Tire Alignment Shop in Skiatook, OK

When you have a busy schedule, auto maintenance may not be your highest priority — especially regarding services like tire alignment. But even though your wheel alignment might not seem like something you need to pay attention to, alignment issues can be far more damaging than you might think. If your tires aren’t correctly aligned, you could end up dealing with everything from unpleasant sounds and vibrations to uneven tread wear and increased fuel usage.

The good news is that regular car alignment work can help you stop these issues from getting worse. But since this service calls for a high level of precision, you’ll want to take care of it at the most trustworthy tire alignment shop in Skiatook, OK. Tate Boys Tire & Service is the perfect choice for this job — our ASE-certified mechanics know everything there is to know about wheel alignment, and you’ll be able to save money on this service by using our online coupons.

Be Aware of These Tire Alignment Symptoms

Alignment issues aren’t something you can afford to ignore. Keep an eye out for the following warning signs, which can indicate that your tires are misaligned:

• Difficulties keeping your steering wheel straight: When driving in a straight line, your steering wheel shouldn’t sit at an angle (whether you’re holding on to it or not).
• Unexpected noises from your tires: A squealing noise from your wheels when you turn or accelerate could come from misaligned tires.
• Vibrations in your steering wheel: Have you noticed steering wheel vibrations lately? Wheel alignment issues often contribute to this situation.
• Fuel economy issues:. Misaligned tires can force your engine to burn more fuel. That, of course, will cause you to spend more than usual at the pump.
• Unusual tire wear. Are your tires wearing unevenly or in areas where you shouldn’t see tread wear? If so, you may be dealing with alignment problems.

What Should Your Alignment Mechanics Know?

When you spot issues like the ones listed above, it’s time to visit a Skiatook tire alignment shop to get your alignment back where it should be. During your appointment, you can make things easier for your tire shop’s mechanics by answering questions such as:

1. When did you first notice problems in your vehicle? If an issue associated with tire misalignment appears immediately after a collision, there’s a good chance this event was responsible for your current situation.
2. How often do you take care of tire maintenance services? By rotating your tires and getting wheel balancing regularly, you can seriously lower your risk of alignment issues.
3. What work have you gotten done on your car’s steering/suspension system? Information on your vehicle’s work history will give your shop’s mechanics a better understanding of what they’re dealing with.
4. Are your vehicle’s issues always present? If they aren’t, your alignment might not truly be to blame. Instead, another component may be responsible for your problems.

With the help of this information, the mechanics working at your alignment shop will go on to provide the services your vehicle needs. As part of this, they may adjust your wheel alignment, recenter your steering wheel, inspect your suspension system for potential wear and tear, or take care of other alignment-related tasks.

Understanding Camber, Caster, and Toe

While handling alignment services, technicians focus on adjusting these three tire angles.

Camber

The inward/outward tilt of your wheels, as observed from the front of your vehicle, is called camber. Tires with positive camber tilt away from your vehicle’s center, while wheels with negative camber tilt toward a car’s center.

Caster

Caster describes the angle of a tire’s steering axis — that is, an imaginary line starting underneath the tire and continuing upwards through its center. In tires with positive caster, this line tilts toward the driver’s seat; in tires with negative caster, it tilts toward the front of the car.

Toe

Finally, toe focuses on a tire’s angle as seen from above a vehicle. When a tire has a toe-in angle, it points toward the center of a car. Wheels with a toe-out angle point in the opposite direction.

Stop By Skiatook’s Top Alignment Shop

Has it been a while since your last appointment for wheel alignment, or have you recently noticed problems that poorly aligned wheels could cause? In either case, Tate Boys can help. As Skiatook’s best tire alignment shop, we take pride in helping local residents fix these issues. Make plans to visit our Tate Boys Skiatook location for the services you need today!