Alignment is a highly complex subject covering many different terms and an array of vehicle parts. First and foremost, you should know that your tires point in the wrong direction when your wheels are out of alignment. As you can imagine, this is a considerable safety hazard. Misaligned wheels will affect your steering and suspension, but more importantly, they could affect your safety and the durability of your tires.

How Do Wheels Get Misaligned?

There are numerous ways for your vehicle to lose its alignment. 

Wheel misalignment can be driven by:

• Potholes
• Hitting the curb or flying through speed bumps
• Bumping into concrete parking stalls
• Wear and tear—as automobiles age, rubber components start cracking or losing their elasticity, and ball and socket joints develop looseness.

Alignment angles are typically calibrated in tenths and hundredths of degrees or inches. Over time, a minor misalignment can cause uneven or premature tire wear. 

What Happens If I Neglect a Wheel Alignment?

If you ignore misaligned wheels, you'll end up wasting a lot of money on tires. Without the proper alignment, your tires wear down a lot quicker. Additionally, you'll likely struggle to handle your vehicle while driving. In some extreme cases, you could lose control altogether. All this bad news is easily preventable by having your wheels aligned when they are needed.

How Often Should I Have My Alignment Inspected?

Our team recommends an alignment check with every other oil change or 6,000 miles. A lot of things can happen over the course of 6,000 miles. You may through potholes, travel down rugged roads, or worse, knock your wheels on the curb while making a swift turn. All these things can impact the way the position of your tires, throwing off alignment in a flash. 

The longer you put off an alignment, the more likely you will harm your vehicle and yourself. If you can't remember when you received your last alignment, please feel free to give us a call at (856) 474-1213 or visit Desi Auto Care today!