Keep Your Tires in Good Shape with Proper Wheel Alignment

While it’s easy to dismiss wheel alignment during a general service, proper alignment is critical in keeping your car’s tires in good condition. Vehicle alignment concerns the adjustment of the suspension system, or what connects your vehicle to its wheels. Proper alignment means that the angles your tires connect with the road are properly adjusted for maximum and safe performance. Improper wheel or tire alignment can cause your tires to wear unevenly and can wear them out faster than normal. Your car could even become unstable, which could hamper your ability to take emergency or evasive action to avoid another car or an unexpected road hazard.

Causes of Misalignment

The three main causes of vehicle misalignment include wear and tear on suspension and other car parts, heavy impact caused by bumping a curb, hitting a pothole, or an accident, and modifying the vehicle's height without adjusting the suspension. After any of these incidents, it is important to test the alignment as soon as possible. A qualified technician can fix the problem and save you costly repairs down the road.

Signs Your Tires May be Misaligned

A few common signs your vehicle’s wheels may be improperly aligned include:

• Uneven wear on your tire treads
• Your vehicle pulls to the right or left
• You notice that while driving straight, your steering wheel is off-center
• The steering wheel is crooked or vibrates
• The steering wheel does not return easily after a turn
• Your tires make a squealing noise, particularly on turns
• Your fuel economy is decreasing

An easy way to check your vehicle's alignment is to drive on a straight stretch of an uncrowded road and let go of the steering wheel briefly. A correctly aligned car will keep moving straight. If you have an alignment problem, the car will veer to the right or left. You can also check your tire treads to make sure they are wearing evenly. For more information or to ensure your car’s wheels are properly aligned, contact us at Custom Complete Automotive today for friendly, reliable service you can trust!