Wheel Alignment refers to an adjustment of suspension, which holds the car to its wheels. It is important to understand that this adjustment is not of the wheels directly. Adjust the tyres’ angles, which control the contact they make with the road, for the correct positioning of tyres.
Suppose you’re driving at a fast speed, and you experience uncontrollable vibrations. This can scare any driver. Such vibrations are felt in case of misalignment. Sadly, drivers often ignore these problems, risking their safety.
The danger of accidents can be reduced if you maintain your car regularly. In this article, we will explain why wheel alignment and balancing are essential for safe driving.
Wheel Alignment Benefits
Extended Tyre Life
Tyres are a costly investment. Thus, increasing their lifespan can help you save some money. To extend the life of your tyres, it is important to maintain alignment. Improper calibration of the tyres will make them wear out before time. Hence, regular checks can assure you of the vehicle’s total mileage.
Less Fuel Consumption
Proper wheel alignment and balancing can lead to less fuel consumption. When the tyres are imbalanced, their movement is not aligned with the car’s movement. This creates unnecessary force, resulting in increased fuel consumption.
Improved Maneuverability
When there is poor wheel alignment and balancing, it causes the car to drift on the road. Therefore, proper balance and adjustment are necessary, to ensure a smooth drive on all twists and turns.
Minimize driver fatigue
When there is an imbalance, the car pulls to one side. This requires driving more cautiously and, hence, exhausting the driver. A proper adjustment ensures a safe, smooth, and stress-free ride.
What are the signs that you need a Wheel Alignment?
Steering
Steering spokes and logo being misaligned is one of the signs. Your steering should sit centered most of the time. However, if you notice that the way you’re holding the wheel, would cause the car to steer off the road. Any such variation is a clear sign that adjustment is required.
Drifting or Pulling
Does your car steer in one direction when driving on a straight, level road? If you need to apply slight pressure on the steering to stay straight. Then this indicates issues. If the pull is strong, the issue is serious.
Vibrating Steering
This is another sign that causes wheels to pull against each other. In extreme cases, this can shake up the entire car. Driver as well as the passengers can also feel this. Hence, in such a case, the check is required.
Loose Steering Wheel
While driving when you turn with little tyre movement, then it’s likely that there are issues. And if hard turns give poor responses, then this confirms poor adjustment.
Steering Wheel Doesn’t Centralize
When you complete a turn, the steering should return to its original state. In case this does not happen on its own. You can test this by briefly letting go of the steering. If it doesn’t return to its position, then you may have loose steering or worn-out suspension.
Squealing Tyres
Hearing squealing noises from the tyres is another sign. Improper tracking can cause increased friction. This will result in squealing noises from the tyres.
Uneven Tyre Wear
The wear patterns on your tyres can indicate alignment issues. Check the tread depth on both sides of your tyres. If one side is more worn than the other, you likely have an alignment problem.
When you are driving with poor alignment, it can cause several issues with the car. The suspension system suffers as well as your tyres wear out faster.
Moreover, compromising your safety on the road is the most important of all.
However, you can prevent these problems with necessary maintenance. If you check your tyres after every 20,000 kilometers, you can avoid these problems. And if you find an alignment issue, promptly schedule a service and solve it. Keep yourself and your car safe.
