Car Wheel & Tire Alignment
Wheel Alignment Services in Dallas and Fort Worth
A vehicle alignment will help your car handle better and help your tires last longer. The expert mechanics at Driver’s Edge can provide these alignment services and more:
- We use state-of-the-art equipment to perform a free, computerized alignment check.
- We closely inspect your suspension for excessive wear.
- We check to ensure the steering wheel is properly centered.
- We check and adjust camber, toe, and caster as needed.
Whether you’re overdue for another wheel alignment or this is your first time scheduling this essential service, Driver’s Edge can help. Protect your car’s performance for years to come by booking your next tire alignment appointment today!
What Makes Tire Alignments Crucial?
If you’ve never had your tires aligned before, it’s understandable if you’re skeptical about the value this service provides. After all, it’s hard to imagine that having tires a few degrees out of alignment could seriously affect your car’s performance. However, misaligned tires can cause no shortage of problems for you and your vehicle. This issue can create difficulties related to:
Tire Performance
When your tires are out of alignment, some wheels receive a greater amount of pressure than others. As a result, some of the tires on your car will wear out faster than they should, while other tires will wear at a normal rate. Luckily, getting your tires aligned is a quick and affordable way to resolve this situation.
Comfort and Safety
As someone driving in Texas, you expect your car to help you get from Point A to Point B in Dallas without any issues. But misaligned tires can get in the way of that; they can lead to vibrations in the cabin, your car veering to one side or the other, and other difficulties. Seeking tire alignment services is easily the best way to deal with these problems.
Fuel Efficiency
In addition to the other problems tire misalignment can create, driving on uneven tires can force your vehicle to work harder to get the same results it normally would. This, in turn, can seriously affect your car’s fuel efficiency. So when you get your tires realigned, you may be able to save big-time at the pump!
Is Your Vehicle Pulling You Aside and Telling You Something?
There are many reasons your vehicle may be out of alignment. If you find your car drifting or pulling to one side, then your vehicle is likely out of alignment. The pulling to one side is often felt when applying the brakes, or you may feel a vibration in your car. A car with bad alignment can quickly wear out tires and cost you money.
How Often Should I Check My Car’s Alignment?
Under normal circumstances, checking your wheel alignment isn’t something you should need to worry about constantly. Generally, it’s wise to get this taken care of every 6,000 miles (or every oil change).
If you are noticing the problems outlined above or if you are noticing uneven tire wear, it is also recommended that you have your alignment checked when you have your vehicle serviced or get an oil change.
How Will I Know If My Car Needs a Wheel Alignment?
It may be time for a wheel alignment if your car exhibits any of these signs:
- Pulling to the right or left while driving
- Feeling a vibration in the steering wheel
- The steering wheel is crooked while driving straight
- Abnormal tire wear
Have you noticed any of these issues during your everyday driving routine? If so, there’s no need to wait to get them taken care of. Save time and schedule an online appointment at Driver’s Edge today.
Tire Alignments and Tire Tread Wear Information
As you already know, unusual tire wear can indicate that your car’s tires are in need of alignment. Even if you’re aware of this, you might not be sure what types of tread wear you should look out for. When inspecting your tires, keep an eye out for:
- Tire feathering. If your tire treads are totally smooth on one side and sharp on the other, you’re dealing with feathering. In many cases, this is a symptom of incorrect toe alignment.
- Camber wear. The cause of camber wear is no secret: this is usually the result of excessive positive or negative camber. Keep an eye out for treads that have a much higher level of wear on the inside or outside compared to the center.
- Heel/toe wear. When one side of your tread blocks gets worn out more slowly than the other, you’re dealing with heel or toe wear. This type of tread wear is distinguished by its “sawtooth” look and feel, and it may be the result of neglecting tire rotation or inflation.
Any one of these atypical wheel tread wear patterns can point to car alignment issues. When you notice tire feathering, camber wear, or heel/toe wear, it’s time to bring your car to a qualified Texas wheel alignment shop like Driver’s Edge for wheel alignment (and any other services you might need).
What Can I Expect During My Wheel Alignment?
A wheel alignment service consists of adjusting the wheels of your vehicle so that all wheels are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.
These basic angles contribute to proper wheel alignment:
- Camber: the measure of the degree of perpendicular offset from the road surface
- Caster: the angle of your wheel’s pivot, which is attached to the suspension; when this angle is out of alignment, straight-line tracking is affected
- Toe: refers to the angle of directional difference between the tire and the centerline of the vehicle
The front and rear wheels on your vehicle should always be perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the tire next to it. If you have any questions about car wheel alignments, give us a call or fill out our contact form here.
Learn More About Wheel Alignment Angles
By now, you’ve had a chance to read up on the basics of wheel alignment—including the angles involved in this process. If there’s more you’d like to know about these angles, read on:
Camber
Put simply, “camber” describes a wheel’s inward or outward tilt. If the high point of your tire tilts away from your car, it’s known as “positive camber.” Meanwhile, “negative camber” involves your wheels tilting away from your vehicle’s body.
It’s crucial to realize that neither type of camber is necessarily better than the other. Instead, both angles are ideal in different situations. Positive camber in a tire alignment is great for improving your vehicle’s overall stability. On the other hand, negative camber in a tire alignment is perfect for high-performance cars in situations where cornering matters. That said, your wheels shouldn’t tilt too far toward either extreme; if they do, you might need tire alignment services.
Caster
To understand “caster,” start by imagining a line between the upper and lower steering pivot points. Caster describes that line’s slope, whether positive or negative.
As is the case for different camber angles, the various types of caster have their benefits and drawbacks. Positive caster (in which your imaginary steering pivot point line slopes towards your car’s rear) can give your tires increased lean while cornering; however, it can be problematic if your vehicle does not have power steering. Negative caster (in which the same line slopes toward the front of your car) in your wheel alignment results in less steering needed around turns, but it can lead to drifting while driving in a straight line.
Toe
Finally, “toe” focuses on whether your front/rear wheels are turned in or out when viewed straight on. Toe is measured as the discrepancy between track widths at the leading and trailing edges of tires and can be referred to as “toe-in” or “toe-out.”
Ideally, a professionally adjusted toe will allow your car’s wheels to rotate in parallel. As a “normal” Dallas driver, your car will likely use toe-in since you do not need to corner quickly in everyday scenarios. That said, race car drivers often use toe-out to benefit from the boost in turning capabilities it can provide.
As you can see, keeping track of the various angles involved in wheel alignment can get complicated before you know it. Taking that into account, it’s best for most Dallas-area motorists to choose a trustworthy shop like Driver’s Edge for this work!
The Most Reliable Alignment Shop in Texas
When your Dallas vehicle is pulling to one side or experiencing uneven tire wear, you already know you need tire alignment services ASAP. But being aware of your car’s issues is just the beginning; you’ll also need to find a reliable alignment shop in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. And while the internet has made it easier to search for local garages, it can also provide you with overwhelming information on this subject.
Instead of considering every possible factor while looking for Texas wheel alignment shops, it’s best to focus on what really matters: the level of alignment service your shop of choice can provide. The Driver’s Edge Complete Tire & Auto Service team knows how crucial this is, and it’s why we’ve been able to serve the needs of Dallas-area drivers for the past decade. Only Driver’s Edge can deliver everything you’re looking for in an alignment shop, including:
Unmatched Auto Mechanic Expertise
When it comes to choosing a tire alignment shop, the single most important factor to keep in mind is the qualifications of a garage’s mechanics. Since these people are personally responsible for fixing your vehicle, their knowledge and work ethic can make or break your experience with a Dallas-area shop.
At Driver’s Edge, we understand how much our customers value quality tire alignment service, which is why we work solely with ASE-certified mechanics. That means you’ll get the best workmanship available, provided by people who genuinely care about getting your vehicle back on the road in Dallas or Fort Worth as soon as possible.
All the Auto Services You Need
If you’re only looking for an auto shop that can provide alignment services right now, you probably aren’t paying too much attention to the other services they can provide. While that’s completely understandable, it’s also a good idea to seek out an auto shop that offers a wide selection of auto repair and maintenance services. That way, you won’t have to repeat the process of finding a new shop the next time something goes wrong with your vehicle. Of course, Driver’s Edge is proud to offer all kinds of services to our clients in the area.
Complimentary Estimates
If you’re paying to fix your vehicle’s tire alignment, you deserve to know roughly how much this job will cost before committing to an alignment shop. Driver’s Edge can give you an estimate before work on your vehicle begins, and we won’t start your maintenance job before you give us approval. You can start this process by requesting a quote online, and we’ll give you a final written estimate when you stop by in person.
Opportunities to Save
No one in Texas wants to overspend on wheel alignment (or any other auto maintenance service, for that matter). That’s why Driver’s Edge offers all sorts of opportunities to save on the services we offer—including online auto repair and wheel alignment coupons. On top of that, we can make it easy for you to get set up with an official Driver’s Edge credit card if you need additional financing support.
What Else Can Driver’s Edge Do for You?
Even if you don’t need anything more than wheel alignment services from your auto shop right now, you never know when you’ll run into other car problems. Because of that, choosing a full-service auto repair shop in or around Dallas is essential. Here’s just a sampling of the other services Driver’s Edge is proud to deliver to its customers on an everyday basis:
Preventative Maintenance
When it comes to automotive maintenance, it’s easy to focus on urgent repairs and other time-sensitive fixes. But another big part of taking care of your car is taking steps to avoid problems before they happen, which means taking preventative maintenance seriously.
The term “preventative maintenance” covers a broad range of services that can help your vehicle stay in good shape over the long run. That includes everything from filter replacement and fluid level checks to tune-ups and belt/hose inspections.
A/C Service
As a Dallas resident, you don’t need anyone else to tell you how hot this part of Texas can get during the summer months. That means your vehicle needs a reliable air conditioning system—but these systems can become less effective if they don’t get regular maintenance.
Driver’s Edge is proud to offer auto A/C repair services at each of our locations. Our skilled crew members can test your vent temperatures, check your components for leaks, test your freon pressure, inspect your compressor and hose fittings, and complete performance tests.
Brake Repair
By their very nature, the components in your brake system are prone to wear and tear over time. These parts are built to stand up to friction on a daily basis, but they’ll eventually wear to a point where they can no longer do their jobs.
When that’s the case, it’s time to take your vehicle to Driver’s Edge for brake repair or brake pad replacement. In addition to these services, we can handle brake inspections, brake component lubrication, and brake fluid flushes.
Transmission Repair
Without a functional transmission, your Dallas-area vehicle simply can’t do its job. This component is responsible for taking your engine’s energy and moving it to your car’s wheels. But when something goes wrong, transmissions are also notoriously difficult to fix.
Instead of trusting just any Texas transmission shop with this high-stakes job, let the team at Driver’s Edge take care of your transmission! Our crew is ready to fully inspect and repair your transmission and change your transmission fluid if needed.
Proudly Serving the Following Locations
At Driver’s Edge, we understand how inconvenient car maintenance and repair jobs can be for people living in and around Dallas. But that doesn’t make these tasks any less important, especially when they can impact your vehicle’s overall performance—and wheel alignment definitely falls into this category.
In the hopes of making life a little easier for our valued clients, Driver’s Edge has established quite a few locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area—all of which offer wheel alignment as a service option. You can get our tire alignment services at:
- Driver’s Edge | Allen
- Driver’s Edge | Arlington
- Driver’s Edge | Basswood Blvd
- Driver’s Edge | Flower Mound
- Driver’s Edge | Fort Worth
- Driver’s Edge | Frisco
- Driver’s Edge | Grapevine
- Driver’s Edge | Irving
- Driver’s Edge | Keller
- Driver’s Edge | Lewisville
- Driver’s Edge | Mansfield
- Driver’s Edge | McKinney
- Driver’s Edge | Plano
- Driver’s Edge | Prosper
- Driver’s Edge | Southlake
- Affordable Auto | Little Elm
- Affordable Auto | McKinney
- Car Care Central | Plano
- Overseas Service Haus | Dallas
- Road Runner Lube & Tune | Fort Worth
- Valvoline Express Lube | Rockwall
Frequently Asked Questions
At Driver’s Edge, we perform quality wheel alignment services in Dallas on all makes and models of vehicles. When you schedule an appointment, you can expect our ASE-certified mechanics to accurately measure the camber, caster, and toe of your wheels before making the proper adjustments. Even if you only scheduled a front end alignment, which includes adjustments to the front two wheels, our mechanics may still measure all four wheels to confirm that your rear wheels are not causing alignment issues.
After your wheel alignment has been performed, our experts may conduct a test drive to ensure that your vehicle’s alignment issues have been remedied. When your vehicle is returned to you, you can expect it to travel in a straight line, preserving your tires, optimizing your fuel economy, and protecting your vehicle’s suspension components.
Driving a vehicle with your wheels out of alignment is not only detrimental to your tires but can also cause other issues for your vehicle, including:
- Suspension damage
- Damaged tires
- Reduced fuel economy
- Handling issues
- Performance loss
If you notice your vehicle needs a wheel alignment in Dallas, we recommend scheduling an appointment at your earliest convenience. The longer you drive with your wheels out of alignment, the more likely you are to cause damage to your vehicle’s components. The severity of your vehicle’s alignment issues will determine how quickly damage to other components will occur. Driving with wheels out of alignment may sound like a small issue, but this problem can actually cost thousands of dollars in damage to your vehicle if left unchecked.
Driving with tires that are out of alignment can ruin your tires in as little as a few hundred miles. While some drivers may get away with driving longer before serious damage occurs, the severity of your alignment needs will determine how quickly damage will occur to your tires.
At times, your wheels will move out of alignment slowly, offering more time to have the issue corrected before serious damage occurs to your tires. However, there are other times when your tires move out of alignment quite rapidly. This can include:
- After spirited driving
- After performing an emergency avoidance
- After hitting a pothole
- After being involved in a collision
If one of the above incidents takes place, your tires may quickly move out of alignment, making the need for tire alignment more urgent.
Performing a front end alignment may address shaking that occurs when driving your vehicle. However, this would only be the case if your need for wheel alignment and balance is due to the fact that the wheels are either pointing toward or away from each other.
In other cases, shaking can be attributed to other service needs:
- Tire balancing — manufacturing inconsistencies as small as a few grams may cause your tires to vibrate, translating into shaking sensations penetrating the cabin of your vehicle.
- Brake rotor replacement — if your vehicle shakes only when you apply the brakes, this may indicate a need for brake rotor replacement. Warped brake rotors lose their symmetrical shape and translate to vibrations invading the cabin when you apply the brakes.
If you notice your vehicle is shaking while driving, we recommend scheduling an appointment at Driver’s Edge to confirm your vehicle’s need for a wheel alignment in Dallas.
