Keeping a close eye on your wheel alignment may actually prevent some of the leading causes of early tire failure. If wheel alignment is accurately kept, then tires should perform at their top ratings for speed, wear, and fuel efficiency. However, if wheel alignment is off and not adjusted at regular intervals, tires may become worn unevenly, suffer damage, or it may even cause further repairs to the vehicle. To ensure that you are getting the most out of your tires, do not neglect regular checks of your wheel alignment.
Wheel alignment is simply the careful adjustment of all 4 tires to be in line with each other. If the tires are out of line the vehicle may 'pull' or 'wobble', especially at higher speeds. This kind of pull will throw off …show more content…
Uneven tread wear on tires can sometimes be severe enough to compromise the safety of your tires, making them more prone to flats or blowouts. Tires that wear out uneven because of improper wheel alignment also have a shortened life span. Most tires will typically last for 5-6 years under regular driving conditions when their tread wears down all at the same rate. However, if tread has worn more on the outside edges of the tires faster than on the inside edges, this can shorten their life by up to several years, costing additional time and money on tire …show more content…
Telltale signs of poor wheel alignment in the tread will be one of only several patterns. The most common is the outside edge of the tread, about the outside 1/3 of the tire, shows that the tire is leaning too far in or too far out, and an excessive amount of the load is being carried by that part of the tire alone. Other types of tread wear that may be affected by improper wheel alignment are 'feathering' and 'cupping'. Feathering is where the tread will wear down and look almost like feathers, with flat tops and angled sharper edges. This could be caused by poor alignment on the toe of the vehicle, or in some cases, can indicate replacement to parts of the suspension. Cupping is where the tread will look scalloped in places. This is a sign that the wheel alignment is off and replacements to key components need to be done to save the
Wheel alignment is simply the careful adjustment of all 4 tires to be in line with each other. If the tires are out of line the vehicle may 'pull' or 'wobble', especially at higher speeds. This kind of pull will throw off …show more content…
Uneven tread wear on tires can sometimes be severe enough to compromise the safety of your tires, making them more prone to flats or blowouts. Tires that wear out uneven because of improper wheel alignment also have a shortened life span. Most tires will typically last for 5-6 years under regular driving conditions when their tread wears down all at the same rate. However, if tread has worn more on the outside edges of the tires faster than on the inside edges, this can shorten their life by up to several years, costing additional time and money on tire …show more content…
Telltale signs of poor wheel alignment in the tread will be one of only several patterns. The most common is the outside edge of the tread, about the outside 1/3 of the tire, shows that the tire is leaning too far in or too far out, and an excessive amount of the load is being carried by that part of the tire alone. Other types of tread wear that may be affected by improper wheel alignment are 'feathering' and 'cupping'. Feathering is where the tread will wear down and look almost like feathers, with flat tops and angled sharper edges. This could be caused by poor alignment on the toe of the vehicle, or in some cases, can indicate replacement to parts of the suspension. Cupping is where the tread will look scalloped in places. This is a sign that the wheel alignment is off and replacements to key components need to be done to save the