Wheel alignment affects your tires, your fuel economy, and how your car handles — yet it's one of the most commonly skipped maintenance items. Here's why it matters and when to get it done.
Wheel alignment refers to the adjustment of the angles at which your tires contact the road. The three main alignment angles are: camber (the tilt of the tire inward or outward when viewed from the front), toe (whether the fronts of the tires point inward "toe-in" or outward "toe-out"), and caster (the tilt of the steering axis, which affects steering feel and stability). All three are measured against the manufacturer's specification and adjusted if they fall outside the acceptable range.
Misaligned wheels cause tires to scrub against the road at a slight angle, accelerating tire wear dramatically. Even a small toe misalignment can drag tires sideways and cause wear equivalent to driving hundreds of miles in a straight line. Misalignment also causes the vehicle to pull to one side, increases rolling resistance (hurting fuel economy), and can cause steering wheel vibration.
Get an alignment when: you notice the car pulling to one side, the steering wheel is off-center on a straight road, you hit a significant pothole or curb, after suspension or steering component replacement, and as part of regular maintenance every 1–2 years or 12,000–15,000 miles. Always get an alignment after buying new tires — starting fresh tires on a misaligned vehicle immediately begins scrubbing the tread unevenly.
Alignment adjusts the angle of the wheel relative to the vehicle and road. Balancing corrects weight distribution around the wheel and tire assembly. Alignment problems cause pulling and edge/shoulder tire wear. Balance problems cause vibration — typically felt in the steering wheel at specific highway speeds. Both are important and address different issues.
