Wheel Alignment in Oconomowoc, WI

Tire safety and wheel alignment go hand-in-hand. The way your tires interact with the road directly affects your ability to stop, maneuver, and control your vehicle safely. At Silver Lake Auto & Tire, our technicians are trained to look for the signs of tires getting out of line, but not every driver knows how. You may be experiencing symptoms, but not know the cause. Below are the most common ways to tell if your wheels aren’t aligned correctly. If you still aren’t sure, call us at (262) 567-0284 to make an appointment for a free inspection at any of our locations.

Signs You Need Alignment

• Noises: If elements of your wheels are out of alignment, you will start to hear noises, and this typically comes from a displaced wheel. Sounds to pay attention to are low humming or drumming noises. If you hear these sounds, that lets you know your car’s wheels are suffering for improper alignment

• Pulling: Misaligned tires will cause your vehicle to drift either to the left or the right, despite the steering wheel being neutral. This typically occurs because one of the three angles — the camber, caster, and toe — is misaligned. It’s also dangerous to drive with, so make sure to get this issue fixed promptly.
• Under Reactions: Unlike pulling, when you are trying to overcorrect for your vehicle pulling to one side, misalignment can cause your steering to be unresponsive, meaning you don’t have the control over your vehicle in order to maneuver safely.
• Shuddering: One of the more alarming symptoms you can experience is when the vehicle shudders while you are driving or coming to a stop. If the wheels are in need of alignment, they will have trouble maintaining good traction on the road and that shuddering is a result of the wheels trying to grip.
• Tire wear: You’ll have to look a little harder to find this issue. Not many drivers pay attention to the wear on their tires, but if you notice that the depth of the channels is wearing thinner on one side than the other, that could be a sign that your wheels need to be realigned.

With misaligned tires, drivers can experience any or all of the symptoms above and still not realize the issue. At Silver Lake Auto, our technicians listen to your vehicle concerns, how your vehicle’s driving experience has changed, and that often gives us clues to what the issue could be. Luckily, wheel alignment is one of the more common services we perform. In fact, our technicians recommend regular alignments as part of a preventative maintenance plan. Left unattended, issues like what you’re experiencing could lead to bigger issues like a blown-out tire from improper wear or even an accident because your maneuverability was compromised. Preventative maintenance gives our technicians the opportunity to get eyes on your vehicle and identify any problems that could worsen. Come by our shop today at E Wisconsin Avenue to speak to one of our staff about a maintenance plan and services that can keep your vehicle safe and sound.