How Do I Know If I Need an Alignment?

When do I need an alignment? Take the guess work out of your truck maintenance. When should you schedule and alignment for your semi truck, trailer, bus, RV or motorhome?

These medium to heavy duty vehicles should be aligned at least once a year or every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Frequency can vary depending on how the vehicle is used and its condition:

  • Use

    How the vehicle is used can affect how often it needs to be aligned. Vehicles used for off-roading or towing heavy loads may need to be aligned more often than vehicles used mainly for highway driving.

  • Condition

    The condition of the vehicle can also affect how often it needs to be aligned. For example, the Bridgestone and Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) recommend getting a new vehicle aligned between 15,000 and 30,000 miles or 3 months after purchase, whichever comes first. This is because vehicles experience the most changes to alignment components during this period. At Laserline we recommend getting any vehicle fresh off the production line a Laserline alignment. Our tolerances are much tighter, ensuring the life of your brand new vehicle, tires and a more comfortable ride right out the gate!

  • Road conditions

    Driving on rough or uneven roads can also cause a vehicle’s wheels to need to be aligned more often. 

    Some signs that a vehicle may need an alignment include:

    • A vehicle could use an alignment if it tends to veer to one side while driving.
    • Vibrations coming from the steering wheel could indicate that your vehicle could use an alignment, adjustment or suspension repair.
    • If your steering wheel is off-center while driving straight, your vehicle might suffer from poor alignment.
    • After an accident — and to ensure safety — always, always check your vehicle’s alignment.
    • Rapid or uneven tire wear.

     

    • Examples of different tire wear patterns

      1. Feathering: 

        Feathering refers to a tread pattern where the tire tread blocks have smooth edges on one side and sharp edges on the other, creating uneven tread wear. This is typically caused by toe misalignment, where the tires are not parallel to each other. One tire “feathers” inwards while the other feathers outwards.

      2. Cupping: Cupping results in a scalloped or wavy appearance on the tire tread, with depressions forming in between. This type of wear pattern is often caused by a combination of misalignment and suspension issues. It can occur due to a bouncing motion of the tire caused by imbalanced or worn-out shocks.

      3. Camber wear: 

        Camber wear is tire wear on one side of the tread. When the top of the tire tilts inward or outward, it leads to camber wear. This can be a result of misaligned axles or suspension problems.

      4. Shoulder wear: 

        Excessive wear on the outer or inner shoulder of the tire indicates misalignment. If the tires lean too much inward (negative camber) or outward (positive camber), it can cause uneven wear on the shoulders.

      5. Center wear: 

        Center wear occurs when the center of the tire tread wears down faster than the outer edges. This is caused by over-inflation, where the tires are inflated beyond the correct inflation pressure. At Laserline we also service auto inflation systems.

       

    Proper alignment is important for maintaining the overall health of a semi truck, trailer, bus, RV or motorhome and can help with not only the life of your tires, but also fuel economy. If left unaddressed, misalignment can also compromise a driver’s ability to keep a good grip on the steering wheel and drive safely.