Being safe behind the wheel should top every driver’s priority list. While making sure that your car’s steering and braking systems are up to par is essential, it’s sometimes easy to forget that your tires are the only thing connecting you to the road. Having well-aligned tires can improve safety and stability while helping your tires last longer.

If you live in or near Bradenton, Florida, and want an alignment check for your wheel tires, our technicians at Firkins Mitsubishi can help.

What Is a Tire Alignment?

Despite the name, a tire alignment doesn’t involve any work on the tires. Instead, when technicians perform a tire alignment, they adjust the vehicle’s suspension system to ensure all tires are perfectly aligned when they contact the road. The process requires special tools and the technicians who perform it monitor these three things:

Camber

A tire’s camber is its outward or inward inclination when looking at it from the front of the vehicle. The right camber angle can help ensure the vehicle is stable when taking corners. Besides the reduced stability, a misaligned camber angle can lead to your tires wearing out prematurely. The most common reason for your wheels tilting inwards or outwards is an issue with one of the suspension system’s components.

Toe

While camber is your tires’ inward or outward tilt when viewed from the front of the vehicle, toe alignment is the tilt you notice when looking from above. A correct toe angle is your wheels pointing straight ahead when observing them from above. Not having the right toe angle will wear out your tires much quicker than usual.

Caster

Your wheels’ caster angle is the angle of the vehicle’s steering axis when observed from the side. Having a negative caster means that the steering axis is tilting toward the front of the vehicle while a positive caster occurs when the steering axis tilts toward the driver. The latter is more common and makes steering more difficult and less precise.

What Happens When You Take Your Vehicle to Firkins Mitsubishi for a Tire Alignment?

When bringing your vehicle to us for a wheel alignment, our experienced technicians will check your wheels’ current position with the help of specialized machinery. Once the alignment machine determines your tires’ camber, toe, and caster, they’ll proceed to make the necessary adjustments. They get real-time information regarding each tire angle, helping them find their ideal position.

We’ll also check your steering wheel to make sure it’s centered. During a tire alignment procedure, we also take a look at the vehicle’s suspension system and tire pressure. If your wheels are misaligned, checking all related components may give us clues regarding the source of the issue.

Why Is Having Your Tires Properly Aligned Important?

Some of the most important reasons why your tires are aligned at all times are:

• It can become a safety issue. Misaligned tires can affect your safety behind the wheel for multiple reasons. Besides having less responsive steering and braking, a vehicle without properly aligned tires will wear them out much quicker, leading to a looser grip on the road.
• It will make your tires and suspension system last longer. Your tires wearing out prematurely due to them being misaligned can lead to mechanical issues with your suspension system. Improper tire balancing usually produces vibration, which will put your suspension under significant strain, which may lead to some components failing after a while.
• You will be enjoying a more pleasant ride. Keeping your tires aligned will also improve driving pleasure. Having your wheels in the right positions and avoiding premature tire wear will lead to a smoother ride.

When to Get Tires Aligned?

You may be wondering when you should get your tires aligned and how often you should align your tires. While the right interval between two tire alignment operations can vary based on multiple factors, like the type of vehicle you drive and your driving style, it’s generally recommended to do it every two or three years. You should also do it if you’re installing new tires or replacing seasonal tires. Here are some signs you need a tire alignment:

Your Vehicle Pulls in One Direction

Steering problems are probably the most common sign that you need to take your car in for a tire alignment. It could also simply be an underinflated tire, so check for that first. You can then check by taking your car on a level surface with lots of space, like an empty parking lot, and driving it slowly in a straight line without holding the steering wheel. If it begins drifting to one side, you most likely need a tire alignment.

You Feel a Vibration in Your Steering Wheel

This may also be the result of underinflated or worn-out tires but tire misalignment is a common cause. If you feel your steering wheel vibrating after a certain speed, it may be because the wheels are facing slightly different directions. You should have your vehicle inspected by an experienced mechanic.

You Notice Uneven Tire Wear

A common result of misaligned tires is premature wear of the outside or inside threads. If you notice an unusual amount of wear and tear on relatively new tires, you probably need a tire alignment job. Worn-out tires may also squeal when taking a turn.

Take Your Car To Have Its Tires Aligned at Firkins Mitsubishi

If you notice any of these signs or simply feel it’s time for an alignment check, come over to Firkins Mitsubishi. Our technicians use specialized equipment and will resolve the issue in no time. This will also allow us to inspect other essential components, including your steering system and suspension. Detecting a minor issue before it grows is quicker and less expensive. While we care for your vehicle, you can wait in our comfortable waiting area, use our free Wi-Fi, and enjoy free refreshments.  Contact us today to schedule your appointment.