Tire alignment is an important component to keeping not only your tires but also your vehicle functioning properly. This is routine maintenance that only takes around an hour, yet it’s something that many people forget about. If you want to take the best possible care of your car, you’ll likely benefit from learning about the ins and outs of tire alignment. Read on to learn what tire alignment is, how often you should get it done, how long it takes, and the key signs that your car needs tire alignment.
What Is Tire Alignment?
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Tire alignment ensures that the wheels of a vehicle align with one another when driving on the surface of the road or another surface, such as terrain. It’s done by readjusting the suspension system to where it properly belongs, including its configuration, and may require the adjustment of other components. While you can do some other car maintenance tasks on your own, tire alignment is one that requires you to take your vehicle into a repair shop.
The goal of tire alignment is to ensure the car’s wheels and axles line up with one another so they move in the same direction. Tire alignment also impacts the suspension angles, as all angles directly affect tire positioning and movement. It also helps to make sure your steering wheel is centered and doesn’t feel wobbly when driving.
What kind of tire alignment your vehicle will need depends on your suspension system and how it distributes power to your car’s wheels. For example, if you have an all-wheel-drive car, you will need to have a four-wheel alignment. If you have a front-wheel-drive car, your vehicle will need a front-end alignment and a trust-angle alignment.
Is Tire Alignment Necessary?
In short, yes, tire alignment is necessary and is one of the most important maintenance components of a vehicle. If you have misaligned wheels, it reduces the handling capacity and may pull in one direction, making steering difficult. Not getting regular tire alignments can also result in a considerable increase of money in car ownership. Unaligned tires can result in tire wear, which can ultimately cause you to have to replace your tires more frequently. If you don’t get regular tire maintenance, you may experience tire blowouts and flat spots that can cause added tension to your tires.
How Often Should You Get a Tire Alignment Done?
How often you should get your tires aligned depends on several factors, including the type of car you have, how often you drive, and your habits while driving. Many car repair experts recommend getting your tires aligned once every two to three years, but you can also ask the mechanic if you’re due for a tire alignment when you take it in for other maintenance or repairs. Most auto repair shops will provide a free tire alignment checkup.
You may find how often you should have your tires rotated in your car’s owner’s manual. You can also pay attention to how your car is driving, including whether your car drifts to one side, or doesn’t hold steady on the road. Be sure to get a tire alignment every time you purchase new tires and have them installed.
How Long Does Tire Alignment Take?
Tire alignments rarely take long. The average time for a tire alignment is around one hour, regardless of whether you have a front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle. If there’s excessive damage, wear and tear, steering bushing, or problems with the suspension system, it will probably take longer to complete the alignment.
Signs Your Car Needs Tired Alignment
There are a few key indicators that you may need to have your tires aligned. Some of these signs include:
Rapid or Uneven Tire Wear
The more out of line your tires are, the more likely you are to experience rapid tire wear. Tire wear may only occur in certain spots that show the misalignment in different areas of your vehicle. This can result in you having to replace your tires rather than simply getting a tire alignment. However, only an alignment inspection will determine if this is needed.
Your Steering Wheel Veers to One Side When Driving Straight
Another telltale sign is when your steering wheel veers to one side when you are driving straight on a road. This often means that one or more tires are misaligned, which will impact the stability of your steering.
Your Car’s Steering Is Noisy
In addition to rapid tire wear and your steering will veering to one side, if you experience noisy steering in your car, it’s likely that you’d benefit from a tire alignment.
Your Car’s Steering Wheel Pulls to the Right or Left
This is also a common sign of a need for a tire alignment. As with when your steering wheel veers to one side, a steering wheel that pulls to the left or right can indicate misaligned tires and impact your ability to drive safely and have a firm hold on the steering wheel.
Your Car Tires Squeal
Squealing tires are another indicator of the need for a tire alignment. The squealing will typically occur when you’re braking, turning quickly, or speeding up. An alignment can eliminate this squealing and make driving a pleasure once again.
Loose Steering
If your steering wheel feels loose or easily moves when driving, this could be another indicator that your wheels are out of alignment. If you feel your wheel turns with very little tire motion, consider having your tire alignment assessed by a mechanic.
At Panama City Toyota, motorists come from all over the area to use our service center. Toyota drivers can rely on high-quality results no matter what service they are looking for. One service we offer is tire inspections and services, which include tire alignment. Other services we offer at our well-known service center include oil and filter changes, routine auto maintenance, brake services, exhaust repair, battery service, multi-point inspections, and the installation of new tires.
If you believe you need a wheel alignment, stop by the contact us today. We’d be happy to inspect your tires and help determine whether a tire alignment is necessary for your vehicle.
