Wheel Alignments - Are They Important?

If you've taken your car to the service station a few times you've definitely heard the term wheel alignment being thrown around. It's something that's advised to almost every car owner after their vehicle reaches a certain age. The people who advise you to do it swear by its benefits. But are there really any advantages to wheel alignment? And what does the term even mean? We're here to answer all your questions.

What is wheel alignment?

Simply put, wheel alignment is the process of realigning your car's wheels. But this means there should be some kind of misalignment in the first place. We'll be telling you a little later about how to spot such misalignments. For now, you should know that the alignment is done when there's a change in the angles of your wheels. It is performed with the help of special machinery that accurately determines the misaligned angle of the tyres and compensates for that by adjusting the car's suspension.

What causes misaligned wheels?

There are three major causes of misaligned wheels:

1. One among them is the sudden jarring or heavy impacts experienced by the car's suspension over long periods. This can be caused by hitting potholes, bumping curbs, or a road accident.
2. Another cause could be wear and tear that's experienced by car parts. Stuff like your suspension springs can start slacking after a long period of continuous use.
3. The third cause could be height modification. It's when the suspension has not been changed to suit the height of the car.

What are the signs of misaligned wheels?

There are some tell-tale signs that let you know that your wheels are misaligned and that it's time to take them to specialists to get them aligned. They are:

• Uneven wear on the tires.
• An off-centre steering wheel when driving straight.
• Car being pulled to the left or right.

What are the advantages of wheel alignment?

Increased fuel efficiency: Misaligned wheels put added strain on the car's engine, resulting in added fuel consumption.

Smooth driving: The problems of an off-centre steering wheel and your car veering to the left or right will completely vanish once you get the wheels aligned.

Increased tire life: Misaligned wheels cause unnecessary wear on your tires. Getting them replaced is expensive, as we all know. Getting your wheels aligned from time to time can help you avoid that.

Auto repair savings: Continuing to drive on misaligned wheels can lead to several other problems for your car, thus inflating your auto repair bills.

Improved safety: There's no telling when things could go wrong if you continue to drive on misaligned wheels. Getting them fixed is important for your safety.

Now that you know about the importance of wheel alignments, do make sure to have them checked every once in a while, especially if you have an old car. The general rule is to get your wheels aligned every 10,000kms, irrespective of whether you're experiencing any signs of misalignment.