Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment

Even though they sound similar, wheel alignment and balancing are two different services to keep your tires healthy in Clayton. But many drivers either mistake one for the other or don’t understand the difference between wheel aligning and balancing. They both provide benefits to keeping your tires performing well on Ladue roads, but are separate services. Learn the difference between wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment with the service experts at Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis.
What is Wheel Balancing?
When your wheels are out of balance, your steering wheel might shake or vibrate. Sometimes, unbalanced wheels create only the shaking, or worse, they could cause premature tire wear. If your wheel is slightly bent or has an uneven weight distribution, your car might need a wheel balancing. Using precision machinery, our service technicians analyze how your tires are balanced, adding small weights to balance the weight evenly. Having your wheels balanced lengthens the life of your tires, smoothes steering wheel vibrations, and improves traction and handling on Frontenac roads. Scheduling a service appointment to have your wheels balanced saves you money in the long run.
What is Wheel Alignment?
The main difference between wheel alignment and balancing is that wheel alignment actually deals with your vehicle’s suspension. Wheel alignment is done by adjusting components to make sure the wheels are set to the correct position on their axis. If you’ve hit a pothole or curb, got into a fender bender, or have been noticing any handling issues, having your car’s alignment should be checked, and if need be, adjusted. Warning signs that your car needs to be aligned are:
- Pulls to one side or another
- Uneven tire wear
- Off-center steering wheel
- Had new tires installed (This to protect your new tires from uneven wear, lengthening their lifespan)
Driving your vehicle while it’s out of alignment can damage both your tires and suspension, reducing your car’s overall performance.
Scheduling Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Alignment
Is your vehicle pulling to one side? That’s typically a sign you need to schedule a wheel alignment visit. But if your steering wheel is vibrating, it’s time to visit our service center for a wheel balancing appointment. Not sure which your vehicle needs? Contact the service team at Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis with any questions about wheel balancing vs. wheel alignment or for any other car maintenance questions! Also, be sure to check out our service specials!
Auto Service Coupons in St. Louis
$75 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$75 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$50 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Transmission Service Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$50 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Front or Rear Differential Service Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$40 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. 4 wheels. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Wheel Alignment Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$40 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. 4 wheels. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See dealer for details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Air Filter Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See dealer for details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See dealer for details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Cabin Filter Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$30 OFF
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See dealer for details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Free Wiper Install with ANY Purchase
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Wiper Blade Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
Free Wiper Install with ANY Purchase
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$50 OFF “Service A”
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. *Mercedes-Benz passenger cars only. Offer valid until expiration date. Limit one (1) certificate per purchase. Certificate must be presented prior to purchase. Cannot be combined with any other advertised price, promotion, or offer. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Not valid towards a previous purchase. Void if copied or transferred. Void where prohibited by Law. Other restrictions may apply, please see Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis for details. Price advertised for Service A/Service B includes all factory-required components. Please refer to your maintenance booklet for the complete list of factory-required services and details on the specific intervals for your vehicle’s year and model. (Service A includes: Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement; Oil Filter Replacement; All fluid level checks and corrections are dependent on factory- recommended service intervals for your vehicle's year and model; Tire inflation check and correction; Brake component inspection; Reset maintenance counter and Adhere to all required elements listed by model year and specific model as indicated on the corresponding service sheet for Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Systems in the USA.) Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
"Service A" Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$50 OFF “Service A”
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. *Mercedes-Benz passenger cars only. Offer valid until expiration date. Limit one (1) certificate per purchase. Certificate must be presented prior to purchase. Cannot be combined with any other advertised price, promotion, or offer. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Not valid towards a previous purchase. Void if copied or transferred. Void where prohibited by Law. Other restrictions may apply, please see Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis for details. Price advertised for Service A/Service B includes all factory-required components. Please refer to your maintenance booklet for the complete list of factory-required services and details on the specific intervals for your vehicle’s year and model. (Service A includes: Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement; Oil Filter Replacement; All fluid level checks and corrections are dependent on factory- recommended service intervals for your vehicle's year and model; Tire inflation check and correction; Brake component inspection; Reset maintenance counter and Adhere to all required elements listed by model year and specific model as indicated on the corresponding service sheet for Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Systems in the USA.) Offer expires July 31, 2026.
$100 OFF “Service B”
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. Mercedes-Benz passenger cars only. Offer valid until expiration date. Limit one (1) certificate per purchase. Certificate must be presented prior to purchase. Cannot be combined with any other advertised price, promotion, or offer. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Not valid towards a previous purchase. Void if copied or transferred. Void where prohibited by Law. Other restrictions may apply, please see Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis for details. Price advertised for Service A/Service B includes all factory-required components. Please refer to your maintenance booklet for the complete list of factory-required services and details on the specific intervals for your vehicle’s year and model. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
"Service B" Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
$100 OFF “Service B”
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. Mercedes-Benz passenger cars only. Offer valid until expiration date. Limit one (1) certificate per purchase. Certificate must be presented prior to purchase. Cannot be combined with any other advertised price, promotion, or offer. Cannot be exchanged for cash. Not valid towards a previous purchase. Void if copied or transferred. Void where prohibited by Law. Other restrictions may apply, please see Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis for details. Price advertised for Service A/Service B includes all factory-required components. Please refer to your maintenance booklet for the complete list of factory-required services and details on the specific intervals for your vehicle’s year and model. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
10% OFF
Seniors receive 10% off your next service visit. Seniors ages 62+.
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. Show proof of ID prior to repair order. Seniors ages 62+. See service advisor for all details. Does not apply to tires or sublet work. Contact dealership for all all offers details. $200 max. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Senior Service Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
10% OFF
Seniors receive 10% off your next service visit. Seniors ages 62+.
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. Show proof of ID prior to repair order. Seniors ages 62+. See service advisor for all details. Does not apply to tires or sublet work. Contact dealership for all all offers details. $200 max. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
- Save $10 when you spend between $100 and $199
- Save $25 when you spend between $200 and $499
- Save $50 when you spend between $500 and $999
- Save $100 when you spend $1000 and higher
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
Buy More, Save More Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
- Save $10 when you spend between $100 and $199
- Save $25 when you spend between $200 and $499
- Save $50 when you spend between $500 and $999
- Save $100 when you spend $1000 and higher
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See Service Advisor for all maintenance and offer details. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
10% OFF
Active, Retired, and First Responder or Military Family receive 10% off your next service visit. Show proof of active, retired, or first responder/military family prior to repair order.
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See service advisor for all details. Does not apply to tires or sublet work. Contact dealership for all all offers details. $200 max. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Expires: 07/31/2026
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis
1048 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63139
Service: (314) 647-2400
First Responder and Military Service Special
Expires: July 31, 2026
10% OFF
Active, Retired, and First Responder or Military Family receive 10% off your next service visit. Show proof of active, retired, or first responder/military family prior to repair order.
One offer per service visit. All offers must be provided at the time of write up. See service advisor for all details. Does not apply to tires or sublet work. Contact dealership for all all offers details. $200 max. Offer expires July 31, 2026.
Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis 38.6300409,
-90.2865099.