WHAT WOULD MAKE MY VEHICLE’S WHEELS COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT?

Hitting a large rut or pot hole in the roadway with one wheel is the typical reason that a vehicle will come out of alignment. When this happens, the careful calibration and measurement that are needed to keep your vehicle aligned may be altered resulting in steering difficulties.  

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRONT-END ALIGNMENT AND FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT?

An alignment on most vehicles involves only the front end of the vehicle.  However, it is possible to also have rear wheel adjustments.  This would be referred to as a four-wheel alignment rather than the usual front-end alignment.  Most often, the only adjustment that will be made is to the toe setting.  However, it is possible for caster and camber adjustments to be made.  However, this is usually a more difficult service to perform and is less likely to be needed. With modern diagnostic equipment, it is possible to get very precise measurements for a front-end alignment.  The actual work, however, is still only as good as the person using the equipment, interpreting what the data says, and then applying that information to your vehicle. A front-end alignment will be done routinely every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.  But, if you suspect an issue, do not wait for the regularly scheduled maintenance. Likewise if you hit a particularly large pot hole or bumped a curb much harder than normal, an early check would be in order. 

WHAT WILL I OBSERVE IF MY VEHICLE ALIGNMENT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED?

Pulling to one side or the other is the telltale sign that your vehicle needs to be aligned.  You might notice this when on a flat stretch of highway if you release some of your grip on the wheel.  It might be so obvious that you actually feel like you are “fighting” to keep the steering wheel where you want it to be.  In this case, you may have to physically steer away from the pull to keep the vehicle moving straight in your lane.    Over time, driving a vehicle out of alignment will result in irregular tire wear. This could manifest as one tire wearing more than another or as uneven wear across the tread of one tire. If you have had to have any adjustments done to your suspension system or if you have installed new suspension parts such as shocks or springs, it is advisable to also have our technicians check your alignment at that time. 

IS WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCING THE SAME THING? 

Tire balancing and wheel alignment are not the same thing even though they may be related.  Tire balancing will always be done when you purchase new tires, but a wheel alignment is not necessarily needed at that time. Our mechanics may often recommend an alignment check within 3,000 miles of purchasing new tires. Tire balancing will often manifest as vibrations, which is different than the common signs of a misalignment. Occasionally a piece of dried mud, ice, or a rock will become lodged in or around a wheel. This can cause steering or driving difficulties.   Our mechanics will often spot this during an inspection and remove it first to see if removing the obstruction will eliminate the driving issue you have experienced. 

Rotating Your Tires for Winter Safety

While many people ready their cars for winter, they may pay close attention to what is going
on under the hood, but may fail to address issues that can arise from underneath the car. The
tires of a car are the only points of contact your car has with the pavement. If they are not in
good condition, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road waiting for AAA to
come to your rescue. If you want to avoid that scenario, you should make sure to maintain
your tires by having them rotated, balanced, and checked for correct tire pressure.

Why Should Tire Rotation Be Done?

The ultimate goal of tire rotation is to maintain balanced handling and traction by evening
out the wear on the tires. This can be done during oil changes even when you do not see any
noticeable tire wear. Most manufacturers recommend that you rotate your tires every 3,000
to 5,000 miles. Since each tire presents a different wear pattern depending on how the tire is
contacting and interacting with the driving surface, you should rotate all four tires at the
same time. Doing this will help you to have better control of your car and the tires will
respond quicker to your input. It will help with handling and traction.

How is it Done?

There are three types of tire rotation that can be done: rearward cross, forward cross, and the
X-pattern. The rearward cross method switches the rear tires to the front axles and the front
tires are crossed and then installed on the rear axles. In other words, the rear tires are
brought up to the front axles, the left front tire is installed on the right rear axle, and the
right front tire is installed on the left rear axle. The process is reversed for the forward cross
method, with the rear tires being crossed before being installed on the front axles. The X-
pattern crosses both the front tires and rear tires before being installed on their opposite
axles.

Tips for Buying Winter Tires

When replacing your tires, you should be sure to know the size that you need for your car.
You can locate this information by looking on the doorjamb of the driver side door. You may
find a manufacturer sticker that denotes the size and recommended inflation level of the
tires. You can also consult your driver’s manual or ask your mechanic to find the right size
for you. Winter tires will provide additional traction when driving over snow and ice. These
tires have a pronounced tread and are constructed from heavy-duty rubber. Although the
rubber is soft, it provides additional contact with the road, increasing traction. They perform
well on wet surfaces, but they will affect the performance of your car during the summer.
The soft rubber causes the car to feel like you are not connected with the pavement and will
affect your braking and handling during the warm months. Most people purchase winter
tires for installation for winter driving and then remove them after the winter season. If you
live in an area that does not experience much snow and ice, you can also use all-weather
tires. These tires offer the deep tread of the winter tire but the firmness of regular tires.