Many experts recommend a wheel alignment about once a year. However, certain conditions may necessitate you check it more often. Typically, how often to align tires depends on driving habits and road conditions.

Some Common Ways Wheels Move Out Of Alignment

Your car’s suspension helps your tires maintain contact with the road. When designing cars, automakers integrate steering, suspension, and tires for a smooth ride, safe handling, and maximum tire life. Moreover, manufacturers set tires at specific angles to achieve these goals.

Ultimately, leaning a little bit in any direction affects the car’s handling and tire wear. Usually, every day, normal driving won’t affect alignment. However, certain events and road conditions can change the wheels’ angles:

• Poor quality roadways
• Aggressive driving habits
• Road debris
• Hitting potholes
• Bumping into curbs
• Taking speed bumps too fast

Many drivers understand that hitting potholes or curbs can shift a tire’s position. However, seasonal changes and weather can also indirectly affect your wheel alignment. For example, high moisture levels can cause metal parts to start rusting.

Furthermore, cold temperatures mean municipalities apply de-icing chemicals to roadways. Suspension parts are especially vulnerable to corrosion from de-icing chemicals due to their proximity to the road. As certain suspension parts corrode, they lose strength and the ability to keep tires properly aligned.

Common Signs Indicating You Need A Wheel Alignment

Wheels out of alignment will work against each other, increasing friction while decreasing the ease of handling. As your tires shift out of place, you may notice one or more of these signs:

• Vehicle pulls to one side
• Uneven tire wear
• Steering wheel is off-center
• Squealing tires
• Vibrating steering wheel
• Difficulty in steering and handling

Risks Of Driving With Misaligned Tires

While misaligned tires may seem insignificant, delaying this service can cause more expensive repairs. First, incorrectly angled wheels experience increased rolling resistance and friction. Hence, your engine must work harder to move your vehicle, decreasing fuel efficiency.

Secondly, tires that don’t sit correctly will wear unevenly and faster than properly angled wheels. Not only does this mean replacing your tires more often, but you also increase your chance of a blowout.

Finally, improperly angled tires pose safety risks. With less of the tire gripping the road, it’s easier to lose traction. Combine poor handling with a slick road surface from preciptiation, and you dramatically increase your risk of an accident

Tire Rotation, Balancing and Pressure

Ultimately, wheel alignments are only one piece of the puzzle for healthy tires. Routine maintenance should also include rotation, balancing, and pressure.

Due to unequal weight distribution and engineering design, the front and rear tires naturally wear differently. Thus, you need to rotate, or move the tires, to maximize tread life. Most experts recommend tire rotation every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.

Another tire maintenance task is balancing. As you drive, tire rubber wears away as evidenced by a decrease in tread depth. This rubber erosion causes the weight distribution of the tire to change, causing wobbling when it spins. Driving with unbalanced tires puts extreme stress and accelerated wear on your suspension and steering.

Balancing tires involves adding weights to counterbalance the uneven weight distribution. While you’ll find the specific recommendations for your car in your owner’s manual, many experts recommend balancing annually.

Typically, most drivers rely on their local auto care center for rotation and balancing. However, tire pressure is something you can do at home. To check it, you’ll need a pressure gauge and your owner’s manual. Then follow these simple steps:

• Check the owner’s manual to determine the correct PSI for your tires
• Remove the cap from one of your tires
• Place the pressure gauge on the valve stem
• Press down until the hissing stops and you have a gauge reading
• Add or remove air as necessary

How Often To Align Tires FAQs

Maintaining your car means following the time interval for routine maintenance. Healthy tires are an important safety issue. Moreover, understanding how often to align tires is crucial for their longevity. Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions about tire services.

How Much Should A Wheel Alignment Cost?

Any reputable shop won’t quote you a price without inspecting your vehicle first. While alignments run between $50 and $168, you may also have suspension damage requiring a repair. Moreover, some cars have a fixed, solid rear axle and only require front tire alignment.

What Happens During A Wheel Alignment?

Correct alignment has wheels parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. To check alignment, tire service centers use specialized tools to measure each wheel’s angle and position. The technician then compares this data to the manufacturer’s specifications. If a wheel is out of alignment, the mechanic will adjust suspension parts to bring the tire into position.

Which Tire Service Should I Choose?

Search for tire alignment and you’re likely to find plenty of places. Discount Tire, Jiffy Lube, and Firestone are just a few auto care shops specializing in this service. Yet, Xpress Lube stands out from the others with its exceptional service. We offer:

• Quality work
• Transparent pricing
• Clean and spacious waiting room
• High customer satisfaction rate
• Experienced and ASE-certified technicians
• Comprehensive services
• Modern facility, diagnostic equipment, and tools

As you can see, we offer everything consumers search for in an auto care center. Perhaps that’s why many of our customers have been with us for many years.

So, stop trying to figure out how often to align tires. Bring your car to the tire service experts, Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville.  Call us today at 336-904-6319 to make an appointment to service your tires.