A vehicle is said to be properly aligned when all suspension & steering components are sound & when the tire & wheel assemblies are running straight & true. Just as a person's shoes wear evenly across the heels & soles if that person's weight is evenly distributed over his feet as he or she walks, tires will wear evenly if the vehicle's suspension system allows them to meet the road evenly. Proper alignment is necessary for both even tread wear & precise steering.

You need an alignment when you notice uneven front or rear tire wear or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e. pulling to one side). Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. If this is the case, your vehicle may need a "front-end" alignment or a "four-wheel" alignment, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing.

 

Your tires may give you clear signs of wear problems in time to have them corrected before they cause permanent damage to the tires. You can prevent wear problems that shorten tire life by thousands of miles by learning to "read" the early warning signs & taking appropriate corrective action.

Wear In Center: When a tire has too much air in it, the center of the tread bears most of the load & wears out faster than the outside edges. If a tire wears unevenly, its useful life is reduced. Check the inflation pressures of your tires at least once a month & before embarking on a long trip. Always check tires when they are cold, that is, before they have been driven on for one mile, or wait until one hour after they have been driven.