Does your car veer slightly to the right? Do you find it difficult to stay in your lane? If so, it’s time to have your wheel alignment checked. This relatively inexpensive test will help correct your car’s track and improve your safety on the road.
Wheel toe-in and toe-out are natural phenomena – unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all setting that would suit every car model. Toe-in means that if the wheels were not aligned on a single axis, they would gradually move closer together, whilst toe-out means they would move further apart. Toe-in makes it easier to drive the car in a straight line, whilst toe-out makes it easier to turn, which is why maintaining the correct balance in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations is essential.
How long does it take to adjust the toe?
Setting the correct wheel alignment takes manufacturers a great deal of time! Fortunately, this is only at the design stage – as the aim here is to maintain the correct balance and, consequently, ensure safe driving. Passenger cars have a different wheel alignment to sports cars, particularly those competing in Formula 1 or NASCAR.
It is not possible to adjust the toe-in yourself – To carry out this task, specialist equipment is required to measure the camber in degrees. Based on the results, the tyre fitter or mechanic aligns the wheels in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When should you have your wheels aligned?
We will realise for ourselves that our car needs a wheel alignment check. These are tell-tale signs, which include:
- difficulty maintaining the direction of travel;
- difficulty turning in one direction (to the left or to the right)
- uneven tyre wear.
Wheel alignment can become misaligned for a number of reasons, although the most common cause is hitting a kerb at high speed, driving over a pothole, as well as replacing parts in the steering or braking systems, and changing tyres.
It is therefore worth having the wheel alignment checked whenever you suspect that something is wrong with your car – very often the problem lies not with the steering system, but with the adjustment of the steering links.
How long does it take to adjust the wheel alignment?
If you’re wondering how long it takes to get your wheel alignment checked, we’re happy to tell you that it’s a relatively short visit. It takes the computer about an hour per axis, and so the entire wheel alignment check is carried out in two hours.
Wheel alignment in Warsaw You can also have this done with us after your seasonal tyre change. You can also book a comprehensive service with us, which includes tyre replacement, brake pad replacement and wheel alignment. Thanks to the comprehensive nature of our services, you’ll collect your car from us ready for safe driving.
Wheel alignment is a relatively inexpensive and quick service that will also help you prevent more serious steering system faults. Remember that a properly functioning steering and braking system ensures your safety on the road!