Page 10 - AAA Now! – AAA Shelby County – July/August 2021

DISCOUNTS & REWARDS®
Why Proper Alignment is Important for Your Tires
Your mechanic may often recommend an alignment service
be performed on your vehicle and
it’s a good idea to so about every six months –
or immediately if you’ve hit something that could have caused damage. Proper alignment is key to wear, comfort and fuel efficiency.
How Does Your Suspension Alignment Change?
As your suspension parts wear or
any time your suspension takes a hit, whether by hitting a pothole, a curb or anything in a minor accident, it can cause the alignment to get knocked out of place. Wheels and tires must be aligned. If they aren’t, you could be damaging your tires and affecting the vehicle’s handling characteristics.
Tire Performance
If the suspension is out of alignment, there is uneven pressure on the tires that cause your car to work harder on the tires than it needs to. This happens because there is more resistance between the tires and the rod surface. That resistance can cause the tires to wear unevenly
with the tires ultimately becoming worn on one side. It’s dangerous to drive on uneven tires, and it could force you to purchase tires sooner than you would have needed to with proper alignment.
Comfort
When tires begin to wear unevenly, you may feel a vibration in the steering wheel. The tires may also produce more road noise when the tread is uneven.
Fuel Efficiency
Your car works harder when the tires wear unevenly. The harder the car works, the more fuel it burns. So when the tires are out of alignment and they begin to wear unevenly, the more money you end up paying in gas.
Source: continentaltire.com
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JULY/AUGUST 2021