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Suspension Alignments at Wolfpen
From European SUVs to Sports Cars, Our In-Ground Alignment Rack Can Handle It
Our Hunter Hawkeye in-ground alignment rack is the best system currently offered for suspension and wheel alignments, both factory alignments and custom setups.
One of the Easiest Ways to Maintain Your Vehicle
When it comes to maintaining the performance and longevity of European cars and SUVs, few services are as crucial as suspension alignments. Proper suspension alignment is essential for ensuring optimal handling balance, enhanced comfort, and prolonged tire life. Suspension alignments are especially important for European vehicles, and there are obvious signs that your car may need an alignment.
Proper Suspension Alignment is Critical
The basics of a suspension alignment are simple: an alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels to ensure they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. A proper suspension alignment contributes to a vehicle’s handling, tire wear, and overall driving experience.
Importance of Suspension Alignment and Effect on Handling
Handling Balance
Steering Response
Steering Response
Handling balance refers to how well a vehicle responds to driver inputs during cornering and maneuvering. European cars and SUVs are often engineered with precise handling characteristics to enhance the driving experience. An improper suspension alignment can lead to uneven weight distribution, resulting in the following negative characteristics:
Steering Response
Steering Response
Steering Response
Misaligned wheels can cause your vehicle to feel unresponsive or vague when steering. This lack of feedback can make driving less enjoyable and compromise your control over the vehicle.
Stability
Stability
Stability
Proper alignment ensures that all four tires maintain contact with the road, providing better stability during high-speed driving or road maneuvers. A vehicle that is misaligned may feel floaty or unstable, particularly on curves.
Body Roll
Stability
Stability
Suspension alignment impacts a vehicle’s body roll while cornering. If the alignment is off, the car may experience excessive roll, leading to a sensation of "leaning" during turns, which impacts driver confidence and comfort.
How Suspension Alignment Affects Tire Wear
Regular suspension alignment plays a vital role in maximizing the lifespan of your tires. Misaligned wheels can lead to uneven tire wear, resulting in tire problems such as
Edge Wear:
When tires are misaligned, one side of the tire may wear down faster than the other. For instance, if the wheels have too much toe-in, the inner edges of the tires can wear more quickly. Most people don’t see the inside shoulder of their tires very often, and they might not know the tires are wearing excessively until they fail. This is a common cause of rapid tire depressurization or blow outs.
Center Wear:
If the tire pressure is too high, it can lead to excess wear in the center of the tire. Proper alignment, along with correct tire pressure, ensures even wear across the entire tire surface. When a tire wears too much in the center, it can ruin a set of tires far faster than normal tire wear as well as lead to negative safety issues such as hydroplaning.
Increase in Pneumatic Drag:
Misaligned tires can create additional rolling resistance, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and increased wear. When tires are not properly aligned, they encounter more road friction, which can contribute to quicker wear and tear. With fuel economy being a top priority for many consumers, especially in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, pneumatic drag can offset fuel economy gains and performance.
Most importantly, consistent and proactive suspension alignments can extend the life of your tires by thousands of miles, leading to reduced costs, improved performance, and enhanced safety. While we love to see our customers at Wolfpen in Roswell, Georgia, we don’t want you to come in and spend money when you don’t have to!
Signs Your Vehicle May Need a Suspension Alignment
Uneven Tire Wear:
If you notice uneven wear patterns on your tires, it’s a clear sign that your vehicle may be misaligned. Be sure to check both the outside and inside shoulders of the tire since the inside tire shoulders are the most difficult to see and often go unnoticed.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side:
If your car drifts or pulls to the left or right while driving on a straight road, this could indicate misalignment. Be aware that the crowning of some roads can cause this naturally, so it’s best to test your car's alignment in the center lane of a larger road or highway.
Vehicle Steering Wheel Off-Center:
If your steering wheel is not centered while driving straight, it might be a sign that your alignment is off. This can lead to increased tire wear as well as be a safety issue over time.
Increased Steering Sensitivity or Steering Vibrations:
If your vehicle feels overly sensitive or unstable, an alignment check may be necessary. Pay particular attention to a steering wheel that vibrates or shimmies when you’re not touching it, and have one of our automotive technicians take it for a test drive.
How Often Should I Get an Alignment?
See Wolfpen in Roswell, GA for Your Alignments
European car manufacturers typically recommend checking alignment every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, but it’s wise to have the alignment checked whenever you replace tires or notice any handling issues. If you frequently drive on rough roads or over speed bumps, you might want to get your suspension alignment checked more often. Something as simple as hopping a curb to go tailgating at a college football game could misalign your suspension, which could get worse over time. If you have any doubts about your suspension alignment, stop by Wolfpen in Roswell, Georgia and have one of our automotive technicians check it. It could save you a lot of money down the road.