Every so often, your vehicle will require a wheel alignment. This important auto service assists with overall performance, ensuring that you get the most out of your tire life span and your car moves in the appropriate direction. Below, you’ll find a handful of helpful questions and answers about wheel alignments. 

4 FAQ About Wheel Alignments

What are the different types of alignments?

There are a few different types of wheel alignments—standard, thrust, and four-wheel. Standard alignments involve adjusting the front wheels so that they run to parallel your vehicle’s centerline. Thrust alignments are more accurate because they adjust the front wheels to the average direction of your rear wheels. Four-wheel alignments adjust all four tires to the center of the car.

What are some important wheel alignment terms?

Toe, camber, and caster are three wheel alignment terms you may hear at the auto repair shop. Toe refers to the angle of your vehicle’s wheels when a mechanic looks at them from the top, while camber is the tilt of the wheels when viewed from the front or rear. Caster refers to the angle of the front wheels as they rotate.  

When do you need alignments?

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to have your wheels aligned once per year. However, if you live on a street or property that has several ruts and potholes, you might want to schedule this service twice a year. Uneven tire wear, drifting, and off-center steering wheels are additional signs of the need for wheel alignment services.

Why are they necessary?

Since wheel alignments result in less rolling resistance, your vehicle will get better gas mileage. Alignments also keep your vehicle’s trajectory straight, which prevents the risk of accidents and collisions. This auto service also helps your tires wear down more evenly, which keeps flats and blowouts from occurring.

Keep your vehicle looking gorgeous and rolling safely with help from the team at Jerry Ernst Auto Body. For over 40 years, this collision center has provided wheel alignments, dent removal, metalwork, painting, and mechanical repairs to clients throughout Cincinnati. Call (513) 871-7200 to request a free written estimate, and visit them online to learn more about limited warranty agreements on all their work.