Use current location
When your vehicle leaves the factory, it is a finely tuned machine. Each component is checked by lasers and calibrated sensors, ensuring it receives optimal rating for a checklist of measurements.
But from the moment you drive your car off the lot, the imperfections of the road surfaces begin to take their toll. A pothole here, an errant curb there — the next thing you know, your whole system can be out of whack!
Although your alignment starts off perfectly in balance, it goes askew with each bump and jostle of the road. On streets like those of Western Pennsylvania, it might not take long at all for your system to need a tune up. Once your vehicle is misaligned its suspension, calipers, tires, wheels, socket joints and other components are more exposed to wear and tear — meaning more costly replacements down the road.
In this post we’ve compiled all you need to know about wheel alignment so you can keep your vehicle in top shape.
When you take your vehicle into a professional mechanic — like our seasoned team at Highland Tire — they check several metrics to ensure they are calibrated properly. These include caster, camber, toe and ride height settings. Let’s look at each to see how they affect your ride.
Caster
The caster measurement describes the angle of the suspension spring on which the wheel sits. When your vehicle is calibrated, the angle of the vertical caster is a perfect 90 degree angle to the ground when looking at the side of your vehicle. A positive caster describes an angle in which the top of the caster spring is angled towards the rear of the vehicle. A negative caster angle is one in which the spring is angled towards the front of the vehicle. Both negative and positive caster angles must be corrected by a technician to bring your car back into ideal alignment.
Camber
The camber measurement describes the angle on which your tires sit on the road when looking at the car head on. Imagine setting a brand new tire resting on the flat ground. The tire tread will lie evenly on the road — both the inner and outer seams are evenly touching the ground. Camber describes when the tire tread is not resting in that flat position. It describes either an inward or outward lie — either the inner or outer tire wall seam is lifted off the ground. In our earlier scenario, you’d stand next to the tire and push or pull one side or the other off the ground.
Negative camber describes when the tires are tilted in, with the inside of the tire tread touching the ground and the outside lifted off the ground. Positive camber describes when the tires are tilted out, with the outside of the tire tread touching the ground and the inside lifted off the ground.
While many vehicles are ideally calibrated to have a perfectly centered camber, some vehicles are adjusted to compensate for driving characteristics. For example, vehicles that are meant to corner aggressively may be adjusted with a negative camber to allow more contact with the road surface.
Toe
A toe reading describes the alignment of the tires when taking a bird’s eye view of the vehicle. If you stand up and look at your feet, they offer a great analogy to the toe position of the front tires of your vehicle. If your feet are perfectly parallel, then you can imagine aligned tires. If you point your toes toward each other, it resembles a toe-in scenario in which the fronts of each tire are pointed towards each other. If you move your feet so that your heels are closer together while your toes are farther apart, you describe a toe-out tire alignment, in which the fronts of each tire are pointed away from each other.
Ride Height
The ride height describes the distance between your drive shaft and the ground. Each vehicle has a different factory setting for ground clearance and any aftermarket lowering or lifting of the suspension will alter those settings. If your car is riding too low or too high, an alignment will adjust the height to the optimum position.
Okay, so we’ve highlighted some of the reasons alignment work is important for your vehicle. The next question you may have is, ‘How Long Does a Wheel Alignment Take?’
The short answer: You can expect your wheel alignment to take about an hour.
Of course, there are a lot of factors that may cause that estimate to change.
If it’s been a long time since your last maintenance call, there may be more calibrations required than if you are more diligent about servicing your vehicle. Many vehicles require either the front or rear tires to be aligned for routine service, while all-wheel-drive vehicles require all four tires to be aligned for certain settings regardless of how often they are serviced. If you have had aftermarket modifications done to your ride, it may take longer for technicians to dial in readings. And the quality of the mechanic’s equipment and how busy the shop is when you take in your car might affect how long you wait.
Luckily, our professional team at Highland Tire has state-of-the-art equipment and will be able to get you in, out and on your way in no time! Call today to get an estimate.
Not sure the last time the wheels of your vehicle have been aligned? There are some easy-to-read signs that you need a wheel alignment listed below.
If you can feel the steering wheel or column vibrate or shake when you accelerate or hit the brakes, it’s time to take your vehicle in to have a technician check the alignment. There are several issues that may cause this condition, and our friendly pros at Highland Tire can give you a quick diagnosis.
When your vehicle left the factory, the steering column was aligned so that the wheel was dead center — with the logo in the middle perfectly straight. If you notice your steering wheel is not centered when driving straight, it’s a sure sign your car is in need of a service call.
When properly calibrated, your vehicle should drive straight ahead. If it veers to the left or right when you take your hands off the wheel, then your vehicle may be misaligned.
A new set of tires should last about 50,000 miles — give or take. If your tires are wearing earlier than that, it could be an alignment issue. And if your tires are wearing unevenly, your alignment is most likely out of whack.
There is a whole range of uneven tire patterns that offer clues to the specific alignment issues. For example, if the outside of the tire is prematurely smooth, it’s a sign of an incorrect camber setting. If both shoulders are excessively worn, it’s a sign of a ‘heel-toe’ pattern. If the tread of your tires look and feel like saw teeth, it’s another sign of toe misalignment.
Regular wheel alignments are one of the best ways to ensure your vehicle has a long and productive lifespan. This routine maintenance calibration will add years to the life of your vehicle and extend the life of your tires. Read on to see how regular alignment can save you stacks of money in the long term.
First and foremost, let’s look at the lifespan of your tires.
New tires can be a major investment. But if your vehicle is not aligned properly, the uneven wear can cut the life of your tires in half or more. By keeping your alignment in check, you extend the life of your tires and ensure other components are in tip-top shape.
Get the most out of your ride.
When your vehicle is aligned, you can drive straightaways like an arrow and take corners like a pro. Your suspension will offer you a smooth ride over bumps and uneven surfaces and your steering wheel will feel like an extension of your body.
When your car is out of alignment, it can cause rubber gaskets to wear down, your suspension to degrade and ball joints to become damaged. The springs of your suspension are affected when your wheels are imbalanced. And misaligned wheels cause uneven wear on the brake pads and discs.
By neglecting the problem, you may end up with a much bigger issue — and higher bill — in the future. By staying on top of wheel alignment you can maintain your vehicle and lower overall costs.
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
If any of the issues above look familiar, give our friendly and professional technicians at Highland Tire a ring. Our wheel alignment package will have your car humming like a tuna and get you on your way in no time.
Highland Tire proudly serves the local Natrona Heights, Tarentum, PA area. We understand that buying new tires can be overwhelming. Let us help you choose from our large selection of tires. We feature tires that fit your needs and budget from top quality brands, such as Michelin®, BFGoodrich®, Uniroyal®, and more. We pride ourselves on being your number one choice for any tire service, from flat tire repair to tire rotation. Let us earn your business.
Please click anywhere to continue browsing our site.