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Know Your Car

A Quick Guide to Wheel Alignment

The Importance of Wheel Alignment 

If you drive a car, you've probably heard of wheel alignment. However, you might not fully understand what it is or why it's crucial for your vehicle's performance and safety. In this blog post, we'll explore what wheel alignment is, why you need to align your tyres, the signs that your car's wheels need alignment, and how it impacts tyre wear. 

Think of wheel alignment as keeping your bike wheels straight so they don't wobble.  When your car's wheels are aligned properly, they are perfectly straight and facing the right way, just like how bike wheels should be! If the wheels are out of alignment, it can make the car drive weird, like pulling to one side, and cause the tyres to wear out unevenly, kind of like if one bike tyre was slightly crooked and started to wear down faster than the other. 

Just like you want your bike wheels to be straight for an easy ride, your car needs its wheels aligned to drive smoothly and keep the tyres in good shape. Regular checks are a good idea, especially if you hit something big like a pothole! 

A common question is, what is the difference between wheel alignment and wheel balancing?
While wheel alignment is about adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are set to the car manufacturer's specifications, wheel balancing corrects the weight distribution around the wheel and tyre. Both services are essential for optimal vehicle performance but address different tyre wear and ride comfort issues. To learn more about wheel balancing and its benefits, click here.  

 

How do your wheels get misaligned? 

Hitting the curb when parking or bouncing in and out of potholes ruins the alignment of your car.  Also, over time, as steering or suspension parts wear and tear, alignment changes.  When fitting new steering or suspension parts, alignment will also change. 

Why You Need to Align Your Tyres? 

You will be surprised to know that the portion of tread on your car tyres that touches the road at any one point is only about the size of your hand.  Misalignment causes uneven tread wear on your tyres and reduces this already small contact area further, thereby reducing the grip of the tyre on the road and causing loss of control of your vehicle. 

When a car’s alignment is out, the tyres are worn out prematurely, as are other parts of the vehicle. Take the human body, for example. When you’re not mindful of your posture during the day, it affects the rest of your body. In the same way, if a vehicle’s wheels are out of alignment, other parts of the car, like the suspension system and braking system, will also wear out prematurely. 

When your wheels are misaligned, the tyres will drag slightly, increasing the rolling resistance and reducing fuel efficiency. 

How often should you get your wheels aligned? 

We recommend that wheels are aligned once a year or every 10,000kms, whichever comes first. However, if you regularly drive on rough roads, you may need to get your wheels aligned sooner if your alignment is off. 

What Are the Signs That My Car's Wheels Need Alignment?  

  1. Drifting or pulling when you’re travelling down a straight, level road, and you can feel your vehicle veering in one direction. If you have to keep slight pressure on the steering wheel to keep it going straight, then you know you have an alignment problem. 
  1. Vibrating Steering Wheel – the chances are that this is due to an improper alignment 
  1. The steering wheel doesn’t centralise after you complete a turn. The steering wheel should naturally start to return to the straight position on its own. 
  1. Your tyres are squealing when taking corners. When a wheel strays out of the normal position, it causes adverse friction, leading to all kinds of strange noises.
     

Types of Wheel Alignment Services 

The garage can perform two types of wheel alignment services: camber adjustment and toe adjustment. 

  • Toe Alignment 

Distinct from camber alignment, toe alignment is the extent to which your tyres turn inward or outward when viewed from above. If that’s confusing, just stand up and look down at your feet. Angle them inward toward the centre of your body. When the tyres on your car are angled the same way (remember, we’re thinking in terms of birds-eye-view), we call this toe-in alignment. Angle your feet outward, and you have toe-out alignment. Both require adjustment. 

  • Camber Alignment 

This is the inward or outward angle of the tyre when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, indicates improper alignment and needs to be adjusted. In addition, worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment. 

Auto Express Camber Alignment

Auto Express Toe Alignment

In conclusion, proper wheel alignment ensures your vehicle's safety, performance, and fuel efficiency. Regularly checking and adjusting your alignment can prevent uneven tyre wear, enhance control, and prolong the life of critical components like suspension and braking systems. By keeping your wheels properly aligned, you're investing in your vehicle's longevity and reliability. Interested in learning more about how to make your tyres last longer and the various maintenance tips that can help? Click here.

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