We have previously discussed the importance of wheel alignment and how it can affect the outcome and performance of your vehicle. But before we move on, we need to recap on why we actually do wheel alignment.
Wheel alignment sometimes referred to as breaking or tracking, is part of standard automobile maintenance that consists of adjusting the angles of wheels to the car manufacturer specifications. The purpose of these adjustments is to reduce tire wear, to ensure that vehicle travel is straight and true. while this might seem like a very technical process, there are numerous tyre specialists that are well equipped to handle this type of query. Normally before performing wheel alignment, the technician should test drive the vehicle, adjust the tire pressure, as well as check the ride height pension and steering components.
Normally wheel alignment takes about an hour to perform while it is sometimes considered a drop-in service many tyre shops suggest scheduling in advance to avoid waiting.
What are the warning signs that my car is out of alignment?
You may notice uneven wear across the contact patch of the tyre. Perhaps the inside of the tyre is wearing out faster than the outside. It does not necessarily have to be on all tyres but only one could be affected.
You could experience pulsing feedback and shaking of the steering wheel. This could occur regardless of road condition and road surface imperfections. if you are experiencing any of these problems you should head off to your local tyre shop.
People with an eagle eye might notice that their steering wheel is off-centre. For example, if the straight 12:00 position of your steering wheel is off to the left or right off centre this once again could be an indication that your wheel alignment is out.
Have you noticed your car pulling to the left or right without steering correction, as in with your hands off of the steering wheel the vehicle pulls to the left or right? Please do not use this method as an actual check of your wheel alignment.
Putting aside the obvious signs of faulty wheel alignment, under normal driving conditions, alignment once or twice per year is recommended. However, this recommendation is not cast in stone. If you find yourself driving on particularly rough roads, or perhaps you have a learner driver using the car and they tend to bump the curbs accidentally, then you should probably be on a speed dial bases with your alignment professional.
In South Africa, as you all know we have a new Road Sport called “miss the pothole”. Potholes are to wheel alignment like kryptonite is to Superman.
A common question is do I need to get wheel alignment when getting new tyres?
The answer is not necessarily. However, if it has been a while since your last alignment and now you are getting new tyres then why not kill two birds with one stone and get it done at the same time. This would be very helpful as the tyre specialist would also need to do balancing of your tyres.
Always listen to your car and trust your gut feel regarding it. Safety always comes first.
Minty’s is amongst the leading tyre suppliers in South Africa, and is recognized for our high standard of customer service. We have built a reputation amongst our customers and ensure that they receive tyres and alloy wheels of the highest quality, amongst the largest brands nationwide.
Contact us on Tel: 011 661 4338 / 011 661 4339 or Email: amalgam@mintys.com.
