How Often Should I Get a Wheel Realignment?

It’s normal for tires to lose traction over time as their treads wear down. As a tire loses traction, the vehicle's ability to grip the road worsens, putting drivers in dangerous situations. Tire rotations and wheel alignments can help keep your vehicle in tip-top shape and keep you safe while traveling. 

All vehicles eventually need a wheel realignment, which ensures that all four wheels point perfectly forward and are level with the ground. Having your tires regularly realigned ensures that your vehicle drives straight, all four tires are flush to the ground, and the vehicle is less likely to drift while driving. But how often should you get a wheel realignment? Most dealerships usually say once a year or every 10,000 miles. However, to keep your vehicle at peak performance, most tire professionals recommend every 6,000 miles or every other oil change.

Signs Your Wheels Need Realignment

• Steering Wheel Not Centered: If your steering wheel doesn't line up the center or pulls to one side when going straight, then you most likely need a tire realignment. 
• Vehicle Feels Unstable: If you feel your vehicle doesn’t handle the road effectively or is unstable when making turns and maneuvering tight areas, your wheels may need to be rotated and realigned.
• Tire Screech: If your tires screech when turning, you may need to have them inspected by a professional. This could be a sign that they need realignment or that there is another more serious issue with them.
• Tires Are Wearing Down Unevenly: Perhaps the most obvious sign that you need a realignment is when your tires are wearing unevenly, which shows that not all of your tires are flush with the ground.

The Wheel Alignment Process

Wheel alignment has three steering axes. The first is the camber, which is vital in preventing tire tread wear. The camber refers to whether the tire tilts inward or outward on a vertical axis. The next piece is the caster, which impacts how easy it is to steer your vehicle. A positive caster means the steering components form a line pointing from the center of your wheel to the front of the car. A negative caster means that the steering components form a line pointing back.

The last component is the toe, which refers to whether the tires rotate slightly left or right on a horizontal axis. This affects tire wear rate and overall steering control. Toe-in refers to the tires pointing inward; the opposite would be toe-out. A professional would need to examine and correct both instances. A wheel alignment at our service center typically takes thirty to sixty minutes, depending on the number of tires needing alignment.

Learn More: Your Ultimate Guide to Routine Vehicle Maintenance at Nissan South Morrow 

Wheel and Tire Maintenance Tips

Regular Tire Rotations

It’s important to rotate your tires regularly to maintain proper tire health. Tires will wear differently depending on whether the vehicle is front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. An example of a tire rotation would be moving the back tires to the front tires; however, the experts at our service center will recommend different rotation orders depending on the vehicle model.

Limit Driving with Mismatched Tires

Driving with mismatched tires can be very damaging to your vehicle. When faced with an irreparable flat tire, most will choose to just have that tire replaced. While this method is certainly easier on the wallet, it may be better for your vehicle in the long run if you purchase an entirely new set. When only one tire is replaced, it can cause the other tires to wear quickly, making for a pricey adjustment in the future.

Survey Treads and Sidewalls

In general, the depth of wear on your car’s tires should always be above 1/16 of an inch. If your tires are near that low in-depth, it’s certainly time for a replacement. Additionally, it is recommended that your tires have at least 1/8 inch of tread to work well in all common weather conditions. Aside from these common measurements, you should monitor any bulges or cracks in your tires, as these issues should be fixed quickly.

Have Your Vehicle Serviced at Nissan South Morrow

We look forward to servicing your new or used Nissan at Nissan South Morrow. Our experienced staff can help with wheel alignment, oil changes, and anything else your vehicle requires. We aim to service your needs and get you and your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.

Utilize our convenient online booking service below. We look forward to servicing your vehicle soon!

Schedule Service