Having your wheels alignment and balancing done is one of those things you often only learn about when you have to purchase your first set of tyres for your car. That said, it’s a pretty important task that needs to be done regularly so it’s important to know what it involves and what signs to look for to give you an indication of when you need to get your alignment done.
In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s important to get your car’s wheels aligned and how to tell when the wheels are out of alignment.
What is wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment refers to adjusting the car’s suspension to ensure the tyres all sit perfectly in line with one another and to make the tread of the whole tyre touch the road instead of just a section of the tyre. Generally, when wheel alignment is done, it doesn’t just focus on aligning the wheels solely but the entire system Here’s what the process will focus on when it happens:
- The camber is the inward or outward angle of the tyre that you’ll see from the front. If the camber is off, it means that the wheel is tilting either towards the car or away from the car. In this case, the tyres will wear faster on the limited tread in contact with the ground
- The toe alignment is very similar to the camber but refers to when the tyre is leaning inward or outwards from above
- Finally, your caster angles help keep balance with your steering, cornering, and overall stability
When you take your car in for the wheel alignment to be done, they’ll ensure that all of these aspects are accurate.
What causes your wheels to misalign?
There are several reasons as to why wheels misalign, but the most common is due to a sudden impact on one of the wheels that throws the car’s wheels out of alignment. For example, hitting a hole in the road or a rock could provide a big enough impact that damages your car’s suspension in that area, knocking out its alignment and balancing or even causing the tire to burst or the rim to dent.
Signs that your wheels are out of alignment
When your tires are misaligned, they can cause your car to operate differently. For example, you may have less traction or a pull in your steering. While these issues are important to fix, the main reason we should promptly attend to misaligned tyres is for your safety while driving. So, how do you know when your car’s wheel alignment is out? Here are a few signs to look out for:
- A common sign that your car’s wheels are out of alignment is when there’s a pull to one side while you steer. While you drive, you may feel that the car is constantly leaning to one side like the wind is blowing it. To test whether this is the case, go to an empty parking lot and drive slowly while letting go of the steering wheel for a short period of time. If the car pulls, you know the alignment needs to be done
- Another sign that your alignment is out is if your steering wheel vibrates irregularly. For some cars, having the steering wheel vibrate is normal, but if it does it more than normal, you may need to take it in to have your wheel alignment done. If you notice this, look for other signs of misalignment, too, like the car pulling while you drive
- Lastly, misaligned wheels often also cause the tyres to wear down unevenly, making one side of the tyre smoother than the other. Ideally, the whole tread of the tyre should be touching the surface of the road at the same time to provide you with better traction. This also ensures that the tyre wears more evenly and lasts longer. However, when it wears down unevenly, you’ll most likely need to get new tyres sooner
Benefits of having your wheels aligned
By this stage, you’re probably seeing the value in having your tyres aligned already, but just to drive matters home a bit more, here are some benefits of having your tyres aligned regularly:
Better handling and performance
When your wheels are aligned correctly, it ensures that the car tracks straight and performs better. Think about it this way; when your tyres are misaligned, it can cause a pull in the steering, vibrations, or other issues that affect how your vehicle performs, especially when it comes to handling. On the other hand, when everything is aligned properly, there shouldn’t be any handling issues at all.
Longer tyre life
As we described above, when your wheels are misaligned, your tyres can wear down unevenly, which can be an issue when it comes to handling and will most likely require you to purchase newer tyres sooner.
Prevents damage to another part of the vehicle
Finally, excessive vibrations in a car are never a good thing. When your vehicle rattles more than it should, it can slightly misplace or loosen other parts, causing them to wear faster than they should. In particular, we’re referring to the suspension system and tyres. By doing your wheel alignment, you can reduce this risk and prevent damage to other vehicle parts.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to getting a wheel alignment, people can sometimes put it off for a long time. However, the result of this decision often leaves them with having to purchase new tyres sooner than they actually should. So, remember, wheel alignment is essential and will save you money in the long run if you do it regularly.
