How often should i get an alignment on my car

You may be wondering about the purpose of a front-end alignment? The purpose is three-fold—to keep the steering at the original manufacturers’ settings; to avoid inconsistent and uneven tire wear, and to assist in proper braking of your car.

It’s not a hard fast rule, but under normal driving conditions, a wheel alignment is recommended once or twice a year. However, this recommendation is flexible. If you drive often on particularly rough roads or are habitually hitting curbs, then you should probably have your car alignment checked more often. Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed length of time that your vehicle will stay in alignment. It can be easily put off with a single bump of a curb or the jolt of a large pothole.

Is a wheel alignment necessary when you get new tires?

The mounting of new tires can be a good opportunity to address alignment – especially if your old, dismounted tires are showing signs of uneven wear. Getting a wheel alignment will produce proper tire wear and longevity.

Do you need a front or four-wheel alignment?

This depends on your vehicle, and whether there are rear adjustments available on your vehicle. If the front and rear alignment adjustments are possible, then you'll want a four-wheel alignment. The price difference between front and four-wheel alignment services is not significant.

Maintaining proper car alignment, along with regular tire rotations, will keep your vehicle aligned within O.M.E. specifications; will provide proper vehicle handling; and ensure optimum tire wear and longevity.

Money spent on a wheel alignment is money well invested in proper car care, preventative maintenance and vehicle safety.

Do you know how often you should get an alignment? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about our car alignment services and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.

Have you seen little children wearing their shoes on the wrong feet? It looks awkward and uncomfortable because their toes are pointing in the wrong direction! This is comparable to driving with wheels that are not properly aligned. Instead of the wheels of your car pointing in the same direction as the steering wheel, they are pointing in another direction.

What kind of problems will you notice if your car is out of alignment?

• Tires will wear more unevenly and faster than normal.
• Decreased fuel economy
• Easier to lose control of your car, especially in wet conditions.

Most mechanics recommend having the alignment checked about every 6,000 miles (or every other oil change depending on your service interval). But because there is no set schedule for car alignment service, how often wheel alignment should be done depends on how and where you drive. Simply hitting a curb or driving through a pothole can throw off your car alignment as much as an auto accident will do.

Having your car alignment checked and corrected on a regular basis has several benefits, such as:

• Maintains your car’s handling and safety,
• Improves fuel economy,
• Prevents damage to other vehicle components (such as shocks and axles), plus
• Extends the life of your tires.

Remember: Keep checking the tread on your tires. When you first notice uneven tire wear, schedule a car alignment service. Compared to the cost of new tires or repairing damage to the suspension system, the cost of a car alignment service is relatively inexpensive.

Wondering how often wheel alignment should be done? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about car alignment services and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

You're driving on the road and you notice that your car is veering to one side. It's a scary occurrence, but it doesn't have to be.

Usually, it's caused by your tire alignment. It's an important thing to keep up with and check on frequently.

But you may be asking yourself, "how often do you need a wheel alignment?" We're here to answer that question and more.

Keep reading our guide on wheel alignment to learn more.

What Really is a Tire Alignment?

If you want to keep your car in the top-shape, tire alignment is extremely important.

Using an alignment machine, the technician will align all tires with one another and the pavement. It's not a good idea to do this one yourself, as it can be dangerous if done incorrectly.

For four-wheel-drive vehicles, all four wheels will be aligned. Front-wheel drive vehicles can have the two front wheels aligned.

It's a process that is needed to keep your vehicle running its best.

What Can Happen If I Don't Get an Alignment?

Neglecting to get your tires aligned can cause some big problems for you and your vehicle.

When your wheels are misaligned, it can be extremely unsafe for you. You may notice your vehicle veering to one side, making driving a little more difficult.

In addition to having to adjust the wheel to keep the car straight, you may also experience wear on the tires. This can cause the tires to wear down unevenly which can cause other problems for you as well.

How Often Do You Need Wheel Alignment?

The timeline for when you need wheel alignments can differ.

In general, having your wheel realigned should be done yearly along with maintenance. This will help you be sure that your tires are always aligned.

If you change your tires, it's important that they are aligned as well.

However, if you experience problems be sure to take your vehicle in for service. Doing this will help you make sure that your vehicle is in good shape.

What Are Some Signs That You Need Tire Alignment?

Many of the signs that indicate that you need a tire alignment are the same as what can happen if you don't get it done.

If you feel the vehicle pulling to one side of the road while driving, you should take it in to get realigned. You should also pay attention to the steering wheel if it's vibrating. This can also be a sign that you need an alignment.

You should also pay attention to the tires. If one tends to wear down faster than another, then you'll need to take it in to get repaired.

When you notice any of these signs, you should take your vehicle in.

Keep Everything In Line

Now that you've asked, "how often do you need a wheel alignment," you're prepared to keep your tires in line. With this guide, you've learned good practice on how often it should be done and what can happen if you don't do it.

How do I know if my car needs an alignment?

Is an alignment really necessary?

Do I need an alignment after replacing tires?

How often should you check for alignment?