Car misalignment is a condition when tires are not pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel. It can shorten the life of your tires by thousands of miles and compromise crucial steering and suspension parts.
Also, tires must be in balance to operate properly. This is why wheels are placed on a balancing machine and weights added to the rim before a tire is installed on a vehicle. Out-of-balance wheels make for an unpleasant driving experience in a number of ways.
If your vehicle has tired out of balance or is misaligned, here are a few issues you may experience as you drive down the road:
- Vibrating felt in the steering and seat.
- Excessive wear on the tires.
- Increased fuel consumption.
Compounding the problems above is that worn portions of the tire become weaker over time yet take the hardest pounding, and could go flat at any time. Also, if you drive the vehicle at high speed, you not only will notice the vibration mode but will notice a decrease in fuel economy.
So when should you do wheel balancing and alignment? It’s a good idea to check the front alignment about every 6,000 miles (or every other oil change interval). The price of tire balancing or front alignment much more cost-effective than paying for a new set of tires or replacing your shocks!