Does Your Vehicle Need a Wheel Alignment?

Look out for these signs in your vehicle and bring them to a factory-trained technician for service

Wheel alignment may sound like a straightforward service, that maybe we can eyeball it to make sure all four tires are pointing in the same direction. But your wheels align with so much more than just each other. Their placement affects your ability to brake, maneuver, and can even affect your fuel economy. The better shape your wheels are in, the better ride you will have with minimal stress on your vehicle and its parts. If you notice any of the telltale signs of poor wheel alignment, be sure to bring it to a factory-trained technician ASAP!

Over time, after going over speed bumps, railroad tracks, and enduring the typical wear and tear from interacting with the road, your wheels will begin to shift around in their placement. If you are driving down a straight road, and your vehicle is going straight, but your wheel is crooked, that means your steering is overcompensating for one or more tires. If the wheel looks straight, but you notice your vehicle is pulling to the left or right, that means one or more tires are out of alignment. Noises from your wheels and their housing may begin to appear, like a high-pitched squealing. New noises from your vehicle should be reason enough to have it serviced by a professional. A long-term symptom of misalignment is that the tread on your tires will wear more quickly and not necessarily in a uniform pattern. Your wheels should wear directly down the middle of the tread. If you notice the brunt of wear appears inside or outside the center of the tread, your tire is not aligned correctly.

As we mentioned, misaligned tires may not be easy to see with just the naked eye. Sometimes, you have to look for or listen for the symptoms that mean something is wrong. Factory-trained technicians like our team at DK Hardee Automotive use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to make sure we find the problem and the solution!