Tire Alignment: What You Need to Know
Tire Alignment: What You Need to Know
Posted on November 1, 2023
Tire Alignment: What You Need to Know
Taking care of your tire alignment in Corner Brook is essential to staying safe on the road. Every six months, you should check your alignment, even if mechanics want to check it at every visit you make. There are many reasons to ensure your wheels are straight and all going in the same direction, and we’ll explain those in this article.
What is Tire Alignment?
Tire alignment, also known as wheel alignment, is a process wherein a vehicle’s suspension is adjusted. The process doesn’t adjust your car’s wheels or tires at all, despite the name. However, the adjustment does change the angle of your vehicle’s tires, affecting how they touch the road while you drive.
Why Tire Alignment is Important
There are many reasons as to why proper alignment is a must on any car. Here are four of the ways in which a bad alignment can affect your driving experience.
Smooth Driving
Wheel alignment can affect the driving and handling performance of many cars. The effect is most noticeable on rear-wheel drive vehicles as they will develop tread wear faster. Keeping your tire’s tread even ensures a smoother ride overall.
Safety
Tire alignment is a crucial factor for the safety of your vehicle, affecting you and others on the road. Unevenly wearing out the tread can cause a tire to burst as you drive. Additionally, as poor alignment can affect your steering and handling in many ways, you will likely struggle to maintain control over the vehicle.
By fixing up your alignment, you help avoid any issues while driving, lessening the chance of a flat and improving your control over the car in an emergency. Additionally, lowering the opportunity for one or more flat tires to occur while you’re driving reduces your chance of being stuck alongside the road without a spare wheel.
Car and Tire Lifespan
Proper wheel alignment is beneficial for both your tires and your car itself. The tires will last longer by evenly spreading out the wear on the tires. Unaligned wheels see their tires wear tread unevenly, which can create soft spots on the wheels, causing a burst to become more likely.
Fuel Consumption
If your car is driving smoother and the tires are aligned, you’ll notice a slight decrease in the amount of fuel consumed while driving. While the amount of fuel saved may not be significant, it does add up slowly over time. However, adjusting your wheel alignment can prevent your car from compensating for the issue with more power, saving lots of fuel in the long run.
How to Tell When Your Alignment Needs Adjustment?
There are a few ways to tell if your car is in need of an alignment adjustment. Uneven tread wear and steering wheel vibration are common signs. Alternatively, you may experience times when the vehicle pulls to the side, or the steering wheel isn’t centred right. If you notice any of these issues, we suggest you visit a professional as soon as possible before the problem grows worse.
Take the Time to Get it Checked
Taking some time every six months to visit your mechanic for an alignment straightening is never a bad idea. It may cost a bit and be time-consuming, but it is necessary for your safety and your car’s health. Contact Parkway Hyundai today to find out about the Hyundai servicing options available and where you can get your Hyundai’s wheels aligned.