Do I Need Wheel Balancing and Four-Wheel Alignment After Changing Tires?
2 Answers
After changing tires, it is necessary to perform wheel balancing and four-wheel alignment. Here is a partial introduction about tires: 1. Wheel Balancing: For four-wheel alignment, it is mainly used when the vehicle tires exhibit deviation, while the tires themselves are not problematic. 2. Four-Wheel Alignment: It includes operations such as kingpin inclination angle, front wheel camber angle, and front wheel toe-in adjustment. Simply put, four-wheel alignment is based on situations where the tires experience edge wear during driving. If the tires themselves do not show significant wear, performing a four-wheel alignment can ensure stable straight-line driving and easy steering. This can reduce wear on steering components and front wheels during driving.
After changing tires, I always proactively get a wheel balance because it prevents wheel wobbling at high speeds, such as when the steering wheel starts vibrating around 80 km/h, which affects handling and comfort. Wheel alignment usually doesn't need to be done every time you change tires unless you notice the car pulling to one side or uneven tire wear. In the past, I skipped wheel balancing to save money, but after a few thousand kilometers, strange noises appeared, and I ended up spending more on repairs later. Generally, when changing tires, the repair shop will recommend a wheel balance—it's inexpensive and takes about 20 minutes. For safety, don't skip this small step; it extends tire life and ensures stable driving. In short, wheel balancing is essential, while wheel alignment depends on the situation.
