Technically, your wheels should be aligned every two years whether you knock them out of alignment or not. This being said, the roads today make it easy to knock the wheels out of alignment prematurely. When this happens, you will struggle to keep your vehicle going straight. You may also notice that the manufacturer’s logo in the center of your steering wheel is crooked. Here are things that will knock your wheels out of alignment if you hit them too hard.
Bumps
It is impossible to avoid bumpy roads with the infrastructure as old as it is. This being said, you can help your wheel alignment by driving carefully over bumps. For example, did you know that you should never drive over a speed bump faster than five miles per hour? You should also be careful with the bumps on worn roads. Take it slow to protect your tires and wheels.
Collisions
Unfortunately, it can be impossible to avoid a collision, especially if someone hits you. This is why it is important to have your automobile inspected thoroughly after you have been in an accident. Even a minor accident can cause damage to the suspension and affect your wheel alignment.
Construction
To correct the infrastructure problems, there is a lot of road construction going on around the nation. Slowing down in construction zones is not only important for the safety of the construction workers. Slowing down also protects your tires and wheel alignment. Construction zones tend to have uneven pavement that can jar the wheels and tires around when you drive over it.
Curbs
Everybody hits a curb now and then when they turn a corner. It’s important to turn corners slowly so you can prevent hitting the curb. When you hit a curb, your wheel is forced inward and this knocks the wheel out of alignment. Take it easy when making turns.
Markers
The same is true when you pull into a parking space. The space markers can jolt your wheels backward if you hit them. Drive slowly and stop before your tires may contact with the parking space markers.
Potholes
Finally, potholes can also be hard to avoid, so drive through them slowly. If you visualize the movement that your tires make when you drive through a pothole, you can see that they are jolted in several different directions. This can wreak havoc on your wheel alignment.
If you are having problems heading straight, drive to our shop so we can realign your wheels.
