Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Kirtland AFB and Rio Rancho car owners untilserious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment by hitting a curb or pothole on a Albuquerque interstate or surface street.

When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. This causes several serious problems. First off, the tires will wear out faster and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to expensive pickup suspension problems.

Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in exactly the same direction.

Rio Rancho car owners should be aware of the signs of alignment problems. These include the car pulling to one side. Also, the steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Albuquerque service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in NM that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.

Obviously, a big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Kirtland AFB drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.