Wheel Alignment: All that you should know about it.

An extra 12,000 miles to your tyres’ life! No, this is not a scam, rather the benefits of proper alignment for your wheels. This is not a small feat, since it could increase your tyres’ longevity and performance. Therefore, ensuring your car’s proper wheel alignment is a significant part of car maintenance. If your regular car servicing Birmingham does not include an alignment check, it could lead to greater damage. Frequent alignment checks are necessary. Your wheels could often suffer from misalignment due to various reasons. Potholes, kerbs, bumps, rough terrain, inappropriate vehicle handling, and general damage, are some of them. This necessitates timely wheel maintenance, including wheel alignment inspection. For better understanding of wheel alignment and its significance, continue reading this blog. 


What does wheel alignment mean? 

Your car’s suspension system is the component that connects your wheels to the car. A mechanical adjustment of this system to maintain your wheels’ correct position is called wheel alignment. Tracking or tyre alignment are some other terms for this process too. Proper wheel alignment is essential for optimal efficiency of your tyres. A misalignment could lead to a variety of problems. Quick tyre wear, uneven tread wear, and decreased efficiency are some of them. All of these issues result in an unpleasant driving experience. 

If your car tyres are out of alignment, immediate wheel alignment Birmingham becomes crucial. Misalignment in wheels could cause you to face much discomfort. So, 

Is proper wheel alignment necessary? 

If your wheels are not aligned properly, it is advised that you get immediate re-alignment services. Misaligned wheels are a primary cause of discomfort while driving. For an elaborate insight into the significance of proper wheel alignment, we have compiled the following list. This includes the negative effects of misalignment on your vehicle and tyres:  

  • Uneven tread wear: Improper wheel alignment often causes uneven tread wear. One of your tyres could suffer more wear than the others. Similarly, some points on your tyres could have greater damage. These ultimately lead to reduced driving comfort. 
  • Frequent tyre damage: If you have been changing your tyres more frequently, inaccurate fitting, balancing, or alignment could be the major reasons. Misaligned wheels cause excessive tread wear, leading to increased damage. 
  • Loss of vehicle control: If your car is pulling or swerving to a particular side, your wheels might be misaligned. In case of correct alignment, your car should keep running straight, even without your hands guiding the steering wheel. Excessive drifting in your vehicle means reduced car control. This also negatively impacts your safety on the road. 
  • Excessive vibrations and noise: Steering wheel vibrations that are often felt in the cabin are a sign of poorly aligned wheels. They also cause squealing sounds from your tyres. Excessive vibration and sounds cause discomfort to the driver as well as the passengers. So, invest in car servicing Birmingham for early diagnosis and repair. 
  • Reduced fuel efficiency: Your frequent rides to fuel stations can be due to varied reasons. Inaccurate wheel alignment is one of the major reasons for it. Misaligned tyres force your vehicle to exert more energy for moving. That is, it increases the rolling resistance. This causes increased fuel consumption in your car. 

 

Common misalignment positions of wheels. 

When it comes to cars and their maintenance, one cannot be knowledgeable enough! Similarly, being a car owner, you should be familiar with the common misalignment positions. Broadly, you will find the following misalignment positions in a vehicle: 

Toe: In and Out. 

“Toe” is a misalignment position of the wheels. In such cases, the front portion of the tyres are either closer or further apart than the rear portion. Your car type will determine the proper toe settings for its wheels. This setting allows the wheels’ way of either pulling towards each other or pulling apart. The steering of your car to one side depends on the toe alignment. Excessive “toe-in” and “toe-out” are not recommended for optimal performance of your car. This could lead to increased tread wear. It is, therefore, essential to maintain correct toe alignment in your cars or vans.

Camber: Negative and Positive. 

A category of misalignment also includes “camber”. It is the outward or inward tilt of the tyre with respect to the vehicle. The appropriate angle of tilt is set by your car’s manufacturer. A proper tilt ensures optimal safety while cornering or turning. However, potholes, uneven terrains, and rough handling could affect the camber alignment of your wheels. This is why technicians recommend periodic adjustment of your vehicle’s wheel camber. 

Caster. 

The angle which affects how forward or backward the steering axis is tilted, is called “caster”. Your car’s steering wheel is attached to the wheels at pivot points. These points are called ‘ball joints’. The line between the upper and lower ball joints is the steering axis. A steering axis tilted in the direction of the driver is a positive caster. This is the most common arrangement and allows enhanced straight line-tracking. A wheel that is excessively out of caster limits, requires timely wheel alignment. 

Your wheels and tyres play a major role in maintaining your safety and comfort on the road. Hence, proper alignment, balancing, and fitting are essential for optimal functioning. Ensure a smooth driving experience with our car services, including wheel alignment Birmingham. 

Location: Birmingham, UK

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