Alignment Shop Guide: What To Know For Your Next Tire Service

You expect your vehicle to handle properly and drive straight when you’re on the road. Your car’s alignment is the main thing that makes this happen. The wheels on your vehicle have to be correctly lined up to allow for proper control of your vehicle and to give you a smooth ride. When they’re out of alignment, it can lead to uneven tire wear, and driving can be more difficult and more dangerous.

So, having a basic understanding of vehicle alignment and the maintenance service involved with it is extremely beneficial. It will help you maintain your vehicle’s driveability and narrow down the options for a professional alignment shop when you need one.

In this guide, we’ve covered everything you need to know about wheel alignment service.

What is a wheel alignment service, exactly?

Simply put, a wheel alignment (sometimes called a tire alignment or car alignment) involves lining up all four of your tires to the proper height, depth, and width on the vehicle’s axles. Doing this ensures that everything is symmetrical and in the optimal location to allow proper driving capabilities.

An alignment does not involve adjusting the actual wheel or tire assemblies. Instead, the components within the vehicle’s suspension (which connect the vehicle to its wheels) are adjusted. Essentially, during a car alignment service, the mechanics use the suspension to correctly square the wheels and axles with each other, ensuring that they are making proper contact with the road.

At a professional alignment shop (like Tire Works), the ASE-certified mechanic will check the alignment of your vehicle using computerized alignment equipment. These measurements will then be compared to the specifications from your vehicle manufacturer, and the mechanic will make any necessary adjustments. This computerized technology means higher accuracy and much more precise adherence to specifications than manual alignment adjustments.

When your wheel alignment service is complete, you’ll get a detailed printout that shows your vehicle manufacturer’s alignment specifications, what your angles were before service, and what the angles are after making the adjustments.

The Four Main Alignment Angles

The optimal alignment of a vehicle’s wheel and tire assemblies is dependent on several different angles. Knowing what these angles are can give you a clearer understanding of exactly what happens during a car alignment service.

A vehicle’s alignment consists of four main angle measurements. They are:

Toe

The toe angle is the one most often needing adjustment. It measures how much your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above. You can use your feet to mimic this angle. While standing, if you were to look down at your feet and angle them toward the center, this would portray an example of a toe-in alignment. If you turn and angle your feet outward, this would represent an example of a toe-out alignment. If either of these is happening on your vehicle, adjustment is needed.

When this angle is out of alignment, it will not cause the vehicle to pull to one side but can quickly cause uneven tire tread wear. This angle is also the easiest to “knock out” of alignment when you hit a curb, large pothole, or the like.

Caster

The caster angle is responsible for helping to balance your vehicle’s steering, cornering, and overall stability. Specifically, this is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle. If the steering axis tilts toward the front of the vehicle, it is a negative caster angle. If the steering axis tilts toward the driver, it is a positive caster angle.

A misalignment in this angle will cause the vehicle to pull but will not usually cause uneven tire wear.

Camber

When looking at the vehicle from the front, this is your tires’ inward or outward angle. A misalignment of this angle will show as too much inward or outward tilt. In either case, it will need adjustment.

The vehicle may pull to one side if this angle is significantly outside the recommended specification, and one edge of the tire will wear faster. Overly worn bearings, ball joints, and other related suspension components can all cause camber misalignment.

Thrust

The thrust angle, expressed in degrees, compares the vehicle’s centerline to the direction of the rear axle. This angle also confirms if the wheelbase of the vehicle is the same on both sides and if the front axle is parallel to the rear axle.

It is important to note that if the thrust angle is off on a vehicle with a solid rear axle, it will usually require a visit to a metal frame straightening shop to correctly reposition the rear axle.

The Important Benefits of Maintaining Proper Tire Alignment

As you can see, your tires won’t point in the proper direction if your vehicle’s alignment is off. This affects not only your suspension and steering but also the durability and safety of your tires.

So, a vehicle that is properly aligned is a happy vehicle. Including wheel alignment service in your tire maintenance routine offers several valuable benefits that include:

More even tire tread wear: Proper alignment means that your tires will wear more evenly. In the short term, this will provide better gas mileage and reduce vehicle shaking while driving. In the long term, even tread wear significantly helps to extend your tires’ lifespan. Without alignment, the chances of replacing all four tires at the same time versus replacing just one or two at different intervals will be much greater. However, keep in mind that you’ll often get a better price on new tires if you replace all four at once.
A safer vehicle on the road: The chances of being involved in an accident increase significantly when your vehicle is not in alignment, and the tires are unevenly worn. Proper wheel alignment will maintain optimal vehicle handling capabilities and lower the risk of damaging other vehicle components. Your tires will not only be safer to drive on, but your vehicle’s overall level of safety will be higher.
Optimal steering capabilities: Proper vehicle alignment also means that you won’t have to hold the steering wheel at an unusual angle to drive straight down the road. When an alignment angle is off, it may make your steering wheel unpredictable.
You’ll save money in the long run: Maintaining proper alignment on your vehicle means that you won’t be spending more money on gas than usual, need to replace tires sooner, or need costly auto repairs to steering and suspension components.

So, correcting alignment issues as quickly as possible will help maintain optimal driving conditions and prevent you from spending more money than you should. To put it into perspective, if you were to drive 12,000 miles with a toe misalignment of just 3/16”, it would be equal to dragging your tires sideways for 68 miles!

How Often to Visit the Alignment Shop for Service

All vehicles can (and usually will) gradually shift out of alignment over time. A collision, driving over a curb, running over a large object, or hitting a pothole can all quickly knock it out of alignment.

So, the answer to how often an alignment service should be done will differ from vehicle to vehicle. It’s mainly dependent on how and where you drive. Your vehicle’s owner manual will give you the most accurate answer about the best wheel alignment routine for your vehicle.

Sometimes, a misalignment can be so minute that you may not catch it right away. That’s why regular alignment checks/adjustments at a professional alignment shop should be included in your preventative maintenance routine.

Generally speaking, you should have the alignment checked roughly every 6,000 miles (or with every other oil change, depending on your vehicle’s oil change schedule). You can also have it checked at the time of your regular tire rotations.

The alignment should also be checked ASAP if you have recently run over or hit something in the road. If this happens, it can sometimes cause a misalignment as bad as an accident would. Our Las Vegas auto repair shop provides top-notch auto repair services, including alignment checks and adjustments, to ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly and safely. Don't let a misalignment compromise your driving experience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for an alignment check or any other auto repair services you may need.

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Red Flags That You May Need an Alignment Service

There are several warning signs to look out for that indicate your wheels/tires may not be in proper alignment. These include:

Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight.
Your steering wheel or vehicle vibrates when turning.
Your vehicle pulls to the right or left when driving.
The tread on your tires is wearing unevenly or faster than normal.
Your vehicle is not handling as well when braking or turning corners.
Your tires are squealing when turning a corner at normal speeds.
You are dealing with more suspension-related issues.
A car alignment service has not been done on your vehicle in over a year.

If you are experiencing any of the above, make sure your vehicle’s alignment is checked out at a professional alignment shop ASAP. An ASE-certified mechanic can inspect the alignment, pinpoint exactly which angles may be out of specification, and accurately make the proper adjustments.

Ways You Can Help Maintain Your Vehicle’s Alignment

There are several easy ways that you can help maintain your vehicle’s suspension and ensure that it stays in proper alignment longer. These include:

Watch what you’re driving over: Though it sounds obvious, it’s something to be mindful of. Do what you can to safely avoid potholes or debris in the road, and try not to run over curbs. Driving over these types of things is the most common cause of misalignment issues.
Maintain the correct tire air pressure: Underinflated tires impact the height of the vehicle’s chassis. And the angles of your vehicle’s alignment are directly influenced by your vehicle’s chassis height. So, it’s important to make sure each tire has the correct air pressure.
Remove excess weight: Too much weight in the back of your vehicle will also lower the vehicle’s height, throwing your alignment off. So, take anything out of the vehicle that you don’t need.
Drive more cautiously: Being more careful and driving less aggressively will lessen the excess strain on your vehicle’s steering and suspension components, which are critical to maintaining proper wheel alignment.

If you’re doing all of the above and still notice indications of an alignment issue, bring your vehicle to our professional alignment shop for an inspection as soon as possible. Doing so will alleviate undue strain on your suspension components and help prevent uneven tire wear.

The Local Experts for Wheel / Tire Alignment Service

Being more knowledgeable about wheel alignment will be very helpful in understanding exactly how best to take care of your tires, what the service involves, and how to properly maintain your vehicle.

When you need a local alignment shop that you can trust, look no further than Tire Works Total Car Care. We are the experts in car alignment, no matter if you need just a front-end alignment or a complete wheel alignment. Our ASE-certified mechanics can maintain your steering and handling systems while providing top-notch customer service at a reasonable price.

During an alignment inspection, if the mechanic finds that any of the angles we mentioned above are out of specification, they can make the exact adjustments necessary and ensure proper car alignment. We can also inspect your vehicle for driveline problems and address those as needed.

Tire Works is the top choice for Las Vegas-area drivers who need an alignment shop they can count on. Our auto care experts can handle professional and accurate wheel alignment, and any other auto service needs your vehicle may have. This includes everything from routine oil and filter changes to transmission repair.

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