Well, if you’ve ever driven in a car that is extremely out of alignment, it may seem obvious. Having to turn the steering wheel just to keep the vehicle pointed straight is a nuisance at best and a flat-out hazard at worst. But even subtle misalignment issues will cost you over the long run in the form of fuel inefficiency and accelerated wear and tear on your tires.
Here’s all you need to know to protect your car’s alignment, recognize when something’s off, and communicate with your auto shop when it’s time to take your car to the professionals.
What Causes a Car to Need Alignment Services? Knocking your car out of alignment can happen as suddenly as bouncing over a pothole you didn’t see or sliding into a curb during a snowstorm. But it can happen gradually too as your car’s suspension parts experience unavoidable wear during your day-to-day commutes.
This is an extreme example, but we’ve seen it!
Is it Bad to Drive a Car that is Out of Alignment? Short answer: yes, especially if you think wasting money is bad. Long answer: Replacing a full set of tires is one of those expensive but necessary costs that just comes with owning a car. The typical driver tries to stretch the lifespan of those tires to the limit and driving on misaligned wheels can shorten a tire’s life by thousands of miles. Ouch. But in addition to accelerated tire wear, you’ll also be paying more in gas since your miles per gallon (MPGs) will take a big hit in a car that’s expending so much energy just to drive straight.
We recommended that your car’s wheels are balanced every other tire rotation. Approximately every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. Call us to discuss Wheel Alignment and any other questions you may have about your vehicle.