Getting a wheel alignment regularly helps keep your wheels flat on the ground and pointing in the right direction. It’s something that you’ll need to get as needed from your BMW dealership, as skipping getting a tire alignment can have negative consequences.
What Are BMW Wheel Alignment Services?
The service that’s referred to as a wheel or tire alignment isn’t an adjustment of your wheels or tires; it’s an adjustment of your suspension system. The suspension system is what connects your wheels to the rest of the car. When you come in for an alignment, we adjust the camber, toe, and caster of your wheels to get them to face in the right direction and make uniform contact with the ground.
Camber
The camber alignment refers to the way your tires are leaning. They may have a positive or negative camber, meaning they’re leaning away from your car or leaning toward it when viewed from the front of the car.
Toe
When your car is aligned, your tires should be facing straight ahead when your steering wheel is in a neutral position. When there are issues with the toe alignment, it means the tires are facing away from your vehicle or inwardly toward it when your steering wheel is in a neutral position.
Caster
The caster is the angle that helps your car stay stable and helps balance steering. When you look at your wheels from the side, the steering axis may be pointed back toward the driver or forward toward the front of the car when there’s an issue with the caster alignment.
Why Are Alignments Important?
Getting alignments to correct issues with the camber, toe, or caster alignment improves handling, reduces uneven tire wear, and makes driving overall safer. When your car is out of alignment, your tires may not be making an even amount of contact with the road, reducing your traction and making your car less stable.
You may also have to adjust your steering angle when your car is out of alignment, as the steering wheel could be off-center. In some cases, the steering wheel may need to be turned to one side to get your car to drive in a straight line. All of these issues make your car harder to handle and more dangerous to drive.
When Should You Head to the BMW Dealership for a Tire Alignment?
You’ll get an alignment at the dealer any time the technicians notice your car is out of alignment. You may notice certain signs when your wheels are out of alignment, telling you it’s time for a trip to the dealer. The signs include:
- The steering wheel feels unresponsive
- The car veers to one side when trying to drive straight
- The steering wheel is crooked
- The tires squeal
If you need an alignment, then come to Tom Busch BMW Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL to get that fixed today. Head to our website to schedule service.
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