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It’s likely that you’ve had a wheel alignment in Virginia Beach at some point in time, assuming you’re local to the area, not a new driver, and you’ve had the vehicle longer than a year or two.

A wheel alignment, also known as a tire alignment, is a service where the tire and wheel angles are readjusted after the factory specifications change (this can be due to natural wear over time, suspension alterations, or hitting potholes particularly hard and repeatedly). Fixing misalignment contributes to the longevity and performance of your tires, as well as a safer driving experience.

What are the Wheel Alignment Angles?

Wheel alignment angles include:

1. Camber:

   • Neutral Camber: The wheel is perfectly vertical, and the tire tread is flat on the road. Like this:| |
   • Positive Camber: The top of the wheel is tilted outward from the vehicle's centerline. Like this: \ /
   • Negative Camber: The top of the wheel is tilted inward toward the centerline of the vehicle. Like this: / \

2. Toe:

   • Toe-In: The front of the tires are closer together than the rear of the tires.
   • Toe-Out: The front of the tires are farther apart than the rear of the tires.

3. Caster:

   • Positive Caster: The steering axis is tilted rearward
   • Negative Caster: The steering axis is tilted forward

Every vehicle comes from the manufacturer with certain alignment specifications. Depending on your make and model, as well as if your vehicle has any aftermarket changes, what you need will differ. For example, it might be better for your vehicle to have a certain degree of negative camber.

This said, there are car enthusiasts and car show participants who enjoy extremes. Search for “extreme camber” to see what a car looks like with the camber at excessive levels. This will also give you a better visual aid for the effect an alignment angle can have.

Why Are Wheel Alignments Important?

If your vehicle has suboptimal alignment, correcting it can:

• Enhance ride smoothness.
• Improve vehicle handling.
• Ensure straight road travel.
• Prevent accidents.
• Prevent costly steering or suspension repairs.
• Promote even and more equal tire wear.

In short, an alignment can have a lot of great benefits for you, your wallet, and your passengers.

Why Aren’t Alignments Part of Routine Maintenance?

If you look in your owner’s manual, you might not see mention of a standard interval for wheel alignments. Instead, car manufacturers may suggest inspecting the alignment when you experience symptoms of misalignment, such as an off-center steering wheel.

The reason wheel alignments aren’t generally included as part of routine maintenance is because the need for one will vary depending on a variety of factors. If you’re a careful (and fortunate) enough driver, you might be good for a year or two or more. In addition, some states require an alignment check yearly as part of the state inspection. In Virginia, for example, the alignment is checked as part of the annual safety inspection during the steering and suspension portion.

Reasons to Consider an Alignment Check Outside of Noticing Issues

We've established that manufacturers tend to recommend watching for signs that something is off in place of telling you certain time or mileage interval for alignments.

But waiting until you notice a problem isn’t ideal. If you’re not the type of person to check your tire pressure monthly, for instance, you may not notice early signs of misalignment (such as irregular tire wear).

In the event you're visiting from out of state and have a vehicle that doesn’t require annual safety inspections in your home state, it’s also not a bad idea to incorporate alignments into your yearly maintenance plan.

And no matter if you’re from Virginia Beach or elsewhere, it’s wise to have your wheel alignment checked before installing new tires. Should your alignment be suboptimal, you’ll wear the new tires out sooner than anticipated. The miles you lose from that set are miles you paid for when you purchased the tires, so you don't want to lose out due to your vehicle's alignment at the time of installation.

Alignments and tire changes go hand-in-hand as complementary services, as do alignments and Virginia safety inspections. Should your vehicle require an alignment to pass the state inspection in Virginia Beach, Kings Grant Exxon can provide it. We are also authorized to conduct VA state inspections, so you can take care of both services at one location if you need.

What are the Signs of Misalignment?

Signs that a wheel alignment inspection are in order include:

• Uneven wear on tires
• Squealing tires
• Pulling tendency with steering
• Rough ride
• Crooked steering wheel

Certain symptoms aren’t always indicative of one cause. A less comfortable driving experience, for instance, might be due to a different issue with your suspension system.

At Kings Grant Exxon, we will identify the cause of the issue and perform the repair service your vehicle requires. It’s one of the benefits of being a full-service automotive center.

Do I Need a Two-Wheel Alignment or Four-Wheel Alignment?

This depends on your vehicle’s drivetrain and suspension type. Kings Grant Exxon will provide the proper wheel alignment for your vehicle make and model.

I Need a Wheel Alignment in Virginia Beach

Contact Kings Grant Exxon, and we’ll assist with realigning your tires and wheels. We’ve been in business since 1964 and have performed alignments on a variety of vehicle makes and models over the decades. Our technicians each carry 20+ years of experience and are happy to assist with your front-end alignment, rear-end alignment, and four-wheel alignment needs.

Our customers feel great getting an affordable wheel alignment correction that helps them prolong the life of their tires while enhancing the handling, steering, and safety of their vehicles.