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Tire alignment is an important aspect of your vehicle’s safety, but what exactly is it? Learn about the basics of tire alignment to best care for your car.

What Is A Tire Alignment

Tire, or wheel alignment is about making sure that the wheels of your car are perpendicular to the road. This is a very important safety aspect, as an improperly aligned car can make you a danger on the road. Signs that your car is out of alignment is uneven tread wear on tires, your steering wheel is off-centered though you are driving straight, or you feel vibrations in the steering wheel. If you note any of these occurrences in your car, have the vehicle inspected by a licensed technician as soon as possible to prevent damage.

When a mechanic inspects your tire alignment, they are primarily checking three areas: the camber, toe, and caster. The camber refers to the angle of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If it is positive, your tires will tilt outward, and if negative the tires tilt inward. The toe, while similar to camber, refers to whether your tires point inward or outward when viewed from above, similar to looking down at your feet and noting which direction they point. The caster measures the angle of the steering axis that can be viewed from the side of your vehicle. A positive caster tilts the axis toward the driver, versus a negative caster that tilts toward the front of the car. For each of these measurements, you want your tires to be aligned in the center, perfectly balancing your tires and driving stability.

How Often to Align Tires

Generally, you should have your alignment checked and aligned every 6,000 miles or every 6 months. If you notice that your tires are wearing unevenly or require replacement sooner than expected, this is a sign that you may need to have your alignment corrected. Alignments are an inexpensive maintenance cost that makes a world of difference, ranging in cost from around $70-$100.

Failing to correct an alignment issue can lead to costly repairs down the line, such as replacing unevenly worn tires, or even vehicle damage that is the result of an accident, not to mention the costs associated with causing an accident.