March 25, 2024
Most people are aware of the need for general car maintenance. It’s essential to take care of the basics, like regular oil changes and checking battery terminals for corrosion. But, getting an alignment is just as important.
Many think it’s simply a minor irritation when your alignment starts to get off. The truth is, driving a car with bad alignment can quickly turn into costly repairs.
When your car is out of alignment, it can affect its performance in several ways, including:
Hitting potholes can lead to misalignment and cause multiple issues. Whether it’s hitting multiple smaller potholes over time or one really bad pothole, both can result in damage to your suspension, struts, and other portions of your car’s undercarriage.
Hitting a curb can lead to serious wheel alignment issues. It can alter the angle your wheels contact the road, throw off suspension and steering, harm your struts, and directly damage your tires and wheels.
You don’t have to hit a curb at a high rate of speed to damage your alignment, so if you notice your steering wheel pulling more to one side or another after accidentally hitting a curb, it’s time to get your alignment checked right away.
You can probably get away with driving your car with minimal alignment problems for a little while. But, is it a good idea?
Bad alignment can cause more than just minor annoyances. It can lead to having to replace your tires early, decrease your fuel economy, and other more costly repairs.
The actual length of time differs from one car to the next, but generally speaking, you want to get an alignment every 5,000 to 8,000 miles under normal conditions. But if you’ve had a fender bender, hit a pothole or a curb recently, or noticed a change in steering at all, you don’t want to delay getting it checked out immediately.
Not dealing with an alignment issue quickly can have serious implications.
At first, general alignment issues tend to be more of an annoyance than a serious concern. But, the more pronounced an alignment issue becomes, the more likely it will lead to severe problems. Those problems get expensive quickly, and they could put you in real danger on the road.
Postponing a proper alignment can result in multiple problems—some more severe than others. For example:
Get the most out of your car’s performance by dropping by one of our convenient locations. You’ll enjoy a smoother ride, easier steering, and get the most from your car’s fuel efficiency.
Trust the professionals at Meineke for expert tire alignment services, and schedule your appointment today!