How Often Should I Get a Wheel Alignment?
Maintaining proper tire alignment is crucial for a safe and efficient driving experience. As the treads on your tires wear down over time, their ability to grip the road diminishes, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in wet or slippery conditions. Factors like hitting potholes or curbs can cause the wheels to become unbalanced, further impacting traction and overall handling.
At Cadillac of Jackson, our expert technicians at our Ridgeland Cadillac vehicle tires department are ready to help you know when it's time and what signs you need to consider wheel alignment for your vehicle.
What Does a Wheel Alignment Do?
Wheel alignment is essential for maintaining vehicles as it ensures the wheels are positioned correctly and aligned with the road. It involves adjusting the angles of the wheels to be perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other, focusing on three steering axes.
The camber is the first axis. It tilts the tire vertically. Correct alignment prevents uneven wear. Negative camber wears the inside tread. Positive camber wears the outside tread. Adjusting the camber angle ensures even wear and better handling.
The second axis is the caster, which influences how easy it is to steer your vehicle. A positive caster means that when viewed from the side, the steering components form a line pointing from the center of your wheel toward the front of your car. This provides stability and helps maintain straight-line tracking.
How Often Do Cars Need Wheel Alignment?
To prevent these issues and ensure optimal performance from your Cadillac, getting a wheel alignment service at least once every year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles is recommended. However, it's important to note that this frequency may vary depending on your driving habits and road conditions. If you frequently drive on rough terrain or notice any signs of misalignment, such as uneven tire wear or a pulling sensation while driving straight, it's advisable to have your tires aligned more often.
In addition to tire alignment, regular tire rotation is essential for maintaining even tread wear across all four tires. Typically, experts suggest rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or during every oil change. This helps extend the lifespan of your tires and ensures that they provide consistent traction and stability throughout their lifetime. Ultimately, make tire services an integral part of your vehicle maintenance schedule.
Signs that Your Wheels Are Misaligned
Steering Wheel Isn't Straight
It's essential to recognize the signs of misaligned wheels to prevent damage to your vehicle. One indicator is an off-center or pulling steering wheel while driving straight. Misaligned wheels create uneven tire pressure, causing a steering pull or drift. If you're constantly correcting your steering to keep the vehicle straight, it's time for an alignment.
Vehicle Doesn't Feel Stable
If your vehicle doesn't handle the road well or feels unstable, it may be a sign of misalignment. When wheels are misaligned, weight and balance can be affected, making it harder to control and maneuver your vehicle. You may notice vibrations or a loose feeling while driving, which can be unsettling. Don't ignore these signs; prolonged misalignment can cause more significant problems like suspension damage or uneven tire wear.
Car Makes Screeching Noises
If your vehicle makes screeching noises when turning, it might signal wheel misalignment. Misaligned wheels create too much friction between tires and the road during turns, causing the screeching noise. Also, pay attention to tire wear patterns, as they can indicate alignment issues.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Service in Jackson, MS
Maintaining safe and enjoyable driving requires proper tire and wheel care. Proper wheel alignment increases road safety and saves money in the long term. Regular alignments extend tire lifespan, reducing the need for replacements and saving costs. It also maximizes car efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and saving money at the pump.
Our service center at Cadillac of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, has experienced Cadillac Certified Service technicians. They specialize in wheel alignment and use high-quality original equipment manufacturer components for optimal performance and longevity. We offer flexible hours and pride ourselves on providing top-notch service.
Whether you need a routine alignment or suspect an issue with your wheels, our knowledgeable technicians are here to assist you.
If you have any questions about wheel alignment or would like to schedule a service appointment, we encourage you to contact us here or call us at (601) 948-5183 today.
Our friendly staff is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and addressing any concerns or inquiries you may have about maintaining your vehicle.
Image Source: Andrewshots/Shutterstock
At Cadillac of Jackson, our expert technicians at our Ridgeland Cadillac vehicle tires department are ready to help you know when it's time and what signs you need to consider wheel alignment for your vehicle.
What Does a Wheel Alignment Do?
Wheel alignment is essential for maintaining vehicles as it ensures the wheels are positioned correctly and aligned with the road. It involves adjusting the angles of the wheels to be perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other, focusing on three steering axes.
The camber is the first axis. It tilts the tire vertically. Correct alignment prevents uneven wear. Negative camber wears the inside tread. Positive camber wears the outside tread. Adjusting the camber angle ensures even wear and better handling.
The second axis is the caster, which influences how easy it is to steer your vehicle. A positive caster means that when viewed from the side, the steering components form a line pointing from the center of your wheel toward the front of your car. This provides stability and helps maintain straight-line tracking.
How Often Do Cars Need Wheel Alignment?
To prevent these issues and ensure optimal performance from your Cadillac, getting a wheel alignment service at least once every year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles is recommended. However, it's important to note that this frequency may vary depending on your driving habits and road conditions. If you frequently drive on rough terrain or notice any signs of misalignment, such as uneven tire wear or a pulling sensation while driving straight, it's advisable to have your tires aligned more often.
In addition to tire alignment, regular tire rotation is essential for maintaining even tread wear across all four tires. Typically, experts suggest rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or during every oil change. This helps extend the lifespan of your tires and ensures that they provide consistent traction and stability throughout their lifetime. Ultimately, make tire services an integral part of your vehicle maintenance schedule.
Signs that Your Wheels Are Misaligned
Steering Wheel Isn't Straight
It's essential to recognize the signs of misaligned wheels to prevent damage to your vehicle. One indicator is an off-center or pulling steering wheel while driving straight. Misaligned wheels create uneven tire pressure, causing a steering pull or drift. If you're constantly correcting your steering to keep the vehicle straight, it's time for an alignment.
Vehicle Doesn't Feel Stable
If your vehicle doesn't handle the road well or feels unstable, it may be a sign of misalignment. When wheels are misaligned, weight and balance can be affected, making it harder to control and maneuver your vehicle. You may notice vibrations or a loose feeling while driving, which can be unsettling. Don't ignore these signs; prolonged misalignment can cause more significant problems like suspension damage or uneven tire wear.
Car Makes Screeching Noises
If your vehicle makes screeching noises when turning, it might signal wheel misalignment. Misaligned wheels create too much friction between tires and the road during turns, causing the screeching noise. Also, pay attention to tire wear patterns, as they can indicate alignment issues.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Service in Jackson, MS
Maintaining safe and enjoyable driving requires proper tire and wheel care. Proper wheel alignment increases road safety and saves money in the long term. Regular alignments extend tire lifespan, reducing the need for replacements and saving costs. It also maximizes car efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and saving money at the pump.
Our service center at Cadillac of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, has experienced Cadillac Certified Service technicians. They specialize in wheel alignment and use high-quality original equipment manufacturer components for optimal performance and longevity. We offer flexible hours and pride ourselves on providing top-notch service.
Whether you need a routine alignment or suspect an issue with your wheels, our knowledgeable technicians are here to assist you.
If you have any questions about wheel alignment or would like to schedule a service appointment, we encourage you to contact us here or call us at (601) 948-5183 today.
Our friendly staff is dedicated to providing excellent customer service and addressing any concerns or inquiries you may have about maintaining your vehicle.
Image Source: Andrewshots/Shutterstock
