Alignment
The makers of your vehicle have specified certain angles for your wheels, vehicle frame, suspension and the rest of your steering components to operate at to maximize the performance of your vehicle and reduce the improper wear on your tires. An alignment corrects the incorrect angles your car inherits over time. It allows for the tires to operate parallel with each other and meet the road at the correct angle. Having an alignment done can increase the life of your tire, give more control to the driver, and stabilize your car on the road.
Tire Factory technicians will perform an effective alignment for you to protect your vehicle from premature wear and improve the longevity of your vehicle’s tires and suspension.
The direction alignments are headed today is towards what is called a “four-wheel alignment”. In the past it was only necessary for a two-wheel directional alignment for vehicles, however, the suspension of vehicles today now need an exact four-wheel alignment. This is because the alignment focuses more on the suspension of your vehicle than anything else. After the suspension angles have been adjusted is when the angle of the tire placement is crucial.
When your alignment is adjusted, there are 3 main alignment aspects that are taken into account: Caster, Camber, and Toe.
Caster is the angle that the vehicle’s steering axis is tilted forwards or backwards from the vertical centerline when viewing the vehicle from the side.
Camber is the measurement of the tire’s inward or outward tilt. The reference point for camber is facing the vehicle from the front. Positive camber occurs when the tire tilts outward from the vertical line of the tire, whereas negative camber occurs when the tire tilts inward from the vertical line.
Toe is the reference to the angle of the tires in relation to each other. Toe-in indicates the fronts of the tires are pigeon-toed towards each other. Toe-out indicates the fronts of the tires are directed away from each other.
