Wheel Alignment

Your car’s wheels play an important role in the functioning of your vehicle.  They play a role in acceleration, braking, and steering.  As a result, making sure your vehicle’s wheels are properly calibrated and aligned is key in keeping your car safe on the road.  But how do you know when its time to have your wheel alignment done? There is no light on your dashboard indicating that there is a problem with your alignment; however, below are some telltale signs and reasons you should bring your car in.

  1. Do you notice your car drifting or pulling to one side?
  2. Do your car’s tires appear to have uneven wear?
  3. Have you recently been in an accident, hit a pot hole, or bought new tires?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you should have your vehicle’s wheels aligned to ensure optimal performance out of your tires.

Often when your tires are not aligned properly, it puts an uneven amount of pressure on your tires, which in return puts an increase amount of feeling uneven while driving on the streets. When that happen, it takes more fuel for your car to move forward in order to compensate for the uneven pressure your tires are facing when they are not aligned.

Having wheels that are aligned correctly not only helps your car become more fuel efficient and will ensure your tires last longer, but it also can give you a smoother ride and increases your control while driving, along with saving a few extra dollars on your gas.

When you have your vehicle’s wheels aligned, your car’s suspension is measured and adjusted to ensure the proper angles are in place to insure your tires are gripping the road evenly.  For most cars, both the front and rear suspensions will need to be aligned along with having a re-calibration of the Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) system. The SAS System measures the steering wheel position, angle, and rate of turn. It is important that your car have all

We recommend having a wheel alignment performed once a year as part of your vehicle’s preventative maintenance, or sooner if you answered “Yes” to any of those questions listed above.  If you have any other questions, or if you want to schedule a wheel alignment done by one of our highly trained ASE-certified technicians, let BMW Repair Seattle help keep your vehicle running smoothly by calling (206) 207-0455 today to schedule an appointment.