Keep Your Wheels on the Road with Regular Maintenance

Why Do You Need to Get a Wheel Alignment?

Without wheels and tires, our automobiles would be little more than large metal paperweights with internal combustion engines. Too many people don’t think about their wheels until something goes wrong. Wheel alignments are a crucial part of the Nissan required maintenance plan. So, why do you need to get a wheel alignment? Primarily, it’s important to keep your wheels properly aligned because that’s how a driver maintains safe control of the vehicle. Let’s take a look at the benefits of regular wheel alignments.

READ MORE: How Long Do Headlights Last? 

What Does a Car’s Wheel Alignment Affect?

It’s nearly impossible to overlook the importance of properly aligned wheels. A vehicle’s wheels are the primary way it interacts with the ground for the purposes of steering and stopping. The chain of events that flows through the wheels affects almost everything else downstream. Keeping the wheels aligned properly will help:

• Improve fuel economy
• Increase tire life
• Improve handling
• Reduce stress on other components
• Preserve tire warranty protections

How Does Wheel Alignment Work?

Did you know your tires and wheels don’t sit perfectly flat on the road surface? Every wheel and tire combination is tilted or angled one way or another toward or away from the centerline of the vehicle. This is called the camber. Also, a wheel’s toe is the angle at which a tire is canted inward or outward. Finally, the caster angle balances steering.

When is a Wheel Alignment Necessary?

Each of the above measurements is crucial in keeping a vehicle stable on the road. A wheel alignment is called for in the Nissan maintenance plan every few thousand kilometres. However, if a driver hits a curb or experiences some other low-speed collision, you may need to have your vehicle’s alignment looked at. Additionally, if you need to keep pressure on your steering wheel to keep the vehicle traveling straight on the road, a wheel alignment may be necessary to get it back in proper working order.

If you have any questions about how to best take care of your car, truck or SUV, make an appointment with a Barrie Nissan service advisor, today.