Although Australian developers are trying to make a commercially viable active wheel alignment system, most current cars will never have such a system fitted to them. This is because such a system is likely going to only ever work on very top-end performance cars where every last bit of lavish technology is thrown into their design. Of course, you don't need to be constantly monitoring your tyre alignment in the average family car. Having it inspected by a mechanic or garage where tyre alignment services are offered once or twice a year is enough.
In fact, the only time you need to have your tyre alignment checked more than this is if you have run over an obstacle in the road or hit a pothole that might have knocked your wheels out of line. That said, ignoring your wheel alignment is a bad idea because it can cause motorists real trouble. Read on to find out why wheel and tyre alignment should be taken seriously.
Tyre Longevity
If your wheels are not set in a position that is parallel with one another, then one side will inevitably start to pull. You can usually notice this if you hold the steering wheel lightly and find that it tends to move one way or the other. By forcing the car to drive straight by holding onto the steering wheel, radial wear on the tread of one set of tyres will start to build up. The additional friction they suffer as a result of poor alignment will wear one section of the tread down. Once it gets beneath the legal limit, the tyre will need to be replaced even if the rest of the tread is fine. Put simply, frequent wheel alignment checks help to avoid unnecessary expenditure on replacement tyres.
Better Fuel Economy
Another aspect of pulling to one side is that energy is wasted not driving your car forwards. In the end, this additional energy is supplied from your fuel supply. This means that drivers who never have their wheels aligned will often spend much more on fuel than they need to. Why fill up so often when you can run that much more efficiently on properly aligned car tyres?
No Drifting
So far, you have learned that tyre alignment will help to save money. However, it could also save your life. If you have incorrectly aligned wheels, then the chances of you drifting into another lane go up. This often occurs when drivers are tired but the problem is exacerbated by poorly aligned wheels. Have yours checked and you will feel that much safer behind the wheel. Reach out to a professional for more information about tyre alignment.
Share26 April 2021
Howdy! My name is Eric and I am here to give you some top tips which will help you to keep the tyres and wheels on your car in top condition. For a very long time, I didn't really give much thought to the tyres and wheels on my car. I suppose I just thought that they would look after themselves. However, I now realise that I need to take action to care for my tyres and wheels. I learnt this important lesson when one of my tyres failed while I was driving down the highway. It was a pretty scary experience but, thankfully, the guys and the tyre repair shop did a great job and gave me some great advice which got me back on the road.