What is wheel alignment, and why is it important?
What is wheel alignment, and why is it important?
If you schedule your vehicle for a wheel alignment, your technician will put it on the rack, then rotate and adjust the wheels. They will ensure your wheels are aligned correctly for your vehicle and according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Wheel Alignment can aid your vehicle in handling, keep it from pulling to one side, or eliminate vibrations. Also known as tire alignment, it can help your tires last longer and perform better. When you purchase new tires for your vehicle, wheel alignment is necessary to extend your tires' life and every two to three years after that. At Reggie’s we recommend an alignment once per year, as part of our “Annual Service”. This schedule might be modified based on your mileage and or driving conditions. We also suggest you get your wheels aligned after an accident, during pothole season (which is upon us!) or if you notice uneven tire wear in general. If you are a road warrior, it may be needed more often.
Three adjustments made during a wheel alignment include:
Camber
Proper camber helps your tire's surface stay flat and even on the road's surface. Camber involves the inward or outward tilt of the top of the wheel. Improper camber can affect tire wear and create handling problems.
Caster
Caster involves the tire's angle forward to backward. It helps your car have a center point and involves the tilt of the steering axis. It will ensure your vehicle goes in a straight line.
Toe
Toe refers to the left and right alignment of the wheels. Improper toe can affect the inner or outer edges of a tire's tread. During an alignment, toe is always set last.