Wheel alignment is a common but often forgotten element of auto maintenance. Misalignment can occur at any time — such as when you drive over a large bump or particularly deep pothole — which can affect your car’s suspension system. The following will explain why proper wheel alignment is essential to the functionality and safety of your vehicle.

How Does It Affect Handling?

When you drive on a pothole or experience any other road issue that throws off your vehicle’s suspension system, it can make handling challenging over time. If your car veers to the left or right when you let go of the wheel regardless of the road surface smoothness, this a sign of poor alignment and can pose a serious safety hazard. 

Poor suspension can lead you to an accident, including collisions with inanimate objects and other cars. You’ll also expend considerable energy trying to keep your car from veering off course. If the wheels are off-balance from driving over bad roads, your steering wheel may vibrate in addition to pulling, which can further impact your driving ability.

How Does It Affect the Tires?

Wheel alignment services not only impact the safety of your car, but they also wear out the tires more than usual. Tread usually wears down along the edges of tires when the wheels are misaligned. This additional stress significantly decreases their safety, as they can become too thin in these areas. This increases the risk of blowouts that can cause you to lose control of your car and possibly lead to a serious accident.

Uneven wear also means replacing your tires prematurely and spending extra money. Wheel alignments help ensure your tires last as long as they should.
 

If it’s time to schedule a wheel alignment, count on Vito’s Auto Tech in Waterbury, CT, to do the job right. This auto maintenance shop has served the region with domestic and foreign auto services for over 30 years. Call (203) 755-0020 to schedule an appointment and visit them online to learn more.