Getting a wheel alignment every 12,000 miles or about every 2 years – whichever comes sooner. Other auto manufacturers recommend having the wheels aligned every 6,000 miles – which for most city drivers, is about once a year.
Wheel misalignment can happen when you’re in an accident of fender bender, if you go over a curb, drive through a pothole, etc. Sometimes it’s unavoidable.
But, slight shifts over time create extra wear on tires, decrease fuel performance, and reduce your steering performance. An occasional re-alignment ensures your vehicle is in top condition.
The average cost of wheel alignment is $50-$200. Normally, you’ll pay about $25-$50 per wheel. If you have a front-wheel drive car, you’ll have to align the two front wheels. Here, the rate charged by your mechanic is the most important aspects of costs.
The table below shows a quick price comparison of wheel alignment cost estimates from reputable suppliers:
| Supplier | Tire Alignment Cost |
|---|---|
| YourMechanic | $94-$114 |
| Midas | $69.99-$99.99 |
| Valvoline | $80 |
| Firestones | $80-$190 |
| Jiffy Lube | $69.99+ |
| Pep Boys | $74.99-$129.99 |
What is wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment, also known as tire alignment, is a crucial part of regular vehicle maintenance. But what does it really mean?
At its simplest, wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of your vehicle’s wheels to meet specific criteria set by the vehicle manufacturer.
These adjustments ensure your wheels are perfectly perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. This helps your car steer straight and aids in reducing tire wear.
So when you hear about the terms “Four Wheel Alignment” or “Two Wheel Alignment,” they refer to the types of alignments that can be done on your vehicle:
- Four Wheel Alignment: As the name suggests, all four wheels are adjusted. This type of alignment is usually done on vehicles with four-wheel drive or those with an independent rear suspension system.
- Two Wheel Alignment: Also known as a ‘front-end alignment’, it involves adjusting only the front wheels. This is more common on vehicles with a solid rear axle.
A specialized machine called the “Alignment Machine” helps mechanics perform these precise adjustments. It measures various factors including the direction and angle at which your tires are pointed, often referred to as the ‘steering axis’.
What Happens During an Alignment?
When you take your car into a shop for an alignment, the technician starts by analyzing angles at three checkpoints — caster, camber and toe — by using an alignment machine and performing a visual inspection.
- Caster: The angle between the steering mechanism’s upper and lower ball joints. This angle affects the vehicle’s steering so that it stays at the proper height and has more stability at higher speeds.
- Camber: The angle between the road and the tire. Camber determines how much of the tire contacts the road and can affect how the tires wear.
- Toe: The angle between the tires. This setting affects the wear of the tires and stability when turning.
The mechanic then compares the angles with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Some mechanics also take the vehicle on the road for a test drive to check for signs of alignment problems. Symptoms include a steering wheel that vibrates or a vehicle that veers to the left or right when the steering wheel is at rest.
After completing the analysis, the technician places the vehicle on an alignment rack and mounts targets to the wheel ends. The technician then uses the machine to adjust the caster, camber and toe until they are within the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended ranges.
Most mechanics take the vehicle out for another test drive to check the new adjustments and ensure everything functions properly.
Signs That Your Car Needs a Wheel Alignment
Aside from keeping an eye on the calendar, how can you know if your car is due for wheel alignment? In some cases, the car itself will tell you. For example:
- If the car pulls to the left or right when you’re driving
- If your steering wheel vibrates
- If your steering wheel is off-center or crooked even when you’re driving straight ahead
In addition, if you check your tires and find that they appear to be worn unevenly, such as more wear on the inner or outer edge than elsewhere, that could be a sign that it’s time for wheel alignment.
How Much Does A Wheel Alignment Cost?
The national average for a complete wheel alignment service is between $50 to $168. Although, cost can vary depending on the service provider and the type of alignment.
Wheel alignment should be performed once a year, but it may be required more frequently, depending on your driving style and where you drive. Potholes, gravel, and off-roading can all be hard on your alignment.
The table below shows how the average price can differ by location and make and model according to Kelley Blue Book.
| Make and model | Wichita, Kansas | Los Angeles | Albany, New York |
| 2017 Jeep Wrangler | $137-$161. | $148-$174. | $142-$165. |
| 2017 Infiniti Q70 | $159-$187. | $170-$200. | $163-$191. |
| 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe | $138-$162. | $149-$175. | $143-$167. |
| 2017 Ford F150 | $142-$166. | $154-$180. | $146-$172. |
| 2017 Lexus LS | $163-$191. | $175-$205. | $167-$197. |
| 2017 Land Rover Range Rover | $254-$298. | $265-$311. | $258-$302. |
Some shops offer free alignment checks if you’re already having work done, but all mechanics will charge for the actual alignment.
Factors That Impact Alignment Cost
The cost of an alignment depends on several factors:
- The number of wheels. A front-end alignment, which involves only the two wheels on the front of the car, typically costs anywhere from $50 to $75. Four-wheel alignments cost more, usually $100 to $175.
- Type of car. If your model requires specialized equipment, has a design that makes the job more difficult and time-consuming or is a luxury vehicle, service will cost more.
- Extra services. Services like tire balancing or car suspension repairs, which the mechanic might need to complete before the alignment, increase the cost of the alignment.
- Local labor costs. The cost of alignment depends on your location and can also vary from mechanic to mechanic.
- Alignment packages. Some automotive shops, including Pepboys and Firestone, offer lifetime alignment service packages. In this case, you will receive alignments every six months or 6,000 miles for a single up-front cost.
How Often Do I Need Wheel Alignment?
You should get your car’s alignment checked every six months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. Don’t go more than 10,000 miles without an alignment.
Have your tires rotated? Have the alignment checked.
Having a tire (or more than one tire) replaced? An alignment is necessary to make sure the tires wear evenly.
With a proper alignment, you’ll save money in the long run since you’re not replacing tires prematurely and you can help avert other issues that can crop up with the steering or suspension.
Importance of Regular Wheel Alignment
Regular wheel alignments aren’t just necessary – they’re vital. So, why exactly is aligning your vehicle so important? Let’s delve into that.
Keeping Tires in Top Condition
When your wheels are not aligned properly, your tires can wear unevenly and prematurely.
As an expert on tires for passenger cars and trucks, I can tell you that tires are not cheap. It’s far more cost-effective to get regular wheel alignments than to replace tires prematurely due to improper alignment.
Think about it this way:
- Properly Aligned Tires = Even Tire Wear = Longer Tire Life
This doesn’t just save you money but also ensures that you’re driving on safe tires. It’s a win-win situation!
Improved Gas Mileage
Here’s something you might not have considered – wheel alignment can actually affect your gas mileage. A vehicle with improperly aligned tires has to work harder, causing the engine to burn more fuel.
So, how does this work? When the wheels are not aligned correctly, there’s more rolling resistance. The higher the rolling resistance, the harder your car has to work to move forward, and the more fuel it uses.
To put it simply:
- Properly Aligned Tires = Lower Rolling Resistance = Improved Gas Mileage
Yes, you read that right. Regular wheel alignment checks can actually save you money at the gas pump!
Safer Driving
It’s not all about the money, though. Safety is a major factor to consider. When your car’s alignment is off, it can make the vehicle harder to steer and control, which can be dangerous, especially in bad weather conditions or if you need to react quickly to avoid a potential accident.
So, is it OK to drive with bad wheel alignment? Technically, yes. However, it’s far from ideal and can lead to dangerous situations. Therefore, regular alignments are critical to your safety on the road.
Steering and Suspension Health
Lastly, wheel alignment plays a crucial role in the health of your car’s steering and suspension systems. Misaligned tires can put undue stress on these components, leading to unnecessary wear and tear.
It’s worth noting that repairs to the steering mechanism and car suspension can be quite expensive. Regular alignment checks help you avoid these costs by ensuring everything is functioning as it should.
In summary, regular wheel alignments are crucial for:
- Prolonging the life of your tires
- Saving money on gas
- Ensuring safer driving
- Maintaining your car’s steering and suspension systems
What’s The Difference Between Wheel Alignment vs. Wheel Balancing?
When you have the wheels balanced, the unevenness of the wheels is compensated for. Each wheel has a different distribution of weight, which is adjusted.
The wheel alignment isn’t balancing anything. Instead, the service focuses on keeping the wheels aligned so the tires are pointed straight down the road.
If the wheel balance isn’t evened out, there will be excessive vibration, premature tire wear, and other suspension issues. You may also need to have the wheels balanced every 6,000 miles, depending on how you drive the vehicle.
A proper alignment ensures that the car travels in the appropriate direction, and it helps to prolong the life of the tires.
While these are different services, you can have them performed at the same service center. In fact, some tire shops will offer a combined service that helps you keep the cost to a minimum. Look to bundle your wheel maintenance services to save some money.
The bottom line
If getting an alignment seems expensive, keep in mind that skipping it could end up being more expensive.
Not doing this preventative maintenance means you’ll need to replace tires more frequently, and driving with misaligned tires could also wear out components like your suspension.
If you spend about a hundred dollars on tire alignment every year, you can end up saving a lot more on costly repairs.