{"id":13783,"date":"2023-03-29T11:27:41","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T11:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/?p=13783"},"modified":"2024-05-03T09:22:52","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T09:22:52","slug":"how-long-does-a-tire-alignment-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/blog\/how-long-does-a-tire-alignment-take\/","title":{"rendered":"Tire Alignment: How Long Does it Take?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our customers often ask us if they really need a tire alignment and what will happen if it’s not done. This article will answer all your key questions, including the most common: “How long does a tire alignment take?” Let’s explore the tire alignment basics.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Usually, tire alignment in the shop takes 1-2 hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tire alignment basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So you’ve started to notice some troubling signs, such as uneven tire wear or your steering wheel pulling to one side. These are all classic symptoms of misaligned wheels. If you’ve noticed one or more of these symptoms, it’s probably time to get your wheels aligned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically this type of work can be done at your local auto repair shop in as little as 30 to 60 minutes, but there are several factors that can make the process longer and several things to look out for. Read on to discover what those factors are and learn what exactly a tire alignment means and how proper wheel alignment can affect your car’s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is tire alignment in the first place?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The simplest explanation is that you want your wheels to be straight and level (aka aligned), over time, even routine driving can result in misaligned wheels. Wheel misalignment is very common even for regular commuters who don\u2019t push their cars too hard, so it\u2019s important to get your tires checked regularly and to be on the look-out for some of the common symptoms of tire misalignment (more on that later) to maximize your vehicle’s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, suppose your car has recently experienced some significant impact, such as hitting a pothole, driving into a curb, or even a minor accident. In that case, it’s possible this could have caused some alignment issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check your car owner\u2019s manual to see how often you should get your tire alignment checked, but a good general rule of thumb is to get your vehicle\u2019s tire alignment checked at least once a year or every 6,000 miles (which would be every other oil change). <\/p>\n\n\n

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Get your vehicle\u2019s tire alignment checked at least once a year or every 6,000 miles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

3 common types of wheel alignments <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Toe-in and toe-out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you look down at your feet, you might notice that your toes are pointed slightly inward or slightly outward. Now imagine you are looking down at your car from above and see if the wheels are pointed inward or outward in the same way. Usually, toe-in\/out is a front-end alignment issue, but not always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Camber<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sticking with the feet analogy, roll your foot so that most of your weight is on the outer or inner edge of your foot. This is known as positive or negative camber, respectively. Your vehicle\u2019s tires can do the same thing, with most of the weight being on the inside or outside of the tires. Generally, you want a neutral or zero camber so that your tire is flush on the ground, but there are exceptions (more on that later).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Caster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While seated, place your foot flat on the ground (no camber, please). Put your knee directly above your ankle while maintaining flat contact with the ground, and try rotating your toes outward and inward (your feet represent your tires in this case). Now sit so that your knee is slightly in front of your ankle, and try to turn your toes inward and outward. Much harder, right? This is known as a negative caster. Now try sitting so that your knee is slightly behind your heel, and try to turn your toes. Much easier, right? This is known as a positive caster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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