Importance of wheel alignment for
suspension life

Have you ever hit a pot hole so hard you felt sorry for your car? You should. It's suffered a sort of collision which can destroy tires and certain suspension parts. Often the owner doesn't realize the effect of such an impact until the signs of damage become obvious. In addition to ruining a tire, the result can be steering knocked out of alignment, leading to erratic steering and rapid tire wear.

Pot holes, curbs and railroad crossings cost vehicle owners literally millions of dollars every year as a result of this kind of encounter. Referred to as "Ground Impact Damage," these mini-collisions may have done more damage to certain parts of the vehicle than a more traumatic traffic accident, says the Car Care Council. Sometimes, in the hurry-up life that keeps us moving on, we tend to forget about the jolt soon after the groceries have been picked up off the floor, according to Council President Don Midgley.

"Driving a vehicle with a cut tire or damaged steering part is dangerous at best," says Midgley, "especially if that component already had been in marginal condition. We recommend a periodic under-the-car inspection and alignment check, even if the owner doesn't recall any serious impacts.

"Knocking a wheel just 1/8 inch out of alignment can cause the tire to scrub the road surface the equivalent of dragging it sideways 28 feet for every mile it's driven. That can shorten the life of a tire by half or more.

"Sensible driving over rough terrain can help reduce damage to the vehicle. Be especially careful about applying the brakes as you enter a pot hole," he warns. "A locked-up wheel dropping into a hole tends to aggravate the damage."

According to The Road Information Program, who researched our nation's road conditions, it costs about $134 per motorist per year to maintain vehicles because of damage caused by roads in need of repair. While most of that expense could be eliminated with "preventive maintenance" of our roads, a short term cost control measure is proper care of tires, wheels and suspension systems.

Provided as a public service by the Car Care Council