Wheel alignment involves checking and correcting three angles—toe, camber, and caster. Most drivers know having the correct angles are necessary for their cars. But knowing exactly when you need to align your wheel is another matter. 

Various car manufacturers have suggestions on how often to get a wheel alignment. Some recommend you get one with every yearly maintenance visit. Others say biannual alignment is enough. 

You could wait for a mechanic to tell you you need a wheel alignment. However, you would have already put unnecessary wear and tear on your car by then. At C’s Autohaus, we’d prefer you be proactive by knowing these signs when your vehicle needs a wheel alignment. 

An Off-Center Steering Wheel

If you’re driving your car down a straight road (like I-675), and your car’s steering wheel is off-center, you probably need an alignment. By default, your wheels should remain straight unless you apply steering force or if the road you’re on slopes or curves.

Your Car Pulling to the Left or Right of the Road

Another sign that you need an alignment is if your car pulls to the left or right when you drive. Your wheels should remain straight unless you apply a steering force. 

If you have to apply a steering force to keep them straight, then something’s wrong. That something is likely misaligned wheels.

Uneven Tire Wear

A simple way to check if your car’s alignment is as it should be is to look at your tires. 

All things being equal, your front tires should wear evenly on both sides of your vehicle. Plus, the wear should be even across the whole width of the tire treads. If you see uneven wear, a wheel misalignment is likely a culprit.

Vibration While Accelerating

If you ever notice that your steering wheel begins to vibrate when you accelerate, you could be feeling another sign that you need an alignment. It happens because misaligned wheels will wobble when you speed up. 

Once they stabilize, the shaking should stop. If your alignment’s bad enough, you might feel this shaking at any speed.

Get Wheel Alignment Services at C’s Autohaus in Centerville, OH

Now that you know the signs of poor wheel alignment, you can decide for yourself when to bring your vehicle to us for an alignment. You should also know, though, that there are a few other times you may consider an alignment. 

One is if you strike a curb with your car. Or if you’re in any type of an accident, no matter how slight. Impacts of any kind can throw off your wheel alignment, so it’s always best to be on the safe side. 

The mechanics at C’s Autohaus in Centerville, OH offers reliable wheel alignment services. Contact us by completing our online form, giving us a call at (937) 428-6040, or stopping by to see us at 1690 Thomas Paine Pkwy, Centerville, OH 45459.