The alignment of your vehicle’s wheels impacts your driving experience. Wheel alignments are necessary to your vehicle’s service routine, yet some people don’t understand their purpose. Discover why wheel alignments are important for your tires.
Understanding Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment refers to the way your tires are angled onto the vehicle, ideally to maximize contact with the road. Wheel alignment influences the suspension system, so adjustments ensure a smooth ride with minimal tire wear and tear.
When the wheels are out of alignment, the tires are not at the correct angles. In many cases, they’re pointing in different directions. This creates uneven and accelerated tire wear. It can also cause your vehicle to pull to the right or the left.
Fortunately, you can easily correct misaligned wheels at a mechanic, tire retailer, and other automotive service businesses. It’s important to remember that wheel alignments don’t last for your vehicle’s lifespan. You must schedule an alignment once or twice a year. The frequency depends on the impact your vehicle experiences. You may encounter a curb or pothole, and the impact can cause your vehicle to fall out of alignment instantly. However, in most cases, alignment degrades gradually as parts wear down.
How Vehicles Get Out of Alignment
Everyday occurrences affect vehicles. As we briefly mentioned, driving over potholes, bumps, and different road surfaces causes wheels to naturally go out of alignment over time. Furthermore, bumping curbs, driving over large cracks or potholes, and minor accidents like backing into a parked car can cause one or more wheels to come out of alignment.
Depending on your location, you’ll encounter varying road conditions that affect your vehicle. For example, cities with constant construction tend to have a lot of potholes. However, places with rural terrain often have rough road surfaces.
Areas of Focus for Wheel Alignments
In the past, most vehicles only required front-end alignment to improve the vehicle. But modern cars have unibody designs and multi-link independent rear suspensions. Therefore, professionals now recommend four-wheel alignment to have all wheels functioning together and going in the same direction.
Depending on the adjustments possible for your vehicle, technicians have three main focuses for wheel alignments. The procedure can involve addressing the following considerations:
- The camber: the outward or inward tilt of the wheels when viewing the vehicle head-on
- The caster: a front or rear tilt of the wheels when viewing the vehicle from the side
- The toe: the way your wheels point when viewing the car from above.
It’s important to note that toe-in means the wheels are pointed inward, and toe-out means they’re turning away from each other.
Wheel alignments require special equipment and trained technicians. This way, professionals can diagnose, repair, replace, and properly align your vehicle. Some people assume it’s a short, straightforward process like changing your motor oil. But it’s a unique procedure that you should enlist professional help for. The last thing you want is an unstable ride or unnecessary problems from bad service.
Another Consideration
While technicians assess alignment, discuss wheel balancing too. Vibrations can happen from an out-of-balance wheel, which may cause excessive wear. Admittedly, there are so many factors that can contribute to vehicle issues. So it’s a good idea to have professionals examine and service your vehicle at the same time. After all, you don’t want to fix one issue and then learn about another problem soon after.
Benefits of Wheel Alignments
Wheel alignments are important for your tires because they help your tires perform correctly and last longer. Additionally, alignment can improve the handling of your vehicle and prevent your car from pulling in one direction or vibrating on the road. Here are more benefits of wheel alignments:
- Better fuel efficiency: Misalignments can decrease gas millage. When you align your wheels, you conserve fuel and refill your tank less often.
- Improved steering: It’s hard to control your vehicle with tires at awkward angles. Proper alignment supports stable control.
- Smoother ride: Misaligned wheels lead to bumpy and vibration-filled rides. A smooth ride creates a better driving experience.
- Fewer auto repairs: Hitting potholes and failing to realign your vehicle can lead to suspension system problems. You’ll have to pay for wheel alignment and suspension service. Luckily, prioritizing alignments leads to fewer repairs.
- Helps prevent accidents: Misaligned tires pull in one direction, which can inadvertently cause a car accident. Aligned wheels give you complete control.
Why Do People Overlook Alignment?
People overlook wheel alignments because they don’t realize it’s an issue until it’s too late. Hitting potholes and bumping curbs are common occurrences. However, people resume driving and hope they don’t feel vibrations or experience trouble. But waiting until you experience issues isn’t the best idea.
Tire alignments should be a part of your vehicle’s regular maintenance routine. You wouldn’t miss an oil change or transmission fluid replacement, so why miss an alignment? It’s not a service you should skip!
Warning Signs You Need Wheel Alignment
There are a few ways to tell if your vehicle needs a wheel alignment. If you notice one or more of these signs, you should visit a technician to check your alignment immediately:
- The steering wheel pulls in one direction.
- The steering wheel vibrates.
- The steering wheel is off-centered when you straighten your wheels.
- You have uneven tire wear.
- Your tires squeal.
- Your ride is bumpy or rough.
What Type of Alignment Do You Need?
Generally, a four-wheel alignment is the most popular and best choice for modern vehicles. However, thrust alignments are also possible. Here’s an overview of both options:
Four-Wheel Alignment
This is for vehicles with adjustable rear suspension. The purpose is to bring all four wheels of your vehicle back to your vehicle’s original specifications. Technicians align all four wheels to the center of the vehicle. First, they measure and adjust the rear axle angles. Then, they do the same for the front axles. This procedure is the most accurate and recommended alignment for vehicles with adjustable rear suspensions.
Thrust Alignment
A thrust alignment is ideal for vehicles without adjustable rear suspensions. In a thrust alignment, professionals only adjust the front wheels. Please note that there’s no guarantee both rear wheels are straight. In some scenarios, one may point forward and the other will be slightly off. Alternatively, both their angles could be off. But since rear-wheel adjustments aren’t possible, professionals align the front wheels as closely as possible to the thrust line, which is the average of where the two rear wheels point. This is enough to center the steering wheel.
How Often Do You Need Wheel Alignments?
As we mentioned, the general recommendation is to get a wheel alignment once or twice a year, depending on your vehicle’s state and your area’s driving conditions. Most car manufacturers don’t include alignments in their standard maintenance schedule recommendations, so being proactive about this service is important. Furthermore, whenever you get new tires, you should get wheel alignment to ensure your new tires are correctly positioned to promote safe driving.
