Wheel Alignment Shop in Owasso, OK
Are your vehicle’s wheels correctly aligned? Even though alignment issues can cause severe problems in your vehicle, all too many drivers in Owasso, OK, don’t know the answer to this question. Because of that, it’s best to visit a local auto shop as soon as you suspect that your car might be dealing with this situation.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy wheel alignment shop in Owasso, Tate Boys Wheel Alignement Service has you covered! We offer high-quality alignment services to our customers, and this work is handled by ASE-certified mechanics. Plus, you won’t have to spend an excessive amount on these services — instead, we help people save with our affordable pricing and a selection of online coupons.
What To Expect During Your Wheel Alignment Appointment
Have you noticed red flags such as uneven tire wear, an uncentered steering wheel, or your vehicle pulling to the side of the road? If you have, it’s in your best interest to visit a wheel alignment shop in Owasso right away to resolve this situation. There, you can get things off to a good start by answering these questions for your shop’s mechanics:
- Have you taken care of tire maintenance services? Tasks such as tire rotation and wheel balancing can keep your wheels in good condition and reduce their risk of encountering alignment problems.
- When did your problems first arise? If you spot trouble in your vehicle immediately after a collision, there’s a good chance that alignment issues are to blame.
- Do these issues come and go? Even if your automotive problems seem to be caused by tire alignment issues, other components could be to blame instead — especially if these issues appear and disappear.
- What is your steering/suspension system’s work history? Your answer to this question will give mechanics crucial knowledge of what to expect while working on these systems.
Once they thoroughly understand your vehicle’s situation, the mechanics at Tate Boys Owasso will get to work. Some of the alignment services our technicians can handle include:
- Inspecting your alignment and suspension system
- Centering your steering wheel
- Adjusting your tire alignment
- Analyzing your suspension system for signs of wear
The Angles Involved in Wheel Alignment
The mechanics working on your wheel alignment won’t adjust your tires directly; instead, they’ll make changes to your suspension and steering systems. Since these systems connect your tires to your car, steering and suspension adjustments can change the angle at which your tires meet the road.
While providing alignment service, your shop’s techs will aim to correct these three tire angles:
Camber
A tire’s camber is its inward or outward tilt (as viewed from the front of your vehicle). If a tire has “negative camber,” it tilts toward the center of your car; if it has “positive camber,” it tilts in the other direction.
Caster
Imagine a line that begins under one of your tires and continues vertically through its center. This line is called the “steering axis,” and caster describes its tilt.
When a tire has a “negative caster,” its steering axis tilts toward the vehicle’s front. Meanwhile, tires with a “positive caster” have a steering axis tilting toward the driver’s seat.
Toe
The last angle your Owasso tire shop’s mechanics will focus on is “toe,” which expresses a tire’s angle as seen from above your car. Wheels with a toe-in angle point toward a vehicle’s center, and wheels with a toe-out angle point away from it.
An Alignment Shop You Can Rely On
Whether you’ve taken care of car alignment before or this is your first time scheduling this service, alignment work should always be handled by professionals. To ensure you’re getting alignment work you can count on, make a point of visiting Tate Boys Wheel Alignment Shops— the best tire alignment shop in Owasso!
Owasso Wheel Alignment FAQs
How often should alignment be done in Owasso, OK?
At a bare minimum, drivers in Owasso, OK, should take care of wheel alignment once every two to three years. That said, you may also need tire alignment ahead of schedule if you:
- Regularly drive on challenging roads
- Have recently been involved in a collision
- Notice any symptoms associated with alignment problems
In situations like these, the crew at Tate Boys can help get your tires back where they should be — regardless of how long it's been since the last time you got alignment work.
What are the signs that you need a wheel alignment?
Some symptoms that can indicate your tires are misaligned include:
- Irregular tire wear. When your tires are wearing unevenly or in places they shouldn't, alignment issues may be to blame.
- Trouble keeping your steering wheel straight. If you're driving straight ahead, your steering wheel should stay straight — even if you were to let go of the wheel while driving.
- Steering wheel vibrations. Vibrations in your steering wheel can be the result of poorly aligned wheels.
- Tire noise. If your tires squeal while you accelerate or turn, you may be dealing with wheel alignment problems.
- Reduced fuel economy. When your tires aren't correctly aligned, your engine may have to work harder than usual to get you from point A to point B, resulting in increased fuel usage.
How much is wheel alignment in Owasso, OK?
As is the case for other auto services, there's no fixed cost for wheel alignment. Instead, the price of your wheel alignment work will vary depending on factors such as:
- The number of tires that need to be aligned. Since a front-end wheel alignment only involves work on your two front tires, this is a relatively affordable form of alignment work. On the other hand, you may still need a complete wheel alignment if your rear wheels are improperly positioned.
- The type of car you drive. Do you drive an expensive supercar? If so, you can expect to pay more than average for maintenance work — and alignment services are no exception.
- Any other services you need. Sometimes, your tire alignment shop's technicians will find other problems with your vehicle while working on your alignment. If that's the case, you'll want to spend a bit more than you planned to address these issues immediately.
Even so, you can get an estimate of how much you can expect to pay for this service if your alignment shop offers quotes for its work. Along with that, wheel alignment shops that deliver benefits such as coupons and financing options can help you keep alignment expenses to a minimum.
Is it safe to drive if my car needs alignment?
Even if you've noticed red flags associated with tire alignment issues in your vehicle, you may be tempted to ignore these warning signs — especially if they don't seem to be too bad. Unfortunately, your car's alignment problems won't go away if you look the other way for a while. Instead, they'll continue to cause trouble until you address the issue at hand.
Because of this, you should keep your driving to a minimum when you think your vehicle may have alignment issues. By visiting your go-to Owasso auto shop for service in this situation, you can get this work taken care of ASAP and protect your car from the long-term consequences of misaligned tires.
What causes wheel alignment to go out?
In many cases, collisions will be a major factor behind alignment issues in your vehicle. Of course, that doesn't only apply to car crashes — even hitting a curb or a pothole could be enough to cause alignment problems. Because of that, it's a good idea to play it safe by visiting a nearby auto shop for alignment work after any collision.
That said, crashes aren't the only reason why wheels can get out of alignment. Wear and tear from everyday driving can eventually lead to alignment problems in your car. The same is true for things such as altering your vehicle's ride height or getting new tires without changing your alignment to match these adjustments.
