Alignments help keep your wheels pointed in the right direction. When your wheels are misaligned, you may experience a few uncomfortable and potentially dangerous symptoms, such as reduced fuel economy, premature tire wear, and difficulty steering.
Here’s why wheel alignments are an important part of vehicle maintenance and how to tell when it’s time to schedule your wheel alignment service.
WHAT IS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT?
Despite the name, a wheel alignment (also known as tire alignment) isn’t an adjustment of the wheels and tires themselves. A wheel alignment service is done by adjusting your car’s steering and suspension, which connects your vehicle to its wheels. Proper alignment is achieved by adjusting the angles of your tires, which impacts how they make contact with the road. Every vehicle’s optimal alignment angles are dependent upon the make, model, and manufacturer's recommendations.
DO I NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT?
Wheel alignment is necessary for the best possible driving experience. Every vehicle comes preset with specific tire angles and positioning. In order for your vehicle to travel the way it’s supposed to, your wheels need to be precisely aligned to OEM specifications. Misalignment can lead to uneven tire wear, poor handling, and shorter tire life. Keeping your tires properly aligned can help them last longer.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT?
How often you need a wheel alignment depends on your typical road conditions and how you drive your vehicle. It's important to note that bad roads can often be the cause of alignment issues. If you frequently ride over potholes, drive down poorly maintained roads, or even hit a curb, your alignment can be affected.
The general recommendation is to have your alignment checked at the first signs of misalignment or around every 6,000 miles. Your vehicle manufacturer may also recommend an alignment inspection as part of the vehicle’s ongoing maintenance.
HOW WILL A WHEEL ALIGNMENT HELP MY VEHICLE?
A tire alignment ensures optimal drivability. From helping your tires last longer and keeping your vehicle driving smoother to ensuring your wheels are pointed in the right direction, regular wheel alignments provide many great benefits. Alignment issues can also cause your car to guzzle gas more quickly, so an alignment can potentially lead to a more efficient ride as well.
WHAT DOES TIRE WEAR MEAN TO MY CAR’S ALIGNMENT?
Poor alignment is a common cause of uneven tire wear. Ideally, you should see even wear across your tires’ treads if you also keep up with tire rotations. If you notice excessive wear, you may need an alignment adjustment or have too much junk in your trunk.
Poor alignment can shorten your tires’ lifespan by thousands of miles. Enjoy better fuel economy and longer-lasting tires by having your alignment checked at least at the first sign of uneven or premature tire wear.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT?
There are a few noticeable signs you need an alignment. Just use your eyes, ears, and hands. Here are some common signs that you may be dealing with poor alignment:
- Your vehicle pulls to one side
- Uneven or rapid tire wear
- Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight
- Squealing tires
- Shaking or vibrating steering wheel
- Your steering wheel feels loose or unresponsive
If you’re noticing any of these alignment symptoms, schedule an alignment check at Firestone Complete Auto Care to get your ride pointed in the right direction.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MAINTAIN MY ALIGNMENT?
While wheel alignments require professionals and professional equipment, there are steps you can take to help maintain your alignment. Here are some tips:
Remove heavy, bulky items from your trunk. If you have too much weight loading down your back end, it can temporarily throw off your alignment. Remove what you don’t need.Maintain correct air pressure in your tires. If one corner of your vehicle is running lower due to underinflation, it can temporarily throw off your alignment.Slow down and try to avoid potholes and curbs. Embracing conservative driving habits can help place less strain on steering and suspension components, which are key to maintaining proper alignment.
LET FIRESTONE HANDLE YOUR ALIGNMENT ISSUES
Firestone Complete Auto Care offers different alignment service options so you can choose the one that best fits your needs: standard wheel alignment and lifetime wheel alignment.
During a standard alignment service, a technician will inspect your vehicle's camber, caster, and toe angles (when applicable), tire wear and condition, suspension system, and more. We'll also make adjustments where needed.
With our lifetime wheel alignment service, you'll enjoy all of the benefits of standard service. Plus, you'll be eligible to receive alignments every 6 months (or every 6,000 miles), free of charge, for as long as you own the vehicle*.
Tire misalignment can be so subtle you may not even realize it. If you are unsure about your current alignment, call on your local Firestone Complete Auto Care. Why wait? Trust our precision equipment and expertise to check your alignment and fix it if needed today!
*Talk to an automotive technician at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for complete terms and conditions.
FAQs
Driving a car with bad alignment is never recommended and can cause more than just an annoying driving experience. Doing so could lead to reduced fuel economy, expensive tire replacement costs, and steering concerns that could put you, your passengers, and other motorists at risk.
What are the symptoms of a bad alignment? ›
Here are some common signs that you may be dealing with poor alignment:
- Your vehicle pulls to one side.
- Uneven or rapid tire wear.
- Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight.
- Squealing tires.
- Shaking or vibrating steering wheel.
- Your steering wheel feels loose or unresponsive.
Driving a car with bad alignment is never recommended and can cause more than just an annoying driving experience. Doing so could lead to reduced fuel economy, expensive tire replacement costs, and steering concerns that could put you, your passengers, and other motorists at risk.
How fast can a bad alignment ruin tires? ›
The wear on your tires caused by alignment issues depends on the severity of the problem. Over time, even a minor issue can take thousands of miles off a tire's life, but a major misalignment, especially in the toe angle, can chew through your tire tread depth in just a few hundred miles if you don't get it fixed.
What does your car do when it's out of alignment? ›
If your vehicle is out of alignment, uneven tire wear can occur, which can cause a vibration that is felt in your steering wheel. Steering wheel vibrations can also be because of unbalanced tires or a bent rim caused by hitting a curb or pothole.
How do I know if my body is out of alignment? ›
Possible signs that your spine is out of alignment include:
- chronic headaches.
- lower back pain.
- neck pain.
- knee pain.
- hip pain.
- frequent illnesses.
- excessive fatigue.
- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
Balancing also contributes to overall ride comfort. Imbalanced tires can wobble or hop up and down, causing vibration. If a front tire isn't properly balanced, you'll likely feel vibration in the steering wheel. If the problem is in the rear, you'll feel shaking in the seat or floor.
What does it feel like to drive with bad alignment? ›
Loose Steering: If your steering feels wobbly or unstable, it could be a sign of bad alignment. It feels like your car isn't quite staying on course, and you have to keep adjusting the steering. 5. Steering Wheel Doesn't Center: After turning, your steering wheel should go back to the center by itself.
What happens if a car isn't aligned properly? ›
Tires that are out of alignment tend to drag to the side, forcing the driver to keep a hard grip on his or her steering wheel. Misalignment can adversely affect how a vehicle brakes and handles, compromising safety on the road. Tire drag from misaligned wheels could also result in the vehicle consuming more fuel.
How long can I go without a wheel alignment? ›
If your owner's manual doesn't specify how often you should have your wheels realigned, you should bring your car to a service center or auto repair shop for a wheel alignment checkup at least once a year. Usually, a vehicle's wheel alignment will be at least slightly off after one or two years of driving.
Squeaking, squealing, creaking, or knocking sounds from under the car, it is bad wheel alignment. The noise comes when the tires are being dragged on the road instead of rolling normally. You will happen to hear all of these sounds and noises considering them a cry for help. Find bad alignment solutions immediately.
How long does it take to fix an alignment issue? ›
A normal car alignment (whether a two wheel or a four wheel), will take on average about one hour, not including waiting time. If there is any damage or too much play on any ball joint, track rod, suspension or steering bushing, then it could take longer as various components may need to be replaced.
What happens if you wait too long to get a wheel alignment? ›
What happens if you wait too long for an alignment? Tire alignment is crucial for maintaining optimal tire performance and lifespan. Even slight misalignments, undetectable to the naked eye but measurable in tenths of degrees or hundredths of inches, can lead to premature and uneven wear.
How does a car act when it needs an alignment? ›
It may drift a little if the road is curved downwards to the left or right for drainage purposes, but your steering wheel should stay mostly straight. If you let go of your steering wheel while you are driving and it pulls harshly to the left or the right, that is a strong sign that your vehicle is out of alignment.
How to tell if alignment is off? ›
If your steering wheel feels loose or tends to move back and forth on its own as you drive down the road, this can be a sign of a misalignment. The sound of your tires squealing when turning slow corners(think store parking lots) could also indicate an issue with the alignment.
How urgent is wheel alignment? ›
Why Your Alignment Is Important. Regular alignments should be done twice a year as part of your basic auto maintenance. Why? Because misaligned tire and wheel assemblies will impact your gas mileage, cause tires to wear out faster, and reduce drivability.
How do you know if you need a new alignment? ›
The most common signs of misalignment are pulling to one side while you're driving, unusual tire wear and/or a steering wheel that's off-center even though your vehicle is pointed straight. But these symptoms can have other causes, sometimes simpler and sometimes not.
What does it feel like when your wheels are out of alignment? ›
Misaligned wheels can make your steering feel loose. You may not feel as if you have total control of your automobile, especially when you go around corners. Your steering should always feel the same, so if anything has changed, bring your vehicle in for an alignment and steering system check.
What does a misaligned car sound like? ›
If your vehicle is making strange noises, it signifies that the car may have problems like suspension, loose parts, or bad wheel alignment. Squeaking, squealing, creaking, or knocking sounds from under the car, it is bad wheel alignment.
What happens when there is a lack of alignment? ›
Lack of alignment hinders the performance of many organizations. A company's culture can be significantly impacted, for better or worse, by how persistently leaders drive alignment. In order to inspire and unleash greater organizational performance, it's important for leaders to consistently prioritize alignment.
