipping it can lead to steering wheel vibrations that numb your hands and, over time, uneven tire wear that shortens their lifespan. Wheel alignment, on the other hand, mainly addresses issues like the car pulling to one side during straight-line driving or instability when cornering, which are usually caused by suspension damage. I recommend not skipping the wheel balance step when changing tires—cutting corners here increases safety risks, such as reduced control at high speeds. As for alignment, it’s unnecessary to do it every time unless you notice abnormal tire wear. With over a decade of driving experience, I’ve never had issues by only doing wheel balancing—the key is regular tire inspections.
