Proper Wheel Alignment Can Improve Your Tires’ Lifespan
Avoid Premature Tire Replacement With a Four-Wheel Alignment
Did you know that neglecting your wheel alignment service could lead to thousands of dollars in repairs? While it sounds like a dramatic statement, your wheel alignment is an important part of your vehicle's routine maintenance schedule and has a large effect on your tires, suspension, and even your transmission. Here at Driver's Edge, we perform trustworthy four-wheel alignment services on all make and model vehicles to ensure that you can maximize the life of your car's tires.
Let's take a look at the importance of wheel alignment and how you can get the most life out of your tires. If your vehicle is in need of wheel alignment services, schedule service at a Driver's Edge tire shop and trust your vehicle in the hands of a certified expert today.
Understanding Wheel Alignment
During a wheel alignment service, a mechanic measures the angle of your wheels (known as the camber and toe) and makes micro-adjustments to ensure that all four wheels are perfectly in line with one another. If your wheels are even a few degrees off center, this could have a major impact on the performance of your vehicle and cause irreparable damage to your tires.
If a vehicle is in need of a wheel alignment, you'll often notice that it veers to one side and needs constant correction to travel in a straight line. Another sign that your vehicle needs wheel alignment is if your steering wheel vibrates. Sometimes, when wheels are even slightly pointing toward or away from each other, they create extreme stresses on your suspension system and can cause vibrations to enter the cabin or travel through the steering column.
Why Wheels Need To Be Aligned
Each day, as you drive your vehicle, your tires and your suspension system experience thousands of impacts as you go over road imperfections, speed bumps, and potholes. Additionally, every time you turn a corner or conquer a curve, it puts stress on your suspension system, as the entire weight of your vehicle is shifted to one side or the other.
Although your vehicle is built to withstand these forces, these impacts and stresses slowly and gradually move your wheels out of alignment with each other.
Don’t Ruin Your Tires by Ignoring Wheel Alignment Needs
Let's face it, tires are expensive, so you want them to last as long as possible. Driving with your wheels out of alignment is one of the fastest ways to prematurely wear your tires to the point of needing replacement. Because tires that have been prematurely worn from misalignment cannot be repaired and must be replaced, staying on top of wheel alignment services is important to maximize your tires’ life span.
While the average all-season tire is designed to last about 60,000 miles, driving with your wheels out of alignment could lead to the need for tire replacement after just 10,000 miles.
How Often You’ll Need Wheel Alignment
We recommend that you have a wheel alignment service performed on your vehicle every two to three years. This helps ensure that your wheels are perfectly in line with one another and maximizes the life span of your tires.
However, there are instances where you may need a tire alignment much sooner. Sometimes, extreme stresses can cause you to need a wheel alignment immediately. Here are a few examples of events that can quickly throw off your vehicle's wheel alignment:
- A collision
- An emergency avoidance maneuver
- Losing control of your vehicle
- Hitting a pothole
- A day at the racetrack
- Drifting
Watch for Signs of Misalignment
One of the easiest ways to tell if you need a wheel alignment is to drive on a smooth, flat surface at a constant speed. Briefly let go of the steering wheel to see if your vehicle continues to drive in a straight line. If your vehicle consistently drifts toward the same side, this could be a sign that you need wheel alignment services.
Another way to tell if you need wheel alignment is to look at your steering wheel. As you're driving in a straight line, pay attention to the emblem in the center of your steering wheel. If you notice that your emblem is even just a few degrees off center, this could be a sign that you need wheel alignment services.
Let Driver’s Edge Get You on the Right Track
At Driver's Edge, we make wheel alignment services easy and hassle-free. We feature a team of ASE-certified mechanics who perform maintenance and auto repair services on all make and model vehicles, and we use industry-leading equipment to ensure that your vehicle is always in the best hands.
We feature affordable pricing and strive to maximize your savings through our remarkable service promotions. Schedule service today and trust your vehicle's wheel alignment needs in the hands of the certified experts at Driver's Edge auto repair shop today.
