WHAT IS AN ALIGNMENT?
Alignment is simply the angles of the front suspension and front tires. You want the four wheels to go down the road in the same direction and you want them going straight.
WHY IS PROPER ALIGNMENT IMPORTANT?
Proper alignment prevents uneven tire wear and increases road stability.
WHEN SHOULD ALIGNMENT BE CHECKED?
We recommend once a year, unless you hit a pothole, or run over debris on the road, or bounce off a curb. People who drive on gravel might need to check more often. For cars driven only on highways, usually a check every two years is enough.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED AN ALIGNMENT?
Normally, if it’s bad enough, it either pulls one direction or the other, or the steering wheel is crooked. The car might wander on the road and might not hold a straight line as well.
IF THE CAR RIDE IS BUMPY, IS THE CAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT?
Bumpy is more of a tire problem.
WATCH THE WEAR
Check for nicks or cuts in sidewalls, as they are especially dangerous. Watch that you don’t have cupping, or irregular wear along tire shoulder edges. Check for wear and damage. Keep in mind that 75% of the problems with tires occur in the last 25% of tread wear. And you can quickly check tread depth with a twoonie.
