Wheel alignment is what makes your car handle as expected, have great performance, and be safe to drive. If this is out of kilter it can cause a myriad of problems. These range from costing you more money due to tire wear, right through to being downright dangerous to drive.

The following explains everything you need to know about the subject, including when you should take your car to have its wheel alignment checked.

All About Wheel Alignment

• What is wheel alignment?
• What are the benefits of correctly aligned wheels?

What is wheel alignment? 

Every car has individual requirements as to the optimal position of its wheels in relation to both the road and one another. This allows the car to run true, be comfortable, handle correctly, and be safe to drive. 

What are the benefits of correctly aligned wheels?

Correctly aligned wheels allow the car to function as it’s meant to. This means that you’ll benefit from: 

• Better handling: The car will be stable to drive, both in normal situations and in case you should have to take evasive action, such as hard braking or a swerve.
• Better fuel consumption: A car with misaligned wheels uses more fuel because it has what’s known as increased rolling resistance. In other words, there’s excessive drag that translates to needing more fuel to propel the car forward.
• Better tire wear: When tires are misaligned, certain areas are put under increased pressure. This leads to uneven wear and the need to change tires more frequently. Correct alignment can add many thousands of miles of life to a tire.
• Better braking distance: Misalignment has a negative effect on the car’s ability to brake. Should you need to stop in a hurry, this could be the difference between a positive outcome or hitting the obstacle you’re trying to avoid.

Overall, ensuring the correct wheel alignment increases the safety of your car to drive, saves you money, and also considers the environment—Increased safety to you, your passengers, and other road users. Plus, less fuel consumption, no need to change your tires so often, and reduced CO2 emissions because the car is running at optimal levels… 

It’s a win-win situation all round.

How do I know if my Car Needs a Wheel Alignment Check? 

• Signs your car needs a wheel alignment check
• Other reasons to have a wheel alignment check

Signs your car needs a wheel alignment check 

The following are sure-fire signs that you need to get your vehicle’s wheel alignment checked.

• The car pulls to one side or the other. This might be evident when you’re driving in a straight line or when you apply the brakes.
• The steering wheel is not centralized when you’re driving in a straight line.
• You notice uneven tire wear.

Other reasons to have a wheel alignment check

There are additional occasions when you should take your car for a wheel alignment check. 

These include: 

• You’ve hit a curb or pothole.
• Every 12,000 to 15,000 miles (or at the recommended service interval, if less).
• The vehicle is involved in any kind of accident.
• The car has any suspension or steering components replaced or repaired.
• When new tires are fitted.

Need Car Wheel Alignment? Contact Autobahn of Boca Today 

Preventative car maintenance is the best way to ensure trouble-free motoring. It also ensures you and your loved ones only ride in a vehicle that’s fully safe. Wheel alignment is only one aspect that should be checked regularly.

At Autobahn of Boca, we take our trade seriously. Maintenance to ensure the safety of our customers is our passion—not to mention, of course, that you want your car to give you the ride of your life, each and every day.

Drivers of prestige models, including Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and BMW can trust the marque-specific trained engineers at Autobahn of Boca to care for their vehicles as much as they do. 

Find out more at https://www.autobahnofboca.com/services/preventative-car-maintenance