How Wheel Alignments Can Save You Thousands

Changing out your tires prematurely can be one of the most expensive mistakes that vehicle owners can make. Everyone drives a little bit differently, so there are no hard-and-fast rules about when you need to change out your tires—but there is one truth. No matter how carefully you drive, or how well you maintain your vehicle, your tires will not wear down evenly over time. In order to combat the uneven wear on tires, you need to have tire rotations and wheel alignments performed regularly. You can easily get these services and more done all in one place at your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers. The Dobbs team of expert tire and automotive service technicians will take care of all your vehicle’s needs so you get IN. UP. FIXED. and OUT. in one quick trip.

How Does A Wheel Alignment Work?

You may think that when you bolt your wheels onto your vehicle with lug nuts that it would sit perfectly flat, but everything on your vehicle settles over time. The angle that your tires contact the road is affected by three different factors: camber, toe, and caster. Each of these three factors can be a serious issue if the angle is not right or if they are out of line with one another. Here are how each of these three factors affect your wheels:

Camber

To establish the camber of your wheels, look at the angle of your tires from the front of your vehicle. If you are looking at your tires facing the treads, the camber is how much further in or out the top of your tire is from the bottom of your tire. Negative camber occurs when the top of your tires are angled more inward than the bottom, whereas positive camber occurs when the top of your tires are angled further out than the bottom. If your tires have an excessively positive or negative camber, your tires will get worn down more on the interior or exterior of your tires, which can cut the lifespan of your tires in half. Let the expert tire technicians at Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers set your camber to the perfect angle for your specific vehicle to make sure your wheels don’t wear down unevenly.

Toe

If you have ever seen someone who is pigeon-toed, you understand the idea of toe. If the front of your tires are angled in from the back, you have “toe in,” whereas, if the front of your tires are angled out from the back, you have “toe out.” The toe of your vehicle not only affects the wear and tear on your tires, but it can also affect your ability to drive and steer your vehicle.

Caster

Your vehicle’s caster is one of the more complicated aspects to visualize. Essentially, the caster is the angle to your steering axis. Positive caster will tilt toward the driver, whereas negative caster angles toward the front of your vehicle. Your caster helps balance your steering and stability while you are cornering. You can easily save yourself thousands of dollars over the course of your vehicle’s lifespan by promptly taking care of alignments, as needed. If you want to have your tires thoroughly checked, come into any of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers today. Dobbs’ expert staff will make sure your tires are wearing completely evenly, helping you save thousands of dollars in unnecessary tire changes.