Wheel Alignment in Plainfield, CT
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The four small patches where your vehicle's tires sit on the road surface are, in fact, the only points of contact that your vehicle has with the road, period! Perhaps many of us have not stopped to consider this fact.
We may drive vehicles with the absolute best infotainment systems and sumptuous leather interiors along with impressive acceleration, but these things mean very little when your vehicle's tires are not able to provide the correct grip on the road surface, putting you, your family, and other road users at risk.
Read on as we take a closer look at all aspects of wheel alignment servicing that Mazda owners should be aware of and answer your question of "where can I get a wheel alignment near me in Plainfield, CT?"
What is a Wheel Alignment?
In a nutshell, without delving into too much technical detail, a wheel alignment service refers to an adjustment of your Mazda vehicle's suspension. Adjustments are made to the suspension system that connects a vehicle to its wheels.
It's important to note that wheel alignment is not an adjustment of the wheels or tires themselves.
Wheel alignment, when done correctly, is key to the proper alignment of the angles of the wheels and tires relative to the road surface and how the tire treads make contact with the road surface when driving.
Benefits of a Wheel Alignment in Plainfield, CT
There are numerous benefits of ensuring correct wheel alignment on your Mazda.
Improved Tire Lifespan
Your Mazda tires are subject to wear anytime your vehicle is moving. Simply put, tires provide grip on road surfaces by creating friction, which means that they will wear down as they do their job.
Your tires have it easier when driving in a straight line, with the tire needing only to roll along without additional drag forces.
Cornering, on the other hand, introduces massive scrubbing or lateral forces that your tire's tread needs to cope with, leading to accelerated wear. Misalignment of your wheels has the same effect, with your tires having to deal with unnecessary lateral forces causing drag, leading to greatly increased wear of the tread pattern, typically on the outer edges of the tire tread.
Better Fuel Efficiency
Keeping in mind what we learned above about the friction that is necessary for tires to provide grip, it follows that unnecessary increased friction means that your vehicle needs to work harder to keep going.
Making sure that your tires offer the least rolling resistance will result in better fuel efficiency.
Enhanced Vehicle Handling and Safety
Correct wheel alignment can also enhance your Mazda's handling and safety.
Incorrect wheel alignment may cause your vehicle to pull to one side or even cause unwanted vibrations. A wheel sitting at the wrong angle and pulling to the side will drastically affect your Mazda's handling, particularly in corners where high cornering forces are working on your car, and your tires need to give their best.
Having to tug on your steering wheel while driving along a straight road is both tiring and unsafe. Any lapse in concentration can result in your vehicle dangerously veering off the road, severely compromising your safety.
Reduced Suspension Wear and Tear
A wheel alignment that is not within factory specs will result in increased force being placed on the suspension components of your Mazda.
Your Mazda's suspension is designed with certain load limits in mind, and incorrect wheel alignment will place additional strain on suspension and steering joints and components, resulting in accelerated wear and tear.
Regular wheel alignment services will help reduce suspension wear and tear.
Prevention of Steering Issues
Misaligned wheels on your Mazda can cause inconsistent, unsafe steering feedback, which in turn can affect your vehicle's handling, whether it's on a straight road or while cornering.
What Factors Cause Misalignment?
Our vehicle's wheel and tire combos have a lot to deal with. Being the only point of contact between your Mazda and whatever road surface you happen to be traveling on means that they are subjected to all kinds of abuse that will cause misalignment.
Hitting Potholes or Curbs
The curse of potholes in poorly maintained roads can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Your Mazda's tires and wheels will typically take the brunt of any impact from hitting a pothole.
The forces experienced from the impact will certainly cause your vehicle's steering and suspension to go out of alignment. In severe cases, steering and suspension components can even become badly bent, resulting in misalignment.
Hitting a curb may sometimes be unavoidable in parking situations or in emergency evasive maneuvers, but hopefully not too often. As in the case of hitting a pothole, hitting a curb will also cause misalignment, as the force of the impact has to go somewhere, which generally means that your suspension and steering are affected.
Worn Suspension Components
Old, worn-out suspension joints and shock absorbers will cause misalignment as a result of the suspension not being able to be adjusted to and kept at the correct alignment specs.
Rough or Off-Road Driving
Similar to hitting a pothole or a curb, but with greater repetition, off-road travel or journeying on rough roads will place greater force on your Mazda's suspension and steering components, causing misalignment.
Uneven Tire Pressure
Uneven tire pressure can have a significant impact on your Mazda's wheel alignment.
Driving with different tire pressures on various wheels can cause the vehicle to pull or drift, giving the same effect as incorrect wheel alignment, even if your suspension components are adjusted to their correct specifications.
Eventually, this can lead to unwanted damage to steering and suspension components.
Improper Vehicle Modifications
Improper vehicle modifications such as certain aftermarket wheels, suspension lifts, lowered suspension, or aftermarket shock absorbers can cause misalignment, as the wheel alignment cannot be adjusted to Mazda's factory settings.
Why Choose Professional Service?
Having your Mazda's wheel alignment service done at a professional workshop or a Genuine Mazda Center will guarantee that your vehicle's wheel alignment is carried out to the highest Mazda factory standards, ensuring your safety, your Mazda's continued good running condition, and of course, reducing fuel and tire costs.
Get a Wheel Alignment in Plainfield, CT, at Central Mazda
At Central Mazda in Plainfield, CT, we are Mazda professionals who care about what's best for your Mazda vehicle.
Experience perfection from our service center and Mazda-trained technicians when your Mazda requires its next wheel alignment in Plainfield, CT.
