The tires on the front of your car or truck are prone to issues if the wheel alignment is out of adjustment. The alignment is critical for keeping the tires in the optimum position for handling, tire wear, and performance, and there are some signs that the alignment is out of spec.
Tire Wear
When the front tires on your car or truck start to wear unevenly, there are some things you need to consider. Tires that are over or under-inflated can wear inappropriately, and the first thing you need to check is the tire pressure if you have tires worn on the edges or in the center of the tread.
Tire wear on one edge of a tire is a more significant concern because it often means the tire is leaning in or out and the wheel alignment is off. The alignment can be adjusted, but the tire may have too much wear to continue using it safely.
Wheel alignment can change for many reasons, including worn suspension or steering components or damage to a rim or other part of the vehicle after hitting something with the front tires. A sudden impact on the steering or suspension can cause damage that you may not see, but you may feel it in the way the vehicle handles after the collision.
Wheel Alignment
When you notice the tires wearing funny, or are having handling issues with your car, take the vehicle to a repair shop with a wheel alignment rack and have them assess the alignment for you. The wheel alignment does not have to be off much for the car to handle differently or for the tires to start scuffing and wearing in strange patterns.
The alignment shop will put your car on a lift and inspect the suspension and steering systems, then put the vehicle on the alignment machine and check the toe, caster, and camber to ensure everything is where it should be. If the tech finds worn parts under the car, they will most likely recommend changing them before trying to align it.
The wheel alignment will not stay in spec if you do not fix the parts causing the issue, and you will continue to wear out tires and have difficulty with handling. Most wheel alignment racks use a computerized system to measure the position of the tires and wheels in relation to the suspension, and very small adjustments are possible.
The system can also find variances in the wheel alignment and help pinpoint where the issue is and how to fix it. The wear on the tires and the handling changes are often the first indications of a problem, but don't let it go if you notice these things happening. The sooner it is checked and repaired, the safer your car or truck is.
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