How Many Kilometers Does a Car Need a Wheel Alignment?
2 Answers
A car needs a wheel alignment approximately every 20,000 kilometers. Other situations that require a wheel alignment include: 1. Needing to grip the steering wheel tightly to keep the car from veering while driving straight; 2. The car body feels floaty or unstable while driving; 3. Severe wear on one side of the front or rear tires; 4. After replacing new tires or repairing the suspension system due to a collision. The benefits of wheel alignment include: 1. Enhancing driving comfort; 2. Increasing tire lifespan; 3. Ensuring straight-line stability; 4. Reducing wear on chassis and suspension components; 5. Improving driving safety. The working principle of wheel alignment is: Based on the four-wheel parameters of the vehicle, adjustments are made to ensure good driving performance and certain reliability.
I've been driving for over 30 years and prefer to decide when to do wheel alignment based on the car's performance. The first alignment is best done after 10,000 kilometers for a new car to ensure proper part break-in. After that, there's no fixed mileage interval—it's all about the feel. If the steering wheel is off-center, the car pulls to one side, or the tires wear unevenly, get it fixed immediately. Last time I delayed until 35,000 kilometers without alignment, and the inner edges of the front tires wore out completely, costing me 800 yuan for new tires. Penny wise, pound foolish. Poor road conditions, hitting big potholes or curbs warrant early checks. Some recommend regular alignments every 20,000 kilometers, but driving habits vary greatly—city driving on smooth roads requires less frequent checks, while off-roading demands more attention. Safety first, don't wait until an accident happens to regret it.
