Wallace Mitsubishi-Kingsport

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5 Signs Your Mitsubishi Needs a Tire Alignment

A vehicle getting a tire alignment.

Do you feel like your tires are wearing out too quickly? If so, you may need to have them aligned more frequently. When misaligned, car and truck tires are pressed against the tarmac at awkward angles, which not only causes uneven wear but also increases the risk of tire failure and steering-related accidents. Here are five signs that your vehicle probably needs tire alignment at your local Mitsubishi dealership.

Your Steering Feels Looser and Less Precise

Tire misalignment means the wheels have become bumped and knocked out of position, so the suspension is no longer holding them at perfectly parallel angles. This hinders handling as each wheel is trying to take your car in a slightly different direction. The steering column is also impacted, often resulting in a looser feel to the steering wheel and reduced overall handling precision.

Your Steering Wheel Seems Off-Center

In extreme cases of misalignment, the steering wheel will become pushed permanently into an off-center position. This means the driver must apply pressure merely to hold a straight course. Needless to say, this is unsustainable and should be remedied at once. 

Your Vehicle Refuses To Drive Straight

When traveling along a straight road, do you find your car pulling slightly to one side? This probably means that one or more of your tires are misaligned on the toe angle, meaning they're pointing outward to the left or right. Once again, this is hazardous and requires immediate attention.

Your Tires Are Wearing Out Too Quickly

Misalignment is a common cause of premature wear in tires. If you're spending too much money on new tires, consider more frequent wheel alignments. As a result, you may find you only need new tires every five or six years, rather than every three.

Your Tires Are Squealing When You Corner

When poorly aligned along the camber angle, tire treads aren't pressed against the road properly. Instead, just one side of the treads is bearing most of the load. This causes excess strain, especially when cornering, which may cause them to squeal noisily. 

Coincide Alignment Checks With Rotations at Your Mitsubishi Dealership

Optimal tire care requires biannual tire rotations to prevent excessive unevenness. It's a good idea to have the alignment of your tires measured each time you have a rotation. Most drivers only need to have their tires fully realigned every one or two years, but if you off road frequently, you may need realignment carried out twice a year.

Get your tires fully serviced today at Wallace Mitsubishi-Kingsport in Kingsport, TN. We work diligently to keep the cars and trucks of all our customers driving smoothly and reliably long-term with minimal maintenance and repair requirements. 

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