Key Overview
- What is an alignment? A wheel alignment adjusts your car’s steering and suspension to ensure your tires make contact with the pavement at the right angle.
- How often do you need a wheel alignment check? Generally, every 6,000 miles or when you notice pulling, uneven tire wear, or a crooked steering wheel.
- Why do you need an alignment? Alignments help reduce premature tire wear, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure smooth handling.
- How can I maintain proper alignment? Have your alignment checked regularly, especially if you have hit any potholes or have been in an accident.
If your car starts to drift when you’re trying to drive straight or your steering wheel feels off-center, your wheels may be out of alignment. When an alignment is off, it can quietly affect how your car handles and how your tires wear, often before you even notice it. Over time, this misalignment can make steering more difficult, wear out your tires unevenly, and reduce your fuel efficiency.
A wheel alignment helps correct those issues by ensuring your tires meet the road at the proper angles. In this guide, we explain how to tell it’s time to schedule your wheel alignment service and why wheel alignments are an important part of vehicle maintenance.
How Do You Know If You Need a Wheel Alignment?
There are a few noticeable signs you need an alignment:
- Your vehicle pulls to one side
- Uneven or rapid tire wear
- Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight
- Squealing tires
- Shaking or vibrating steering wheel
- Your steering wheel feels loose or unresponsive
If you notice any of these poor alignment symptoms, schedule an alignment check at Firestone Complete Auto Care to get your ride pointed in the right direction.
What is a Wheel Alignment?
A wheel alignment (also known as tire alignment) is a service that adjusts your vehicle’s steering and suspension system, which connects your car to its wheels, to make sure your tires sit and roll at the proper angles.
Despite the name, the adjustment doesn’t involve the wheels and tires themselves. Instead, it’s about fine-tuning how they make contact with the road. During an alignment, a technician measures and adjusts three key angles according to your manufacturer’s specifications: camber, caster, and toe. When these settings are correct, your car drives straight and steering feels stable.
Do I Need a Wheel Alignment?
Yes, every car needs routine wheel alignments to help your vehicle perform safely and predictably. Even slight misalignments in your suspension or steering angles can lead to poor handling and tire damage.
How Will a Wheel Alignment Help My Vehicle?
A tire alignment helps support the best driving experience. Regular wheel alignments provide many great benefits, including:
- Ensuring your wheels are pointed in the right direction
- Helping your tires last longer
- Maintaining a smoother drive
- Potential increased fuel efficiency, as alignment issues can cause your car to guzzle gas more quickly
What Does Tire Wear Mean to My Car’s Alignment?
Poor alignment is a common cause of uneven tire wear. Ideally, you should see even wear across your tires’ treads if you also keep up with tire rotations. If you notice excessive wear, you may need an alignment adjustment or have too much cargo in your trunk.
How Often Do You Need a Wheel Alignment?
The general recommendation is to have your alignment checked around every 6,000 miles or at the first sign of misalignment. However, specific wheel alignment intervals depend on several factors, including your make and model, typical road conditions, and driving habits. Your vehicle manufacturer may also recommend an alignment inspection as part of the vehicle’s ongoing maintenance.
What Affects Car Alignment?
Every vehicle comes preset with specific tire angles and positioning. However, normal driving can slowly knock your alignment out of place. Factors like hitting potholes, driving over rough roads, or bumping a curb all take a toll. Regular alignments keep everything in sync.
What Can I Do to Help Maintain My Alignment?
While a wheel alignment service requires professional technicians and equipment, you can take certain steps to help maintain your alignment. Here are some tips:
- Remove heavy, bulky items from your trunk. If you have too much weight loading down your back end, it can temporarily throw off your alignment. Only carry what you need.
- Maintain correct air pressure in your tires. If one corner of your vehicle is running lower due to underinflation, it can temporarily throw off your alignment.
- Slow down and try to avoid potholes and curbs. Practicing proper driving habits can help reduce strain on steering and suspension components, which are crucial for maintaining proper alignment.
Let Firestone Complete Auto Care Handle Your Alignment Issues
Tire misalignment can be so subtle that you may not even realize it. If you are unsure about your current alignment, call on your local Firestone Complete Auto Care. Why wait? Trust our thousands of ASE-certified technicians and precision equipment to check your alignment and fix it if needed today!
