Reasons You Should Not Drive When Your Wheels Are Out Of Alignment
by Phillip Herrera
If you suspect that your car's wheels are out of alignment, you may believe that the only consequence is that your tires will wear down unevenly. However, there are other reasons why you should not drive your car when your wheels are out of alignment, as discussed below.
Makes It Harder to Control Your Vehicle
Normally, when your tires are straight and aligned, your car drives along the highway smoothly. Whether you are driving at lower or high speeds, you should not even feel the way your tires are rotating.
However, if even one tire is out of alignment, you will most likely feel vibrations as the wheels struggle to rotate, especially at high speeds. Then, when you try to make a turn or ease off of the road at an exit, you may have difficulty steering the car in the direction you want because the misaligned tire is fighting the direction of the others.
If the misalignment is not fixed, it will become worse. Due to the increased pressure on your tires and excessive wear and weakening of the rubber, your risk for having a blow-out while you fight to make a turn.
Winds up Causing Damage to Your Car
Misaligned wheels do more damage to your car than just wear down your tires unevenly and excessively. They can also wreak havoc on your car's suspension.
Because your suspension is constantly having to make adjustments to compensate for the misalignment, the misaligned wheels can eventually throw your suspension out of alignment as well. The added weight and pressure could lead to a cracked coil or bolt, making it necessary to have your suspension either repaired or replaced.
Uses up More Gas
Another reason why you should avoid driving your car too much when the wheels are out of alignment is that it could increase your vehicle's fuel consumption. This increase would make it necessary for you to have to stop for gas more often, making you have to spend more money than usual.
When the wheels are out of alignment, they create a drag against the pavement. As a result, your engine has to work harder to rotate them, increasing the amount of fuel the motor needs.
If your wheels are out of alignment, driving your car could end up causing even more problems, as well as wasting money on constant refueling and making repairs. If you suspect that your tires are misaligned, take your vehicle to an auto alignment repair service so they can inspect your wheels and make the necessary adjustments.
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About Me
When I decided to restore my old car, one of the things that I was excited about was repainting the car. I spent a lot of time researching how to do the paint job properly because I wanted to be sure that it looked professional. I learned a lot about tips and tricks to create a quality finish, and when the car was done, I knew I had to teach others what I learned. This blog is my chance to share my tips and help others to feel better prepared to paint their own restoration projects. I hope the information here helps you to do just that.