Save Money on Fuel with Tire Alignment

The gas prices always seem to be going up with no end in sight. This makes getting the best fuel efficiency a high priority. You do not have to drive with the AC and lights off to improve your fuel efficiency. Simply making sure that you have proper tire alignment will help to make sure you are spending less at the pump. Getting your tires aligned can only be completed by a service professional, but you can take steps to make sure your tires will remain aligned for a longer period of time so you can save more money at the gas station. Your car will not constantly be pulling one or more tires as a result of maintaining the alignment.

Checking the Tire Pressure

Tires have a tendency to lose air as they get older. Even newer tires can have bad valves that will cause them to lose air faster. Sudden changes in temperature and other environmental factors can also play a part in altering the amount of air in tires. If one of your tires is consistently lower in air than the rest, it can cause you to pull in the opposite direction of the tire with less air. The more this occurs, the more your alignment will be off. Taking the time to check your tire pressure whenever you fill up with gas will help to alleviate any problems tires low on air can cause.

Tighten Suspension Systems

More cars have suspension systems that are not adjusted properly than most people realize. If you find you go over a dip or bump and your vehicle is still bouncing afterwards, your suspension is very off. This can cause the wheel alignment to be off as well. As you go over a bump or dip, the wheels might leave the ground for a second. As the wheels return to the street, they may be going in a slightly different direction. The sudden change can cause the alignment to be off. Transversely, if the suspension is too tight, any slight bump in the road can send you careening off course. Make sure to have the suspension checked if you feel every bump in the road or you feel you are bouncing too much.

The Effects of Steering and Suspension

Steering and suspension is connected by more than just the jarring effects of going over a pothole when your suspension is not tuned correctly. Simple quirks in the power steering system can cause your alignment to go off. The longer you are struggling against a misalignment, the worse the problem will become. Make sure that the power steering fluid is being checked in the fluid checks. If this fluid is off, it can make fighting a misalignment even harder to overcome. A stiff steering and suspension system can cause major problems not only in controlling the vehicle for regular driving. It will exacerbate a problem that is caused by going over a pothole in the road. Maintaining the system through regular checks can help to alleviate the problems that can occur. Following these tips can help in reducing the amount of gas you are wasting from a misalignment.