Tire Alignment

Regular car tire alignment is an important part of keeping your vehicle in shape. When your car drives over uneven terrain, like potholes or lumpy gravel, the alignment of its tires may be altered. Tires which aren't parallel to each other don't drive as they should: they use energy inefficiently, increasing gasoline consumption; they may be difficult to steer depending on the severity of the misalignment; and they can result in a bumpy and unpleasant ride for the people in the car. Having your tires realigned can eliminate these problems.

Tire alignment must be performed by a certified technician, so unless you are a certified technician, you will need to pay to have it done. It can be an expensive process, depending on the shop you visit; expect to pay at least $100 and likely more. This can be quite the blow to your wallet, however, opting not to get your tires aligned can be a worse decision, as it will impact your comfort, your gas mileage and possibly your safety as well.

Make sure that any shop you bring your car to has a proper alignment rack, which is a vital part of correctly aligning the tires. Tire alignment is a specialized process which some shops may not perform.

Having your tires aligned is unfortunately pricey, but also very important. If you feel your car isn't handling as it should, or if you know that it's been handling some tough terrain, you should bring it to a mechanic and have it checked for misalignment.