San Leandro Hyundai

Mar 29, 2024
Tire maintenance in San Leandro, CA

Proper wheel alignment ensures that the tires make contact with the road surface at the correct angle, while wheel balancing helps eliminate any vibrations caused by the rotation of the wheel. Having your wheels aligned and tires balanced at regular intervals by certified experts at your Hyundai dealer will improve your vehicle’s handling performance and ensure your tires wear down evenly and last longer.

What Is Alignment

Your Hyundai’s wheels must be straight and touch the road correctly. Alignment refers to the adjustment of a car’s suspension to control the direction and angle at which the tire makes contact with the road surface.

Why Alignment Is Important

Suspension parts wear down over time and hitting a curb, a pothole, or having a minor collision can knock your car’s wheels out of alignment. When your vehicle’s wheels are not properly aligned, it can cause a host of problems, from quick and uneven tire wear, which will reduce the lifespan of your tires and vibrations to an increase in fuel consumption due to the added resistance. 

The Signs of Misalignment

Incorrect alignment will create more rolling resistance between the tire and the road surface and cause your car to pull to either the left or right. That resistance and the veering of your vehicle to one side or the other can cause your vehicle’s tires to wear at a faster rate and unevenly. You may also feel vibrations through the steering wheel. 

What Is Balancing

Balancing makes all the difference when it comes to taking care of your tires. Wheel balancing involves checking the wheels on a balancing machine and adding balancing weights to the lighter side of the rim to create a balanced wheel assembly. Balancing should be part of your vehicle’s routine maintenance and should be performed every time you take your vehicle for an oil change.

Why Is Balancing Important

It really doesn’t matter how often you drive your vehicle; your tires start to wear down unevenly over time due to the different functions the front and rear tires perform. Balancing your car’s tires helps to promote even wear, limit vibrations, and improve handling performance, leading to longer tire life and a smoother, more enjoyable ride.

Signs of Imbalance

Uneven tire wear and vibrations at highway speeds are signs of imbalance, which can cause damage to components, affect alignment, and shorten tire lifespan. If you feel vibrations constantly, it’s best to get your tires inspected and balanced by your Hyundai technician to prevent further damage. For more information on alignment and balancing, check your owner’s manual and speak to your Hyundai technician. Drop by San Leandro Hyundai in San Leandro, CA, today for expert alignment and balancing services performed by certified Hyundai technicians.