Wheel Alignment vs. Wheel Balancing: What's the Difference?

If your Audi begins vibrating as you're driving through Chicago on the way home from Naperville or Bucktown, you may be concerned. While you probably have nothing immediate to worry about, it's important to bring your car to the service experts at Fletcher Jones Audi as soon as possible-we make it easy to schedule an appointment online.

Vibrations felt while driving could mean your Audi needs a wheel alignment or wheel balancing. While these two services sound similar, they're completely different things-but we don't blame you if you get them confused!

The service experts at Fletcher Jones Audi have compiled this explainer to help our customers understand the difference between wheel balancing and alignment, so keep reading below, then give us a call at (312) 285-0911 to set up your service appointment.

What is Wheel Alignment?

One of the first questions you may have is, "What is wheel alignment?" Simply put, wheel alignment is the process of adjusting the angles of the wheels on your Audi so that they're perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. When you're driving around Highland Park, you want your tires to lay flat on the pavement, as well as to be in line with each other-both for a smooth ride and to ensure your tires last as long as possible.

If you notice any of the following problems with your Audi, you may need to schedule a wheel alignment with our team:

• Uneven or rapid tire wear

• Pulling or drifting away from a straight line

• Wandering on a straight, level road

• Spokes of the steering wheel off-center while driving on a straight and level road

How Much Does a Wheel Alignment Cost?

How much your wheel alignment costs depends on a number of factors, including:

• The number of wheels that are aligned: a front-end, or two-wheel, alignment only involves the front two wheels, so it will cost less than a four-wheel alignment. Of course, you'll get more life out of your tires if you align all the wheels at once, so that's usually what we recommend.

• The type of your car: Luxury cars, like Audi models, can be a bit more expensive with wheel alignments, but our service team takes the time to make sure it's done right. Your greater investment will pay off in the long run-and isn't that why you bought an Audi in the first place?

• Additional services needed: While performing an alignment, our technicians might find more work is needed. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about what we recommend.

With all of these factors taken into consideration, a wheel alignment usually costs somewhere between $50 and $200.

How Long Does a Wheel Alignment Take?

Typically, a wheel alignment will take an hour or less from start to finish. A four-wheel alignment will take a bit longer, and if we find broken or worn-out parts in the suspension, it may take a bit longer still. No matter how long your wheel alignment takes, you can avail yourself of our top-notch amenities, including an Audi loaner vehicle, UberX, complimentary beverages, and free high-speed WiFi.

What is Wheel Balancing?

You may also be wondering, "What is wheel balancing?" Balancing your Audi's wheels allows its wheels and tires to spin without vibrations from differences in weight. When we balance your wheels, we'll check for heavy spots on the wheel and compensate for it by placing a lead weight on the opposite side. Balanced wheels will vibrate less and ride truer, lengthening the lifetime of your tires and making your Gold Coast and Bucktown drives safer.

If your wheels are out of balance, you could experience any of the following:

• Vibrations of the steering wheel at highway speed

• Vibration of the seat or floorboard at highway speed

• Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the tires

How Much Does a Wheel Balancing Cost?

Like wheel alignment, wheel balancing costs depend on factors like how many wheels you balance, the make of your car, and others. On average, a wheel balance will cost between $15 and $50 per tire, but check our rotating service specials to take advantage of great savings!

How Long Does a Wheel Balancing Take?

On average, it takes about 30-45 minutes to balance all four of your Audi's tires. If a tire needs to be rotated on a wheel, it may take a little longer.

Get Your Audi's Wheels Aligned or Balanced at Fletcher Jones Audi

When you're ready for your Audi to drive as smoothly as the day you bought it, come to our Chicago Audi service center for a wheel alignment or balancing today. We're here to help you get the most out of your luxury car, so feel free to ask us any questions you may have about how long your wheel balancing will take, how much your wheel alignment will cost, or anything else! Contact us today to learn more.