What Is Tire Alignment and What Causes Improper Tire Alignment?

Improper tire alignment can create problems with your vehicle.  Simply put, tire alignment encompasses all components that make your vehicle go straight. Improper tire alignment can affect your cars driving performance as well as cost you money. When you get your car tires aligned by one of our professionals, all four wheels are positioned straight ahead and parallel. Your car tires can get out of alignment due to many factors, including simply driving your car.  Running over a pothole and driving on unpaved roads both can take your car suspension out of where it is set and cause tire alignment to be off.

Why Is Tire Alignment Important?

Tire alignment is important for many reasons.  The first reason is to make sure that your tires are aligned is that it improves your car’s gas mileage.  Especially when gas prices are very high, every adjustment that can be made to your car to save money is a good thing.  Having your tires aligned properly decreases the resistance your car gets from your tires and thus saves you money.  The second reason for good tire alignment is that it improves safety.  When wheels are properly aligned, it improves your car’s tracking and steering, making car driving safer.  The third reason for proper tire alignment is it reduces tire wear.  If your car tires are aligned and wear evenly, than your tires will last longer and you won’t spend as much money on tire replacement.  Improper tire alignment contributes to tire wear because your tires are either pulled in an awkward direction or not rolling straight, causing excessive wear.  The forth reason to maintain good tire alignment is that it improves vehicle handling.  If your car vibrates or shimmies, it is probably due to improper tire alignment.  When tires are not aligned properly, it can also cause your steering wheel to pull to one side or the other.  It could also make your vehicle feel as though it is loose or wanders.  Frankly put, tire alignment can drastically improve vehicle handling and driving enjoyment.  

What is Adjusted in Tire Alignment?

What actually is adjusted during tire alignment?  There are four elements that go into tire alignment including the caster, toe, ride height, and camber. The caster is part of your cars suspension and is the angle of the steering axis.  It supports the tire assembly and the tire itself.  The caster stabilizes your vehicle at high speeds and improves the overall steering feel of your car.  The toe is whether or not the rears of the tires are closer or further apart as opposed to the fronts of the tires.  Ride height is the distance between the frame of the vehicle and the road.  The camber is the inward and outward tilt of your tire.  Adjusting the camber dictates how much tire tread will be in contact with the road.

How Often Should Tires Be Realigned?

So, how often should tires be realigned?  It is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for tire alignment.  These tips can be found in your car’s owner’s manual.  Generally, tire alignment should be checked every 10,0000 miles or once a year.