What is a tire alignment?
An alignment refers to an adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension. The system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It is not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves. The key to proper alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires which affect how they make contact with the road.
How do you know if you need an alignment?
Most common signs of misalignment are pulling to one side while driving.
Unusual tire wear
A steering wheel that is off center even though your vehicle is pointed straight.
How many miles does an alignment last?
Typically, an alignment can last 15,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on the road conditions and other factors like pothole and curbs. It is a good idea to have a certified mechanic inspect your vehicle at each oil change to keep you informed about any changes they see that could also affect your alignment, like wearing suspension components.
What gets adjusted during an alignment?
There are 3 main areas that your technician will be adjusting: Toe, Camber and Caster.
Camber refers to the inward or outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front.
Toe refers to the inward or outward angle of the tire, when viewed above. A good analogy is to look down at your feet and angle your toes inward, this would be called toe in alignment.
Caster angle helps in steering and stability when viewing from the side. The caster refers to that angle of the steering axle as it connects to the wheel.
A wheel alignment is an important car Maintenace task that involves adjusting the angles of your cars wheels to maximize how the vehicle preforms when driving.