Alignment and Dog Sledding?

Imagine you’ve left Reno and Sparks and you have taken a trip to the artic for a dog sled adventure.

As you command your dog team, they all pull straight ahead. The dog’s unified direction allows you to cover a lot of ground quickly. All of a sudden things slow down considerably, what happened? One or two dogs decided they were going to go a different direction. Now the team is fighting each other to get that same work done, slowing things down.

That would slow you down. You would have to work harder to keep the sled going where you want it. The dogs are all working as hard as before, but you’re covering less ground for the same effort.

You’re wasting kibble.

Now Let’s Talk About Alignment Issues for Reno and Sparks drivers.

The same is true of your vehicle when the wheels are out of alignment. That wheel that’s pulling to the side is dragging down the rest of the car; so you push a little harder on the gas pedal to keep up your speed. You’re wasting gas.

So have your wheel alignment checked at least once a year. It is essential to get it checked right away if you feel the vehicle pulling to one side. You will experience lifespan issues with your tires if they are not aligned properly. Alignment problems mean you will have to replace your tires more often, which can be costly for drivers in Reno and Sparks. Your suspension system can also be impaired, costing you even more money.

But even more importantly, uneven tread wear can lead to blowouts on the road, a dangerous and potentially deadly safety risk for Reno and Sparks drivers and their riders.

It may not take a collision or poor driving habits to “knock” your wheels out of alignment. Wheels can go out of alignment with just everyday NV driving. Reno and Sparks road hazards, potholes, uneven or gravel roads, and even the bumps and bounces of regular Reno and Sparks roads and surface streets can slowly give you car alignment problems.

So What Should I Do?

Periodically, it’s good practice to have your car’s wheel alignment checked. Typically, your car’s owners manual will have recommendations on how often to have an adjustment done. Adjustments are frequently every one or two years. If you suspect something is amiss with your alignment, don’t wait! Bring your vehicle into Wayne’s Automotive Center now.

We check your steering and suspension systems as a first step in diagnosing problems. If a problem exists in these systems, it will be hard to maintain proper alignment. Our technicians are skilled at finding and fixing these types of issues.

Once our technicians feel comfortable that no suspension or steering issues exist, we will get an initial reading of your alignment with our specialed equipment. Wheels are adjusted to manufacturer specifications to get things back in unison.

Three adjustments may have to be made to align a vehicle’s tires correctly.

• Toe
• Camber
• Castor

“Toe” refers to wheels which point inward or outward at the front of the tire. Have you ever heard the term “Pigeon Toed” or “Splayed Foot”? It is the same concept.

Camber affects the angle at which the tires meet the road. Think of a substantial structure as opposed to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Castor marks the angle of the tire for more stable driving.

So, a piece of auto advice that just might be good for life as well: keep everything in alignment, and you’ll be able to steer where you want to go. Drive safely.

Sometimes we Reno and Sparks residents bump a curb or hit a pothole and knock our wheels out of alignment. An accident can put the tires out of alignment as well.

In Summary

Reno and Sparks residents need to make sure they’re tracking straight. You’ll get better fuel economy, and your tires last longer. Bring in your vehicle and let the experts at Wayne’s Automotive Center make sure you are tracking straight! Now, mush!