Your car is a finely tuned instrument, and like an instrument, when it is out of tune, you can tell right away. One of the tasks you need to do to keep your vehicle properly tuned is getting the wheels aligned. A car with wheels that are even slightly out of alignment can cause significant issues causing you to spend more money to correct the issues and keep your car running smoothly.
Fuel Efficiency
When your wheels are not properly aligned, you are going to spend more money on gas. Improperly aligned wheels force your vehicle to work harder to remain straight. Misaligned tires are not hitting the road straight on, causing more friction between the tire and the road. Even a small amount of additional friction can cause your car to work harder and go through more gas. This also leads to the second benefit of aligning your wheels.
Extend the life of your tires
Additional friction on a portion of your tire will cause that part of the tire to wear faster than the rest of the tire. If you look at your tires and the outer edge of the tires is wearing faster than the inner edge, it is a sign that your wheels are not properly aligned. If you let them go for too long, you can wind up having to replace your tires well before the tire should have to be replaced, and you have no doubt noticed tires are not cheap.
Better Ride
Another benefit of aligning your wheels is that the car will ride smoother. When the wheels are hitting the road perfectly and not pulling the steering wheel and the car from one side to the other, your driving experience is going to be a lot nicer. If your steering wheel is pulling to one side, it can mean that the tire on one side is low on air, which can also lead to excessive wear and tear. If you fill your tires and your car still wants to veer off to one side, you may want to check your alignment.
Fewer Overall Repairs
Your car is prone to additional problems when your wheels are not properly aligned. For example, misaligned wheels can put additional stress on your suspension system, and if you then hit a pothole, there is a greater chance the suspension can become damaged. When wheels are misaligned, you may also notice that your steering wheel starts to shake when you gain speed on the road. This shaking is due to an imbalance, and that shaking can cause additional stress to other parts of the car leading to faster wear and tear.
When you are ready to schedule a wheel alignment, give us a call at 516-822-3671.
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