The main advantage lies in wear resistance and longevity. In applications involving rotating shafts, reciprocating rods, or oscillating pins, steel-on-steel contact eventually leads to galling and rapid clearance loss. Tungsten carbide, with its high hardness (typically 90-93 HRA), acts as a superior bearing surface. It resists abrasion from fine contaminants and maintains its precise inner diameter (ID) far longer than hardened steel. This means less frequent replacements, reduced maintenance downtime, and protection of the more expensive shaft or housing from wear.