Signs Your Car Needs an Alignment

If you are not very familiar with car maintenance, you might start feeling a little overwhelmed with the many different types of maintenance that need to be done. Wheel or tire alignments are a very important part of your tire maintenance. Is it time for a wheel alignment, or do I need a wheel alignment? This guide seeks to answer those questions.

What Is a Wheel Alignment?

The term wheel alignment gives a false impression that this job involves lining up the tires somehow. A wheel alignment is performed by adjusting the vehicle’s steering and suspension. However, this system connects to the wheels, so this is where the idea of a wheel alignment comes from.

A wheel alignment is accomplished by adjusting the angle of the tires. This will affect how they make contact with the road. The best alignment angles depend on the car’s make and model and, of course, the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Why Do I Need an Alignment?

Having your wheels properly aligned will enhance your overall driving experience. When tires are not properly aligned, it can lead to uneven wear on tire treads, poor handling, and an overall shorter lifespan for the tires. This can get expensive over time.

Warning Signs You Need an Alignment

If you are unsure when to have your wheels aligned, here are a few warning signs: you might be due or overdue for an alignment.

• Pulling to one side
• Uneven or rapid wear on tires
• Crooked steering wheel
• Squealing sounds from tires

How Often Will I Need Wheel Alignment?

How often you need wheel alignment depends on a few factors.

• Road conditions in your area
• Driving habits
• Accidents

Even if you do not see any warning signs that you need an alignment, it is still recommended for every 6,000 miles or so.  

How Will a Wheel Alignment Help My Vehicle?

If you are hesitant to have car maintenance done because of the expense, you should keep in mind that car maintenance will always save you money in the long run. When maintenance issues, such as wheel alignment, are ignored, it will always cause worse problems down the road, literally. Here are some ways your vehicle will benefit from regular wheel alignment.

Better drivability – In general, your vehicle will simply drive better when the wheels are properly aligned.

Extended tire lifespan – This is the most important way that wheel alignment helps to save you money. Keeping the wheels aligned properly will ensure that the tires last a long time, and this saves you money.

Better gas mileage – Most people do not realize that when their tires are not operating at top efficiency, it will really start to eat into their gas mileage. Keep your tires properly aligned and at the proper PSI to ensure you are getting good gas mileage.

Categorised in: Alignments

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