Your vehicles wheel alignment is one of the most important components to ensure optimal performance, safety, and fuel economy.
If your wheels aren’t aligned correctly, it can lead to uneven tire wear and poor handling. In fact, many vehicle owners don’t realize that their wheels are out of alignment until they notice vibrations or pull in one direction while driving. A reliable mechanic is your best resource for getting an accurate wheel alignment at a fair price. Here’s everything you need to know about wheel alignments:
What is a wheel alignment?
A wheel alignment is the process of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are set to the manufacturer’s specifications. The purpose is to ensure that the vehicle’s wheels are perpendicular to the road surface and parallel to each other, which leads to a smoother ride for you and your passengers.
A proper wheel alignment will also reduce tire wear, improve gas mileage and help prevent poor handling or excessive wear on suspension components such as ball joints and control arms (if equipped).
Regular wheel alignments are essential for optimal performance and safe driving.
- Wheel alignments are important for safety because they ensure that your vehicle is properly aligned to the road, reducing tire wear and improving handling.
- Regular wheel alignments are also crucial in order to achieve maximum fuel efficiency by reducing the amount of friction between the tires and road surface, which reduces rolling resistance (the energy lost as a result of friction). This means you’ll use less gas when driving!
- Additionally, regular wheel alignments can extend the life of your tires by ensuring their contact patches remain evenly distributed across their entire surfaces. This helps prevent uneven wear patterns that can cause premature replacement costs down the road–and we all know how expensive new tires are!
Signs your vehicle needs an alignment
If you’re noticing that your vehicle is pulling to one side, or if the steering wheel is off-center, it might be time for an alignment. If you drive over a bump and hear a thud in your tires, then feel the vehicle pull toward that side and bounce back into place when you straighten out again, this could also be a sign of misaligned wheels.
When braking at 50 miles per hour and steering with locked wheels on dry pavement (i.e., no rain or snow), there should be no movement or vibration felt in any direction other than straight ahead; any deviation from this indicates that something needs adjusting. Finally, if turning left becomes difficult after driving straight for some time without using brakes–or vice versa–then an alignment may help correct this issue as well!
How often should you get a wheel alignment?
The answer to this question depends on the age and condition of your vehicle. Some vehicles require alignments more often than others, and how often you need an alignment depends on the type of vehicle you drive. If you’re unsure about how often to get a wheel alignment, check your owner’s manual for recommended alignment intervals or give us a call.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what a wheel alignment is and why it’s important. If you notice any of the signs listed above, it’s a good idea to call us at Franklynn Automotive to schedule a wheel alignment appointment as soon as possible. We will get your vehicle back on track with its regular maintenance so that it performs at its best and stays safe on the road!
