WHEEL ALIGNMENT

What is Wheel Alignment?

Alignment refers to an adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension – the system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. It is not an adjustment of the tires or wheels themselves. The key to proper alignment is adjusting the angles of the tires so that they maintain consistent, maximum contact with the road.

How Do I Know if I Need a Wheel Alignment?

The diagram below shows how driving with bad wheel alignment causes tire problems that can create dangerous situations if tires wear out too quickly, potentially causing a blow-out.

If you’ve noticed one or more of these indicators, you should have your alignment checked by a licensed service technician immediately. 

• Uneven tread wear on your tires
• Vehicle pulling to the right or left when traveling straight
• Your steering wheel is off center when driving straight
• Your steering wheel vibrates when you drive

Wheel Alignment Adjustments

When a technician checks your wheel alignment, he or she is mainly concerned with three things:

• Camber Adjustment – This is the inward or outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, respectively, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted. Worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment.

• Toe Adjustment – Distinct from camber alignment, toe alignment is the extent to which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above. If that’s confusing, just stand up and look down at your feet. Angle them inward toward the center of your body. When the tires on your car are angled the same way (remember, we’re thinking in terms of birds-eye-view), we call this toe-in alignment. Angle your feet outward and you have toe-out alignment. Both require adjustment.

• Caster Adjustment – Your caster angle helps balance steering, stability, and cornering. Specifically, it’s the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle. If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt toward the driver. Negative caster, on the other hand, means the steering axis tilts toward the front of your vehicle.

S&S Tire and Auto Services user a laser-guided alignment system to ensure the highest precision when aligning the wheels of your car or truck. Stop by today and schedule your FREE alignment check and make sure you’re not wasting money on misaligned wheels that cost you gas mileage and wear-out your tires twice as fast.