Give It To Me Straight

It can be awfully annoying to hold the steering wheel in a constant effort to keep

a vehicle traveling down a straight road. If the car is pulling left or right,

wandering, or just plain being "squirrelly" (yes, that's the technical term), it may indicate

your car is out of alignment. Then again, maybe not.

Scrabble tiles spelling alignment

When a vehicle is in alignment, all four tires should contact the road evenly,

allowing the vehicle to track straight, corner optimally, and provide return to center while

steering. A properly aligned vehicle will also prevent your tires from wearing unevenly

and/or prematurely. It's not difficult to understand why it's essential for your vehicle to

be in alignment.

So how does a vehicle get out of alignment? Well, if you live in a place that has

harsh winters, you probably already have a good idea. Road conditions such as

potholes can wreak havoc on suspensions, tires, and other components. Over time, the

geometry of the vehicle can be affected and require minor adjustments. Sometimes

events can even cause suspension components to bend, and parts require

replacement.

Traffic with blurred lights

Rubber bushings wear, metal breaks down, and any suspension

component with an adjustable bolt or fastener will automatically be

out of alignment once replaced. Your driving habits, the roads you drive on, and any impact events the vehicle may have had will all affect how often you should have your car aligned. From a general maintenance perspective, it's good to have it checked at least once every two years.

It's also important to remember that issues such as "pulling" are more commonly

attributed to tires, not the alignment. While a vehicle that is out of alignment can

cause a pull, most of the time, the tires are to blame. A tire with uneven edges or

improper inflation will more likely cause that annoying pull you may be

experiencing.

If you pointed out that the alignment could be why the tire is

worn abnormally, you would be right. So why is it important to make the

distinction?

Your mechanic needs to understand why you want an alignment to

provide the desired outcome and meet your expectations. Suppose your vehicle pulls, and you have an alignment performed, but the vehicle still pulls. In that case, you might think the mechanic incorrectly aligned your car. Sometimes, simply rotating the tires can

get rid of unwanted pulling. Braking components can also cause pulling or drifting. The

more information your mechanic has, the better equipped they'll be to address your

concerns.

Close up of rear tire on a vehicle

Arguably, the most critical time to have an alignment performed is when

replacing your tires. Tires are expensive, and protecting that investment is obviously in

your best interest. An improperly aligned vehicle can eat through an entire tire's tread in

as little as 5,000 miles. In addition, tire manufacturers are going to ask for service

records proving an alignment was performed when dealing with any warranty claims.

When considering what it costs to perform an alignment versus the cost of replacing

another set of tires, it's an easy decision to make.