Do I Need a Wheel Alignment? Signs Your Car May Be Out of Alignment
Does your car pull to one side? Is your steering wheel off-center when you're driving straight? Are your tires wearing unevenly?
Your car may be telling you it's time to have the wheel alignment checked.
At Honest1 Auto Care Federal Heights, we help drivers from Federal Heights, Westminster, Northglenn, Thornton, and the surrounding north Denver area diagnose alignment, tire, steering, and suspension problems.
Sometimes the symptoms of poor wheel alignment are obvious. Other times, unusual tire wear may be the first clue that something isn't right.
What Is a Wheel Alignment?
A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of your wheels so they are positioned properly in relation to the vehicle and the road.
Proper alignment helps your vehicle track straight, handle predictably, and allows your tires to make proper contact with the road.
An alignment isn't simply about making the steering wheel straight. The technician measures specific wheel angles and determines whether they are within the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.
How Do I Know If My Car Needs an Alignment?
Here are some common signs that it's worth having your alignment checked:
1. Your Car Pulls to the Left or Right
If your vehicle consistently pulls to one side while you're driving on a relatively level road, improper wheel alignment is one possible cause.
However, pulling doesn't always mean you need an alignment. Tires, tire pressure, brakes, and steering or suspension components can also affect how a vehicle tracks.
That's why it's better to inspect the vehicle and identify the cause rather than simply assume it needs an alignment.
2. Your Steering Wheel Isn't Centered
When you're driving straight down the road, your steering wheel should generally be centered.
If the vehicle is traveling straight but the steering wheel is noticeably turned to one side, the alignment should be checked.
3. Your Tires Are Wearing Unevenly
Look at the tread across each tire.
If the inside or outside edge is wearing substantially faster than the rest of the tire, improper alignment may be contributing to the problem.
Catching this early matters. Correcting the underlying problem may help prevent additional uneven tire wear and protect your investment in your tires.
4. Your Car Feels Different After Hitting a Pothole or Curb
Colorado roads can be tough on cars.
A hard pothole, curb strike, or other impact can affect wheel alignment or damage a tire, wheel, steering component, or suspension component.
If your steering suddenly feels different after hitting something, it's worth having the vehicle inspected.
Can a Pothole Knock My Car Out of Alignment?
Yes. A significant impact with a pothole or curb can change wheel alignment or damage components that affect alignment.
You may notice the car pulling, an off-center steering wheel, unusual tire wear, or simply that the vehicle doesn't drive the way it did before.
If something feels different after a hard impact, don't ignore it.
Can Bad Wheel Alignment Cause My Steering Wheel to Shake?
People often associate steering-wheel vibration with alignment, but alignment isn't the only possible cause of a vibration.
Tire balance problems, tire damage, bent wheels, and worn steering or suspension components can also cause shaking or vibration.
A vibration that occurs primarily while braking may have a different cause altogether.
The important point is this:
Don't guess at the repair based only on the symptom. Diagnose the cause first.
Will a Wheel Alignment Fix Uneven Tire Wear?
An alignment may help prevent additional alignment-related tire wear, but it can't replace tread that's already worn away.
That's why unusual tire wear is worth addressing early.
If you're replacing tires because the old ones wore unevenly, it's also a good time to determine why they wore that way. Putting new tires on without addressing the underlying problem could allow the same wear pattern to happen again.
Do I Need a Wheel Alignment When I Get New Tires?
Not necessarily.
But new tires are an excellent time to consider having the alignment checked, especially if:
- Your old tires wore unevenly
- Your car pulls to one side
- Your steering wheel isn't centered
- You've recently hit a significant pothole or curb
- Steering or suspension work has recently been performed
You've just invested in new tires. It makes sense to make sure an alignment problem isn't working against them.
How Often Should I Get a Wheel Alignment?
There isn't one mileage interval that's right for every vehicle.
Road conditions, potholes, curb impacts, tire wear, driving habits, and steering or suspension repairs can all affect when an alignment should be checked.
Instead of relying solely on mileage, pay attention to what your vehicle is telling you.
Pulling, an off-center steering wheel, uneven tire wear, or a change in handling are good reasons to have the alignment checked.
Is It Safe to Drive With Bad Wheel Alignment?
A minor alignment issue may develop gradually, but significant pulling, unusual steering behavior, rapid tire wear, or a sudden change after hitting something deserves attention.
If your vehicle suddenly becomes difficult to control, develops severe vibration, or has an obviously damaged tire or wheel, don't assume it's simply an alignment problem.
Have the vehicle inspected.
Wheel Alignment in Federal Heights, Westminster, Northglenn & Thornton
If you're searching for a wheel alignment near Federal Heights, Westminster, Northglenn, or Thornton, Honest1 Auto Care Federal Heights can help.
Our shop is located at 2925 W. 92nd Avenue in Federal Heights, convenient to drivers throughout the surrounding north Denver area.
If your car is pulling to one side, the steering wheel is off-center, your tires are wearing unevenly, or something simply doesn't feel right, we'll help determine whether the problem is alignment—or something else involving your tires, wheels, steering, or suspension.
We explain what we find. You decide what to do next.
