The most important aspect of having a car is
making sure your car is safe. Having a safe car affects more than you, it also
protects your family and the other cars on the road. One aspect of safety that
shouldn’t be overlooked is wheel alignment.
Having your wheels aligned is an important
part of maintaining your automobile. If you are not auto savvy, you may be
unsure of what wheel alignment is, how it benefits your vehicle and what the
signs are that your car needs to have the wheels aligned. Here are a few of the
questions you may have about wheel alignment and the answers.
How Do Automobile
Wheels Become Unaligned?
When you drive on an uneven surface, hit a
pothole or bump into a curb while parking, the impact can disturb the alignment
of your wheels. If you’re involved in an auto accident, the sudden jarring
motion can negatively impact wheel alignment. Lastly, worn suspension parts
that can't fully support the weight and motion of the wheels any longer can
cause your tires to become unaligned.
What Are the Signs
Your Wheels Need to Be Aligned?
Some automobile parts need to be maintained
based on the number of miles you drive. Others need to be maintained as needed.
Wheel alignment is completed on an as-needed basis. This is why it is important
that you know what the signs are that your tires have become unaligned.
When your tires are not aligned, the most
common sign is that your car begins to drift or pull to either the left or
right. When you are driving in a straight path, gently ease up on grasping the
steering wheel. Your car should continue in a straight line. If you start to
veer to the left or right, you have an alignment issue.
Other signs that your wheels are not aligned
include tire squealing when you are turning, tires that are wearing unevenly,
or a steering wheel that is not centered or straight when you are driving in a
straight line.
How Are Wheels
Aligned?
When your wheels are not aligned, you will
need to bring your vehicle to an auto repair center to have them aligned. A
device called an alignment machine will be used to align your wheels.
The alignment machine uses computer
measurements and readings to position and adjust various parts that make up the
suspension system of your car. By adjusting the suspension parts and angles,
your wheels will naturally fall into place and align with each other. The
machine makes minor adjustments until the readings show that the wheels and
axles are aligned with each other.
What Are the Benefits
of Having Your Wheels Aligned?
When your wheels are aligned, your tires will
last longer. Unaligned tires can cause uneven wear on your tires, causing one
tire to wear out before the other tires do. Another benefit is that aligning
your tires can help you use less gas, as your car uses less energy to keep
going. The final benefit of having your tires aligned is that your car is
easier to drive and handles better. Ultimately, this helps you to stay safer
when driving.
What Can Happen If You
Do Not Have Your Wheels Aligned?
If you do not have your wheels properly
aligned, your tires may wear unevenly and have a shorter lifespan. Your tires
are not the only thing that can suffer damage; parts that make up your
suspension system may also wear prematurely if you do not have your wheels
properly aligned.
Is your car showing you signs that it needs to
have its wheels aligned? Schedule an appointment with us at Dualtone
Auto Repair, located in San Diego, California, and let us properly
align your wheels.
