All you need to know about tyre alignment

Tyre alignment, AKA, wheel alignment, can help your tyres perform efficiently and help them last longer. It can also improve handling and keep your vehicle from pulling in one direction or vibrating strangely on the road. Here, we will discuss when you should get your tyres realigned.

The main things you should look out for when concerned with your tyre alignment are the following:

• Uneven tread wear
• Vehicle pulling to the left or right
• Your steering wheel is off centre when driving straight
• Steering wheel vibration

The more technical signs of your wheels needing a realignment are as follows:

1. Camber

This refers to the inward or outward angle of the tyre, on a vertical axel, when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Too much inward or outward tilt, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted. Worn bearings, ball joints, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment

1. Toe

Distinct from camber alignment, toe alignment is the extent to which your tyres turn inward or outward, when viewed from a birds-eye-view. Whether your tyre’s toes are pointing inwards or outwards, they require an adjustment.

1. Caster

Your caster is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle. If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt toward the driver. Negative caster, on the other hand, means the steering axis tilts toward the front of your vehicle. A positive or negative tilt of the caster means your tyres need wheel alignment.

If you have already noticed an uneven tread wear on tyres, be sure to visit AutoZone for a new set of tyres after you have sorted out your wheel alignment. For further technical advice, give our technical department a call on 0800 200 993.