Wheel alignment: when to do it, and why it eats your tires
Have the alignment checked after any hard pothole, whenever you fit new tires, and after suspension work. A car can be badly out of alignment and still drive straight, which is why the tread, not the steering wheel, is what tells you.
Key points
- A straight steering wheel doesn't mean the alignment is correct.
- Wear on one shoulder only is the classic alignment signature.
- Fit new tires and check the alignment in the same visit, in that order.
- Any suspension part replaced means the alignment has moved.
What alignment actually controls
Three angles matter. Toe is whether the wheels point slightly toward or away from each other, camber is how far the top of the wheel leans in or out, and caster is the steering axis angle that makes the wheel self-centre.
Toe is the tire killer. A few millimetres out means the tire is dragged sideways a little at every revolution, and that scrubs rubber off at a rate that surprises people.
Why the steering wheel is a bad witness
A car pulling to one side is out of alignment, but the reverse doesn't hold. Both wheels can be toed out by the same amount and the car tracks perfectly straight while quietly destroying both front tires at the same rate.
Look at the tread instead. Wear concentrated on the inner or outer shoulder while the rest of the tire looks healthy is alignment, almost every time.
The three moments to check it
After a real pothole. Not every impact moves the geometry, but the one that made you wince probably did, and the cost of checking is nothing next to a set of tires.
With new tires, so the new set starts straight. And after any suspension work, because replacing a control arm, a strut or a tie rod end changes the angles by definition.
Why spring is alignment season
Freeze and thaw opens potholes faster than they can be filled, and March is when the roads here are at their worst. A spring alignment check isn't a sales line, it's the month the damage happened.
It also pairs naturally with the seasonal tire swap, which you were booking anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How often should wheels be aligned?
There's no fixed interval. Check after a hard pothole, when you fit new tires, and after any suspension repair. Once a year in spring is a reasonable habit on our roads.
Can bad alignment be fixed by rotating tires?
No. Rotation spreads the wear around but the misalignment keeps scrubbing rubber off wherever the tire ends up. Fix the angles, then rotate.
Does hitting a curb need an alignment?
Often, yes. A sideways impact on a wheel is exactly the kind of load that moves toe, and it's worth checking before it shows up on the tread.
Is an alignment needed after changing winter tires?
Not for the swap itself. But if you're putting a new set on, or the old set showed uneven shoulder wear, do it in the same visit.
Want it looked at?
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