As spring is arriving, it is important to perform a thorough maintenance checkup on your vehicle after those harsh winter conditions we experienced. Wheel alignment on your car refers to the placement of the wheels in relation to the body and axles. Changing from such cold temperatures to a warmer climate is rough on your car’s components. Significant weather changes put stress on everything from the metals and glass to the rubber and plastic, which is why performing an inspection of your vehicle is essential.
The Importance of Wheel Alignments
Most often temperature changes have a large impact on your tires. You should start your spring inspection of your tires. Tire alignment is important for several reasons. Your car’s tires have a large impact on you gas mileage. As gas prices continue to inflate, it is even more important to get your tire alignment looked at and ensure that your tires are properly aligned. This decreases the resistance your car gets from your tires and thus saves you money. Another reason to get your tires adjusted it is improves safety. Having misaligned tires can make for a not so smooth ride, poor tracking and extreme tire wear. Improper alignment contributes to tire wear because your tires are either pulled in an odd direction or not rolling straight, causing excessive wear. When your tires are aligned properly you will notice improved vehicle handling. Vibrations, shimmies, and pulling usually indicate your wheel alignment is out of whack.
Causes of Poor Alignment
Improper alignment can arise more easily than you may think. One thing you can do is make sure your tires have the correct about of air pressure and tire tread. Having too little of either can be the start of a worn down tire. It is a good idea to take your vehicle into one of our mechanics and have them balance and rotate your tires. This is useful because wheels can often get off center in the winter months from snow and ice being lodged underneath. Driving over a pothole or running into a curb is jarring not only for the passengers in the vehicle, but also for your vehicle. The impact can bend the suspension and damage the joints. Also, if you have made any height adjustments to your vehicle it can cause your tires to become unaligned. When this type of modification is done, it requires several new parts to be added to the vehicle’s suspension.
Know when the Tires should be Aligned
To ensure maximum life out of your tires, a routine yearly checkup is recommended with one of our auto mechanics. If your drive on bad roads or have a high annual mileage, however, you should consider getting your wheels checked twice a year. Check your tire pressure at least once a month to catch premature signs of troubles with your tires. Aligning your wheels on a timely basis will keep maintenance costs down on your vehicle, saving you a great deal of money. This can also help make the vehicle safe and reliable.