Alignments

What is a Wheel Alignment?

On a day to day basis, your wheels can undergo quite a beating. Between potholes, road cracks, and the occasional curb, it can seem as though your wheels are pretty sturdy. That said, all of these impacts count for something, and over time, your suspension can become misaligned. What is the suspension? Well, the suspension is a part of your vehicle that connects your wheels to your car. So, while a wheel alignment does involve your wheels, it actually involves the way in which the wheels are angled on your car’s suspension.

How do you know you need a wheel alignment? If you know what to look for, determining whether or not you need a wheel alignment is quite simple. There are many ways you can figure out if your car is in need of a wheel alignment, although the easiest way is to pay attention to your steering wheel. If your steering wheel is off-center when you’re driving in a straight line, it might be time to visit Kings Ford Quick Lane for an alignment. Some other signs of an unaligned suspension are if your tires are wearing unevenly, if your steering wheel vibrates excessively while driving, or if your vehicle naturally pulls to the right or left.

At Kings Ford Quick Lane, we stress the importance of alignments not just because unaligned wheels can be bothersome, but because they can impose unnecessary wear and tear on your tires. This excess wear can put you at risk of a tire blowout, and can in some cases have you spending your hard earned dollar on multiple tire replacements. Getting your wheels aligned on a regular basis, can not only help you avoid being stranded on the side of the road with a flat, but it can benefit your entire driving experience.

Wheel Alignments and Fuel Economy

When we inform our customers that wheel alignments can improve their fuel economy, they are often surprised. That said, the connection between your tires and fuel efficiency is inseparable. Your wheels aren’t just responsible for keeping traction with the road and supporting the weight of your car, but when they aren’t properly aligned can contribute to drag. When your wheels aren’t properly aligned, they aren’t working in synchronous, as they would normally. As a result, your engine has to expel more energy to move your car forward. This higher energy requirement leads to the excess burn of fuel, which in turn can dramatically affect your fuel economy negatively. By receiving an alignment from one of our trained automotive professionals at Kings Ford Quick Lane, you can get your wheels to work together again, and at the same time save money at the pump.

Wheel Alignments and Your Driving Experience

Wheels that aren’t properly aligned tend to fight against one another, and while they cause your engine to work harder they can also affect the smoothness of your ride. As we mentioned prior unaligned wheels can pull your car one way or another. This natural drift can be quite distracting, and in some cases can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Unaligned wheels can force you to overcompensate, which can be frustrating in itself. If your wheel alignment is particularly poor, the issue can cause vibrations in the steering wheel which can add to your frustrations.

Save Money and Buy Fewer Tire Replacements

 

As we mentioned prior, wheels that aren’t properly aligned tend to wear down unevenly, and as a result, you can find yourself purchasing new tires on a regular basis. One alignment can save you the long-term damages of having to pay for a whole new set of tires. That said, it is important to know what to look for when checking your tires for uneven wear.

There are three types of wear to look out for, feathering, camber wear, and heel and toe wear. You can identify a feathered tire, by tread that is worn down on only one side. Camber wear is unique in that it shows itself when the inside or outside edge of your tire is more worn than the center. In some instances, camber wear isn’t necessarily a sign of poor alignment, that said, too much camber wear could be a sign of alignment issues. Lastly, heel and toe wear occurs when one part of your tread starts to wear down faster than another. While sometimes hard to identify up-close, heel and toe wear is best characterized by the vibrations this form of wear can give off while driving.

How Often Should You Receive a Wheel Alignment

One of the reoccurring questions we’re asked regarding wheel alignments is, “how often should I have my wheels aligned?” This is a fairly reasonable question, and while it can vary somewhat depending on your vehicle, we recommend that you have your wheel alignment at least checked on a yearly basis. Although, as mentioned prior, you can check the state of your wheel alignment on your own, by keeping a keen eye on things like road noise, vibrations, drifting, and wheel vibration. Improperly aligned wheels can be subtle at first, but if they’re left untreated over a stretch of time, you can run the risk of doing some considerable damage to your tires.

Receiving a Wheel Alignment at Kings Ford Quick Lane

While improperly aligned wheels can seem like a mild issue at first, the long-term damages should be made an immediate concern. Between overcompensating, paying more for fuel, and doing irreparable damage to your tires, the benefits of receiving regular wheel alignments vastly outweigh any potential negatives.

When it comes to alignment and suspension maintenance, you should never have to go it alone. Alignments can be fairly complicated, and having the assistance of a professional can make all the difference. When you visit our car care experts at Kings Ford Quick Lane in Cincinnati, Ohio, we’ll ensure that your wheels are properly aligned and ready to take on the open road. Our staff will work with your unique maintenance and budgetary needs to help you adjust your wheels straight again. At Kings Ford Quick Lane, you can expect assistance from a team that is committed to improving the quality of your ride, and keeping your vehicle running smoothly on into the future.