Tires have a significant impact on the overall performance of a vehicle, and your
safety heavily depends on their condition. Therefore, taking good care of your car’s
tires is incredibly essential. This includes both general maintenance and alignment services, as these things go a long way in ensuring a smooth ride and extended tire
life. In this blog, we will discuss ways to look after a vehicle’s tires and also
explore the significance of wheel alignment and the signs that indicate your vehicle
may need it.
Tips for Tire Maintenance:
Tires need proper maintenance and care for a longer life, and this is especially
important for your safety. There are several things that you need to look after. Here
is a list of things you need to ensure.
1. Keep Tires Properly Inflated
First, you must monitor air pressure. Uninflated tires can lead to problems like
poor gas mileage and reduce the tire’s life. It can also affect the handling of
vehicles, therefore, you should check your tires for pressure at least once a month
and make sure they are properly inflated. It should also be done when there is a
swing in temperature.
2. Rotate Tires Regularly
You should rotate your tires every 10,000-12,000 kilometers. This is highly
important because all your tires of the vehicle experience different kinds of wear.
Regularly changing their position means that they would wear at the same rate.
This helps to enhance the longevity of the tires.
3. Change Tires According to Season
Using different tires in winter and summer is highly recommended if you live in a snowy area. Both tires have their purposes. Using them interchangeably can affect their performance. Therefore, tires should be changed with changing seasons.
4. Inspect the Tires
Inspecting tires is far beyond just checking the pressure. The tire tread should also be closely checked to look for cracks or bulges on the surface. Any objects lodged in the tire should be immediately removed. Inspecting tire tread is incredibly necessary as it would give you an idea of whether the wear is uniform.
5. Get a Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is the most crucial thing for tires. Wheel alignment should be at
least done every year or after 25,000 kilometers. This would ensure even tread
wear.
What is Wheel Alignment?
Wheel Alignment is the mechanical adjustment of a vehicle suspension. It is done
to adjust the angle of the tires so that they are in proper contact with the road. This
way, wheel alignment helps ensure a smooth ride for you.
Why are alignment services critical?
Regular alignment of your vehicle’s suspension is vital in many ways. It not only
ensures efficiency but also increases the life of the tires. Another aspect of regular
wheel alignment is enhanced safety. So below are some benefits of wheel
alignment.
1. Better Handling: Wheel alignment is directly linked to the car’s handling.
Misaligned tires repeatedly make the vehicle pull to the sides. The steering wheel
can also loosen. All this makes handling vehicles difficult and unpleasant. Wheel
alignment significantly reduces these problems and makes steering your car easier.
This gives a safer and more leisurely ride.
2. Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: A lesser-known benefit of wheel alignment is
enhanced fuel efficiency. Misaligned tires are not in equal contact with the road.
This means that there is increased rolling resistance in movement. Resistance
makes the engine work harder to move the car. Thus, the car’s efficiency is
compromised, and fuel consumption increases. Wheel alignment mitigates the
problem of resistance and improves fuel efficiency.
3. Even Tire Wear: Wheel alignment has much to do with tire wear. As mentioned
earlier, uneven tires experience higher rolling resistance. This resistance leads to
faster and uneven tire wear. So, wheel alignment is directly connected to tire
longevity. Regular alignment increases the life of tires and ensures even wear.
4. Smoother Ride: Wheel alignment also gives you a smoother, balanced ride.
Without alignment, the steering wheel may not be in the correct position and may
have vibrations. The vehicle can also pull to the sides. These things adversely
affect your ride experience. You would have better control over the car after
alignment. This ensures a smoother and safer ride.
In conclusion, wheel alignment highly enhances your driving experience and
increase. It tackles many of the problems faced by the wheels at once
Signs Your Vehicle Needs Alignment
Knowing when your vehicle needs to go through this process is incredibly crucial.
Here are some of the signs of misaligned tires that you need to look out for:
1. Vehicle Pulling: This is the most apparent sign of wheel misalignment. While it
is normal for a slight pulling to the right or left, your vehicle needs an alignment if
you constantly need to steer to keep straight.
2. Steering Wheel off Center: The steering wheel is designed to be dead center. If
the logo is not in the center while driving on a straight road, it’s time for wheel
alignment.
3. Steering Wheel Shaking: Your steering wheel should be shaking to a point
where it feels on your hands. If this happens, then it is a symptom of misaligned
wheels.
4. Uneven Tire Wear: Tire wear is a great way to see alignment problems. The
wear should be evenly spread on all parts of the tires. Otherwise, it is time for
wheel alignment. You should always keep an eye on these signs. If any of them appear, taking the car
to a qualified technician is recommended.
#1 Wheel Alignment Services in Kitchener, ON
If you are looking for a qualified technician, look no further than All Automotive.
Under the supervision of a vastly experienced one, we have the most experienced
and dedicated technicians in Kitchener, ON. The first thing for us is the importance
of trust. We are your partners in keeping your vehicle running smoothly and safely.
You can trust us on any problem with your vehicle, from general auto repairs,
maintenance services, brake repairs, or exhaust system solutions.
Book an appointment today!