In one of our previous articles, we discussed the benefits of having a wheel alignment performed when installing new tires. There's no doubt that a wheel alignment is beneficial, especially if you're the type of person who doesn't check their tires often (or if you're the type of driver who hits every pot hole in the road, hard--no judgement; there's a lot of us).
Today, we're going to look at wheel alignments and fuel economy.
Let's get right to it!
It's true that your wheel alignment has an effect on fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy has a page on tires and fuel economy. It confirms that there is a correlation between wheel alignments and fuel economy, stating "If the alignment is off, it makes the car work harder when you are steering, which means it uses more gas."
Now let's look at how.
When a car's wheels are misaligned, it results in increased rolling resistance, meaning the tires don't move as freely as they should. The increased friction between the tire and the road surface makes it more difficult for the tires to rotate. Additional power is required to overcome the resistance caused by misaligned wheels, which impacts gas mileage.
Vehicles with misaligned wheels may experience a noticeable decrease in fuel efficiency, and this effect can be more pronounced at higher speeds on highways, where maintaining a constant speed is crucial for good gas mileage. This leads to the engine having to work harder to overcome the resistance and maintain the vehicle's speed, ultimately burning more fuel.
The extent of the impact on gas mileage due to wheel misalignment can vary based on the severity of the misalignment and the driving conditions. In severe cases, you may also find yourself in line for new tires depending on how much the misalignment has chewed through the current set. While you may not notice a massive difference in fuel economy with a minor misalignment, significant misalignment can result in a noticeable reduction in gas mileage.
Proper wheel alignment ensures that all four wheels are set to specifications that allow for smoother and more efficient movement. This in turn contributes to improved fuel economy and reduced maintenance expenses over time.
Ultimately, misalignment can result in:
Regardless if your fuel consumption increases are low or high, there are many good reasons to make sure your vehicle is in alignment outside of fuel costs. We recommend that you schedule a wheel alignment at least once per year and whenever you install new tires. You'd be surprised how many people drive a vehicle that's significantly out of alignment in EHT.
At Deltona Discount Tires, we have a Hunter Alignment System that is engineered to provide prompt, precise, and speedy service. Our wheel and tire alignment service is an easy way to check your vehicle's angles and have corrections made if they are needed.
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