Having a balanced set of wheels can help you get a smoother drive. If you have symptoms of misaligned tires, see the price rate of the service in auto shops.
Prices
The wheel alignment price may start from Php 1,500 and above based on package offers of auto shops. You should initially get some price quote from reputable centers for proper alignment.
See: Price of Tire Change
The price of wheel balancing in Philippine auto shops start from Php 250 to Php 350 per tire. Some shops can offer as low as Php 200 during promotions.
Is tire balancing and alignment the same? No, these are two different processes but you may avail them both at the same time.
- Wheel balance service is a process of adjusting the weight of the tires so they have equal distribution. It correct the wheel balance of the tires.
- Wheel alignment involves a process of adjusting the suspension of the vehicle so that the car does not veer to the left or right.
Auto shops and gas stations can offer this service to cars and other four wheel vehicles. You may get started with dedicated auto centers since they usually have the proper tools.
Number of Tires
Do you need to align all four tires at the same time? For optimum results, it may be beneficial to balance all the tires in a single session. Some shops will have discounted rates for all four tires.
Benefits
With this service, you can expect the tires to have a longer life:
- Reduced or eliminated vibrations
- Better left and right turning of the steering wheel
- Equal wear and tear of the tires so you can replace them altogether
List Auto Shops With Wheel Alignment
| Location | Auto Shop |
|---|---|
| Caloocan | Goodyear Autocare Caloocan (Grace Park) Rapide Zabarte Seaoil Zabarte |
| Marikina | Motech Marikina (Golden Valley) |
| Quezon City | Entire Car Care Center (Sta. Mesa) Servitek Quezon Avenue Motech Fairview |
| Makati | Tire Masters Auto Care Metropolitan Avenue Goodyear Autocare – Evangelista Makati |
| Mandaluyong | Rapide Shaw |
| Manila | Mega Motion Work Quirino Avenue |
| Pasay | Yokohama Pasay |
Various Branches
- Rapide
- Servitek
- Motech
On the other hand, gas stations with service bays can also offer the service procedures. They have computerized wheel alignment machines to accurately position the tires up to the last millimeter.
- Shell service stations
- Petron service station branches (Petron Car Care Center)
- Caltex stations
- Seaoil gas stations
Computerized Analysis
Most of the reputable auto shops and gas station service bays use computerized systems with laser to align the wheels. This is important because they can measure up to the last millimeter for optimum results.
Duration of Service
The computerized wheel service usually takes about 1 hour. However, there is a shorter waiting time if few clients are looking for a service.
Do car dealers also offer this service? Because big companies have their respective PMS facilities, you can expect to have your wheels aligned and balanced among them. The facilities of Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi have dedicated segments for wheels and servicing.
Imbalanced tires may affect the quality of your driving. If there are misalignment, one tire may wear out than the other. This will lead to changing the tires earlier than they should be.
Brand New Cards
Do I need to have this service if the car is new? Apparently, the mechanisms of the tires and the steering wheel will not have problems during the first few years. In this case, alignment or balancing of the tires may not be necessary for new cars.
References: Firestone