The wheel alignment on your car, truck, or utility vehicle is precious. Aligned wheels make controlling the vehicle easy. Naturally, misaligned wheels make controlling the vehicle difficult. It’s easy to knock your wheels out of alignment with the numerous road hazards out there. RI Automotive is going to list these hazards below so you can try to avoid them.
Fender-Benders
Automobile accidents can cause unseen damage to your vehicle. This includes knocking the wheels out of alignment. Even a minor incident can cause damage to the alignment if the vehicle is jolted in a certain way. Have your car, truck, or C/SUV inspected from roof to tires after you have been in an accident. This allows auto technicians to find hidden damage such as misaligned wheels.
Bumpy Roads
It’s impossible to avoid bumpy roads, but you can drive over them slowly to prevent damaging your vehicle’s suspension. Wheel alignment is part of the suspension, and large bumps can knock the wheels out of alignment. This is especially true if you drive too fast over speed bumps.
Construction
Road construction causes uneven pavement, especially if there are construction covers over holes in the road. You know that it is a good idea to slow down to protect the construction workers in construction zones. Now you know it is also a good idea to slow down to protect your wheel alignment.
Curbs/Corners
It’s easy to hit the curb if you are turning around a corner too fast. It’s also easy to hit the curb if you are parallel parking. Take it slow when doing both to avoid making contact with the curb. Doing so cannot the wheels out of alignment because it pushes the tire that makes contact inward.
Space Markers
The same is true with parking space markers. Pull into parking spaces slowly so you avoid hitting the cement marker at the end of the space. If you hit it, you will push the front wheels backward or the rear wheels forward if you are backing into the space. Try to avoid making contact.
Potholes
Finally, as with bumps in the road, you may be unable to avoid driving through a pothole. Potholes are perhaps the worst things for your wheel alignment. As the tires go through the hole, they are moved in many different directions. Take it very slow when driving through a pothole.
RI Automotive in Tampa, FL, would be happy to realign your wheels if they are out of alignment. Call us today for an appointment.
