Keeping everything straight A rotation should be done approximately every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (check your owner’s manual for the recommendation for your vehicle). An alignment only needs to be performed if your vehicle has come out of alignment.
- What happens if your tires don’t rotate?
- If your tires have experienced uneven wear due to a lack of consistent tire rotation, the surface which hits the road will not itself be flat — forcing your vehicle’s alignment (and therefore, suspension) into a tense and unsafe position.
- How often should you rotate your tires?
- To find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual or placard inside your car door. You should rotate your tires roughly every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, according to the Tire Industry Association. However, every vehicle is different. To find the specific vehicle recommendation, check your owner’s manual.
- What is tire alignment?
- Tire alignment is the concept of the adjustment of a vehicle’s suspension. The suspension is the system that connects the tires to the rest of your car. Adjusting the alignment involves optimizing the angle at which the tires are connected to the vehicle — which can affect how they hit the road.
- What happens if you remove a tire incorrectly?
- If you remove a tire or mount a tire incorrectly, you might break you car. Even if you’re able to drive away, if you don’t know what you’re doing, your tinkering might cause irreparable damage later on (or damages requiring extensive, expensive repairs).
- What is the difference between alignment and rotation?
- You can also think of it like this- a tire rotation moves your tires around to even out the wear, while a wheel alignment adjusts the angles of your tires to keep them aligned properly. Both of these services are important to the longevity of your tires and the overall performance of your vehicle.
How often should I get wheel alignment?
every 2 to 3 years
Typically, it is recommended to get your wheels aligned every 2 to 3 years. However, to ensure the optimal safety of your car, yourself and others around you, it is best to opt for a wheel alignment every time you go to change your oil of the vehicle.
- How often should you have your wheels aligned?
- Wheel alignment isn’t usually listed by vehicle manufacturers on the recommended maintenance schedule, so how often it should be done is open-ended. If your vehicle tracks as straight as an arrow, you’re wheels likely are properly aligned. Even so, it’s a good idea to have your alignment checked annually, such as when you have your tires rotated.
- When should you get a tire alignment?
- If you experience any veering or notice uneven wear on your tires, the answer is immediately. Otherwise, the general rule for when you should get a tire alignment is once per year. But that doesn’t apply to every vehicle. When might you need a tire alignment sooner? Many situations can influence how often you should get a tire alignment.
- Do you need four-wheel alignment?
- Some vehicles require only that the front wheels be aligned, but many car-based models require four-wheel alignment. Alignment specifications differ by vehicle, and it isn’t as simple as just making sure all four wheels are pointed straight ahead.
- What can be adjusted during a car alignment?
- What can be adjusted varies by vehicle, but an alignment can include setting the camber, toe and caster. The camber is the tilt of the wheels when looking at the car head-on. Toe-in means the front of the wheels angle inward when looking down from above, and toe-out means they angle away from each other.
