A master-certified mechanic has explained when you should get a tyre alignment service to optimise your car’s fuel economy.
Incorrect alignment can increase tyre wear and, in turn, rolling resistance, forcing an engine to work harder and consume more fuel.
In a TikTok video for his garage, Mercie J Auto Care (@merciejauto), this mechanic, Rick Smith recommends getting an alignment whenever you purchase and install a new set of tyres.
Rick said: “We usually recommend about every two years as far as [alignment] maintenance goes because a number of things can wear on the suspension, or, you can bump things out a little bit and cause a tyre wear or alignment issue there.”
In another TikTok, Rick suggests completing this bi-annual check, even if your vehicle has no significant problems.
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He adds: “The reason for that [alignment check every two years] is as things wear, that toe [the extent to which your tyres turn inward or outward] can change just a little bit, you know, tie rod ends, joints, things like that get a little wear on them.
“Or we can hit bumps on things and maybe knock things off just a little bit.”
Rick emphasises that plain eyesight won’t allow you to detect these slight differences, which will wear your tyres and lower fuel economy.
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Next, this mechanic clarifies that vibrating steering wheels don’t indicate alignment problems.
Rick says improper alignment is more likely to result in a car drifting to one side or the other when you release its steering wheel.
This experienced automotive professional ends his lesson by urging viewers to always get an alignment after any collision — even light ones — as they can quickly “wipe out tires.”
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