Regular wheel alignment check, and adjustments are essential for maintaining the safety and performance of our vehicle. Proper alignment helps to ensure that all four wheels of a vehicle are pointed in the correct direction and at the correct angle, which improves the overall handling and stability of the vehicle. This makes it easier to control and reduces the risk of accidents.
A proper alignment can also increase fuel efficiency by reducing drag and resistance caused by misaligned wheels and can extend the lifespan of your tyres, by distributing the weight of the vehicle evenly across all four. Furthermore, regular wheel alignment helps to ensure that all the suspension and steering components are working together as intended, which can improve the overall performance of the vehicle and make it more comfortable to drive.
It is generally recommended to have a wheel alignment check done at least once a year or every 12,000 miles, or as needed if you notice any symptoms of misalignment such as uneven tyre wear, uneven or rapid tyre wear, the vehicle pulling to one side, or steering wheel vibration.
Regular Wheel Alignment Check – Main Benefits
Below are few key benefits of regular wheel alignment check:
Improved handling and stability: By ensuring that the vehicle moves in a straight line and that the steering wheel is centred, properly aligned vehicles lower their accident risk. Consequently, the car will handle better overall, be more stable, and be simpler to drive.
Enhanced fuel economy: Misaligned wheels can cause a vehicle to pull to one side or the other, increasing drag and resistance. As a result, the engine has to work harder and uses more fuel. The reduction of drag and resistance caused by proper wheel alignment check increases fuel efficiency.
Longer tyre life: Properly aligned wheels help to uniformly distribute the vehicle’s weight over the tyres, which reduces wear and tear and increases tyre longevity.
Better overall performance: By ensuring that all the suspension and steering parts are functioning as intended, regular wheel alignment check can enhance the vehicle’s overall performance and increase driver comfort.
The advantages of a four-wheel alignment check
A four-wheel alignment, commonly referred to as a full alignment, is the act of changing the angles of a vehicle’s four wheels so that they are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the ground. This makes it easier to make that the vehicle is moving straight ahead, the steering wheel is in the middle, and the suspension and steering systems are functioning as intended.Â
The following are some major benefits of a four-wheel alignment:
Improved handling and stability: A four-wheel alignment makes sure that a vehicle’s four wheels are all pointing in the right directions and at the right angles, which improves the vehicle’s stability and handling. As a result, there are fewer chances of traffic accidents, which increases one’s sense of security.
Fuel economy can be improved by a four-wheel alignment since it helps to reduce drag and resistance brought on by misaligned wheels.
Increased tyre life: By uniformly distributing the vehicle’s weight across all four wheels, four wheel alignment helps tyres last longer by reducing tyre wear and tear.
Improved overall performance: A four-wheel alignment can help to ensure that all suspension and steering parts are functioning as intended, which can enhance the vehicle’s overall performance and increase driver comfort.
Safety is guaranteed because a four-wheel alignment increases the vehicle’s stability and control, which lowers the likelihood of accidents.
Better result for vehicles with rear-wheel drive: A correct thrust angle is maintained by four wheel alignment, this is particularly important for vehicles with rear-wheel drive as it helps to ensure that the vehicle will not pull to one or the other, the same is not the case with for a two-wheel alignment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsÂ
Q1. What are the benefits of wheel alignment check and balancing?
Ans: The benefits of wheel alignment and balancing include improved vehicle handling and stability, increased fuel efficiency, and longer tyre life. Proper wheel alignment ensures that the wheels are pointed in the correct direction and at the correct angle, which helps to reduce wear and tear on the tyres and suspension components.
Wheel balancing, on the other hand, ensures that the weight of the tyre and wheel assembly is distributed evenly, which helps to reduce vibrations and shaking while driving. Together, wheel alignment and balancing help to improve the overall performance and safety of a vehicle.
Q2. What is wheel alignment and why is it necessary?
Ans: Wheel alignment is the process of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. This helps to ensure that the car moves in a straight line and the steering wheel is centred. Wheel alignment is necessary because it affects the handling and stability of the vehicle, as well as the wear on the tyres.
Misaligned wheels can cause the car to pull to one side or the other, the steering to feel loose or unresponsive, and uneven tyre wear. Regular wheel alignment can help to improve the overall performance and safety of a vehicle.
Q3. What are the advantages of a four-wheel alignment?
Ans: A four-wheel alignment, also known as a full alignment, is when all four wheels of a vehicle are aligned at the same time. The advantages of a four-wheel alignment include improved handling and stability, increased fuel efficiency, and longer tyre life.
In comparison to a two-wheel alignment, which only adjusts the front wheels, a four-wheel alignment also accounts for the rear wheels, which helps to ensure that the entire vehicle is properly aligned. Additionally, four-wheel alignment provides a better result for vehicles with rear-wheel drive, as it helps to maintain the correct thrust angle.
