Is Tire Wear Caused by Wheel Balancing or Four-Wheel Alignment?
2 Answers
Tire wear is addressed by performing a four-wheel alignment. Four-wheel alignment involves adjusting the angular coefficients between the vehicle's chassis systems as a maintenance measure. It is based on the four-wheel parameters of the vehicle, ensuring optimal driving performance and reliability through adjustments. Front-wheel alignment includes four components: caster, camber, toe-out, and toe-in, while rear-wheel alignment consists of camber and individual rear-wheel toe-in. Collectively, front and rear-wheel alignment is referred to as four-wheel alignment. Tire wear occurs when one or more tires exhibit abnormal accelerated wear on the inner or outer edges compared to the other tires, resulting in uneven wear patterns. During tire inspection, it becomes evident that the tread on one tire or one side of a tire wears significantly faster than the others, leading to rapid uneven wear and eventual tire failure.
When encountering tire wear issues, I often tell my friends that it's a problem with the suspension system, mainly caused by uneven wear due to incorrect toe or camber angles. At this point, performing a wheel alignment is a crucial step—it corrects the suspension angles and resolves abnormal wear on the inner or outer edges of the tires. Wheel balancing, on the other hand, addresses vibration issues caused by wheel imbalance, such as steering wheel shaking at high speeds. Tire wear often occurs after the vehicle pulls to one side or suspension components become loose. A full alignment check usually improves the situation; otherwise, tire lifespan will significantly decrease, requiring costly replacements. I recommend regular alignment checks and tire rotations to prevent excessive wear during long-distance driving.
