Remembering to align your tires will save you more than you know
Tire alignment is a term people say when you adjust your vehicle’s suspension. The suspension of a vehicle connects the vehicle to its wheels. It is mistakenly thought of as an adjustment to the tires or wheels. Proper tire alignment adjusts the angle of the tires and how they ‘talk’ to the road.
Here’s how you can tell if you need a tire alignment
- Uneven tread wear
- Vehicle pulling to the left or right
- Your steering wheel is off center when driving straight
- Steering wheel vibration
If you notice any of these things, you should immediately take your vehicle to a service center and have your alignment checked.
What is the camber, toe and caster?
The camber, toe and caster are what a technician checks when they are checking your tire alignment.
Camber: Camber alignment refers to the inward or outward angle of the tire when it is viewed from the front of the vehicle.
Toe: Toe alignment refers to the angle your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above. This shouldn’t be confused as the same as camber alignment.
Caster: The caster angle helps with balancing while steering, stability and cornering. It is the angle of the steering axis when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
So why is tire alignment so important anyway?
When tires or wheels aren’t aligned properly, it causes tires to wear prematurely and unevenly. Let us look at tread wear which is attributed to misalignment –
Feathering: A tire is ‘feathered’ when the tread is smooth on one side and sharp on the other.
Camber wear: When the inside or outside of the tread is much more worn than the center of the tread, it is a sign of camber wear.
Heel/toe wear: When one side of the tread blocks wears down more quickly than the other in a circumferential direction, it is a sign of heel/toe wear.
Visit Ed Morse Cadillac Delray near Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and Deerfield where we can perform a complimentary alignment check. Check our offers for monthly coupons on alignment discounts, tires, tires & wheel balancing, rotations and much more.