Things to Know About Tire Alignment

Wheel alignment is something that every driver does during the lifespan of the car. Technology that really improved allowing computerized wheel aligners to handle this complex task with absolute ease. The end result is higher quality work in a shorter time and with minimal expense. That being said, the following are some of the most important things to know about tire alignment.

What is wheel alignment?

In simple terms, it is the adjustment of all the tire angles causing them to be completely parallel to each other. This procedure is different for every car meaning that it should always be done in a high quality car repair shop. A car owner can also do tire alignment in order to accommodate various driving conditions, weather, etc.

In most cases, you find the at wheel alignment usually consists of primary adjustments called the caster, toe and the camber. There are also a variety of secondary adjustments like the wheel base difference, maximum turns, frame angle etc. All these different adjustments are used to make it more efficient.
Wheel alignment is done on tire alignment machines, most of which deal with four wheel alignment. A repairman will put specialized tools in all 4 tires even if only the front wheels need adjusting. He then uses the computers to find steering and camber problems so as to ascertain how the tire alignment should be done in order to yield positive caster, perfect wheel stability, straight line driving, perfect toe setting etc.

During the alignment, the repairman has to consider different vehicle speeds. The wheel alignment machine finds the center line and uses it as a reference point to see if steering axis inclination affects the speeds.

Importance of wheel alignment

Some of the reasons why all drivers must take tire alignment very seriously include:

• Reduces tire wear and tear - Driving on badly aligned tires causes the tires to wear out at an increased rate. This is because certain parts of the tires are under more pressure. Driving with badly aligned tires for a long time means that you will have to spend more cash in replacement of the tires and other related parts. Regular alignment will therefore save you a fortune in maintenance and replacements.

• Reduces accidents - You will reduce the chance of having a road accident if you perform regular tire alignment on your vehicle. This is because badly aligned tires compromise the angle at which the car rides making it harder to keep it on a straight line. This can be especially dangerous if you are driving during bad weather or if the car is carrying heavy loads.

• Increases vehicle performance - You'll find that a car generally handles better, speeds up and slows down more easily and has better fuel efficiency when tire alignment is done regularly. This therefore means that a car owner should perform regular tire alignment if he wants to enjoy a good driving experience for a longer time.

In a nutshell, tire alignment is something that no driver must overlook. It is also easier and cheaper to perform because most car repair shops have computerized wheel aligners.