Your vehicle is out of alignment if you constantly correct the steering, the handling feels loose and/or unpredictable, or your steering wheel is off-center (among other symptoms). Wheels that aren’t aligned properly can directly affect your ability to control your automobile and wear down your tire tread unevenly. Even if you’re the safest driver on the road, you can still knock your wheels out of alignment. Stringer Auto Repair recommends you watch out for the following road hazards to protect your wheel balance and alignment, as these are common things that can misalign the wheels.
Things You Can Hopefully Avoid
Admittedly, there are some things you cannot help, but if you keep a good eye on the road while you drive and park, you may be able to avoid potentially damaging road hazards. Some of the most common things that knock wheels out of alignment include
- Bumps
- Curbs
- Parking Space Markers
- Potholes
- Speed bumps
For example, if you speed around a corner and hit the curb, you force the wheel or wheels to contact the concrete in the opposite direction. This impact can easily knock the wheel(s) out of alignment. Anything in the list above that jolts the wheels will affect their balance and alignment. Approach large bumps in the road, concrete markers, curbs, potholes, and speed bumps with caution.
In some cases, you might not be able to avoid the hazard. For example, you may be approaching a pothole, and traffic is such that you cannot go around it. In cases like this, don’t worry about angering the drivers behind you. Slow down and go over the road hazard as carefully as possible. Another example is speed bumps; the unwritten speed limit is no more than 5 miles-per-hour.
Things You Cannot Avoid
An automobile accident is one thing you might not be able to avoid, and even a minor accident can still knock your wheels out of alignment. If you’re driving at night, you may run over things that suddenly come into view, such as a large tree branch or rock. Your night vision is limited to what appears in your headlights, and sometimes you don’t have time to react. Drive slower to give yourself reaction time.
We are Stringer Auto Repair, and we are located in Johnstown, OH. If you believe your vehicle’s wheels are not aligned, call us today to set up an appointment for an inspection. We’d be happy to check your tires and wheel balance, and alignment.
