Wheel Alignment in Centerville, Ohio, at Evans INFINITI

One of the major responsibilities of all vehicle owners is maintenance and keeping their vehicles in good shape.

After all, what good is owning a car if it isn’t in good enough condition to drive? Routine maintenance can keep your vehicle reliable for years, and one step in your routine maintenance journey is a wheel alignment.

A wheel alignment, also called a tire alignment, is a process where the suspension of your vehicle is adjusted to make sure your tires are angled to make optimal contact with the road. This alignment doesn’t change your tires themselves, but rather adjusts the suspension of your vehicle, which is a system that connects the tires to the vehicle. This adjustment affects the way that your tires connect to the road.

Why Wheel Alignment is Important

When your tires are misaligned, it can cause a lot of undue stress on your vehicle. For example, your tires take a major hit when your wheels are misaligned. Misaligned wheels can cause uneven wear and tear on your tires, which can ultimately cost thousands of miles when it comes to your tires’ lifespan.

Keeping your tires properly aligned allows them to make proper contact with the road so that you can have optimal traction, improved handling, and more. It is often recommended you rotate your tires when you get an alignment, but even doing one without the other is still majorly beneficial to your vehicle.

When You Should Get a Wheel Alignment

Most drivers will need to get their wheels aligned around once per year. Specific recommendations for a wheel alignment maintenance schedule can be found in your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual. While once a year is a good rule of thumb, there may be circumstances where you will need to go more frequently than once a year.

While driving, you may notice some indicators that it is time for a wheel alignment. This includes uneven tire tread wear, pulling to the left or the right while the wheel is positioned straight, a misaligned steering wheel that tilts to the left or right while the vehicle is moving straight, or unusual vibrating of the steering wheel.

Components of a Wheel Alignment

When a service technician checks your alignment, they mainly focus on the camber, toe, and caster.

Camber

Firstly, the camber is the angle of the tire, inward or outward, when you look at the tires from the front of the vehicle. The inward or outward tilt is called negative or positive camber. This misalignment can be caused by worn bearings, ball joints, and more.

Toe

The toe is the angle of the tire, inward or outward, when looking down at the tires from above. In other words, toe in means that the front of the tires are pointed inward, similarly to when your feet are pigeon-toed. Toe out, on the other hand, would be when the front of the tire is pointed out, similarly to when your feet are duck-footed.

Caster

Lastly, the caster is the angle of your steering axis when you look at the tires from the side of your car. A positive caster will see this angle tilted toward the driver while a negative caster will see this angle pointed toward the front of the vehicle. The caster ultimately helps with things like steering, stability, and cornering.

The Wheel Alignment Process

It’s good to know exactly what to expect with any service you get done on your vehicle. So what steps can you expect with a wheel alignment?

Step 1

A trained technician will start by assessing the camber, toe, and caster to determine what adjustments need to be made to the suspension. They will also assess unusual tire wear, including feathering, camber wear, and heel and toe wear. Feathering is when one side of the tread is smoothed while the other is sharp. Camber wear is when the inside and/or outside of the tread is more worn than the center. Heel and toe wear is when one side of your tread block wears faster than the other in a circumferential direction.

Step 2

Once the technician has determined what adjustments are necessary, they will then properly align your tires by making the necessary corrections to the suspension.

Step 3

Lastly, the service team will confirm that the wheels have been properly aligned. Once this is done, you are good to drive on your freshly-aligned wheels!

Cost of Wheel Alignment

The average cost of a wheel alignment in the US varies a bit, but you can expect to pay between $50 to $170 depending on the specific alignments you need, where you live, and where you take your vehicle to get serviced.

Our award-winning service team at Evans INFINITI of Dayton can provide more detailed pricing upon request. When you get your alignment done, it’s also a good idea to get a tire rotation and other services through INFINITI Premium Care. Don’t forget to check out our available Service Specials online!

Questions to Ask Your Service Technician

• What can cause my tires to be misaligned?
• How can I help prevent misalignment in the future?
• What can I do to help maintain my alignment?
• When do I next need to come in for my alignment?

Signs of a Quality Wheel Alignment

When a wheel alignment is done correctly, any alignment concerns should have been addressed. This includes the misalignment of tires and the steering wheel, including pulling in one direction when the wheel is straight or a crooked wheel when the car is driving straight, as well as any unusual vibrations in the steering wheel.

Caring for Your Vehicle After a Wheel Alignment

After your tires have been properly aligned, it is important to maintain your alignment as best as possible. You can avoid temporarily or permanently affecting your alignment by removing heavy or bulky items from your trunk, keeping your tires inflated to the appropriate levels, and avoiding hitting potholes, curbs, or anything else that could jolt or jar your alignment out of proper position. You should also continue to keep an eye out for uneven tread wear on your tires.

Contact Our Service Department in Vandalia, Ohio

Evans INFINITI of Dayton is here to keep your car in the best shape possible. Our Service Department provides top-of-the-line service at affordable prices. Go online to schedule service today, or stop by or give us a call at 937-505-8272 to make an appointment with a member of our service team!