Tyres and wheel balancing

We have a new state of the art tyre fitting machine that makes us one of the very few garages on the Costa Blanca that can fit big tyres to car brands like Range Rover, Bentley, Hummer, Rolls-Royce, American SUVs, and the likes with love and care.

Tyres are very much part of our service, as we recognize not only the necessity from a safety point of view, but also the performance and handling side as well.

Also unaware to most people there is a legal side to tyre fitment that obligate the exact fitment of tyres specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

A lot of modern vehicles are now fitted with run flat or RSA tyres. This is a new safety feature which must always be observed.

Also with the wrong pressure, or indeed the wrong type of tyre, the vehicle will not achieve its full potential and it can be a safety risk.

Any recommendations we make are always in the customer’s best interest and security.

We at Auto Impulse only fit recognized top leading brands as your safety is our ultimate priority.

If you need more help choosing the best tyres for your car, make sure you book yourself in and we will do the rest. You can also call us at our number: (+34) 966895556.

Wheel alignment

To improve the performance of a vehicle, each vehicle manufacturer specifies some predefined angles to the wheels of the vehicle. These angles can undergo a considerable variation over time due to daily driving. Wheel alignment is a service procedure in which these angles are adjusted to be exactly parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground, as specified by the car manufacturer. This involves checking the tyre tread and the three angles –

  • caster- angle between vertical and the steering pivot axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle
  • camber – inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front
  • toe – angle derived from pointing the tyres inward or outward when viewed from above

What are the signs that indicate your wheels need an alignment?

Some of the common signs of misaligned wheel are as follows:

  • vehicle drifting or pulling to one side
  • steering wheel off center while driving on a straight road
  • rapid or uneven tyre wear
  • uneven braking
  • steering wheel vibration

Why is wheel alignment important?

During everyday driving wheel angles optimally set by the car manufacturer may undergo a considerable variation over time. This could be the result of your car’s parts wearing down over time, an unavoidable pothole, an unintentional hit to the curb, a minor collision, and so on.  A wheel alignment resets these angles to their correct settings, ensuring that your wheels are straight in line with the car and making optimum contact with the road. In reality, wheel alignment is a suspension/vehicle adjustment rather than a wheel adjustment.

Out of alignment wheels not only cause premature and uneven wear of the tyres but also greatly affect the other key systems of your vehicle such as the suspension, brakes and steering. When wheels are properly aligned the unnecessary stress imposed on these various systems is eliminated, thus reducing their wear. Adjusting the angles to the recommended specifications means you get improved straight line stability, better cornering performance, steering wheel returnability and reduced tyre wear. And, most importantly, it increases vehicle safety. It is generally recommended to get a wheel alignment done after running the tyres for 5000 km.

Wheel balancing

The vibration felt in the steering wheel, floorboard or your seat when driving, particularly at high speeds, is the first indicator of imbalanced wheels.

Wheels could get out of balance due to everyday wear, manufacturing imperfections or issues with the shock absorbers. Also, a vehicle hitting a curb, or a pothole can cause an imbalance in wheels. At times the damage to a tyre can cause one section of the tyre to be heavier than the other sections. In order to compensate for the imbalanced weight a measured weight of lead, zinc or steel is installed on the opposite side of the heavy spot on the wheel to even out the distribution of weight. This is done by balancing the wheel on a spinning machine to locate the heavier part. A counter weight is then placed opposite to the heavier part to balance it – this is wheel balancing.

What are the signs that indicate your wheels need balancing?

Some of the common signs of unbalanced wheels are:

  • vibrations in the seat, steering wheel or floor
  • faster and uneven tyre wear
  • tyre noise
  • problems with steering

This imbalance can pose stress on your steering system and wheel bearing, So, it’s important to get your wheels balanced to avoid further wear of the vehicle systems. This procedure is generally done in conjunction with wheel alignment, roughly every 5000 to 7000 kms.

Why should you balance your wheels?

Even a small imbalance can have a profound effect on the performance of your vehicle, especially if you are driving at high speed. Wheel balancing is an important maintenance procedure and should be done because it:

  • improves the performance of your vehicle by eliminating the vibrations from the tyre and wheel assembly, ensuring a comfortable ride.
  • reduces the tyre bounce and gives you a smoother and safer ride.
  • reduces the chances of premature tyre wear.
  • improves the lifespan of the tyre and the fuel efficiency

We are skilled technicians and have the right equipment to perform these procedures accurate and in time.

If you have any of these signs and want to have wheels balanced or aligned, make sure you book yourself in and we will do the rest. You can also call us at our number: (+34) 966 895 556.

Written by Steve