what is wheel alignment in car

[Perry]

Wheel alignment refers to the adjustment of your vehicle's suspension system—the parts that connect the wheels to the car. It’s not about adjusting the wheels or tires themselves, but the angles at which the tires make contact with the road. The primary goal is to ensure your tires wear evenly, your car drives straight without pulling to one side, and you have optimal handling and fuel efficiency.

The three core alignment angles are camber, toe, and caster.

• Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Negative camber (tilted in) is common in performance cars for better cornering, while positive camber (tilted out) can cause uneven wear on the tire's outer edge.
• Toe is the direction the tires point relative to each other when viewed from above. Think of pigeon-toed or duck-footed. "Toe-in" means the fronts of the tires are closer together, while "toe-out" means they are farther apart. Incorrect toe is a leading cause of rapid tire wear.
• Caster is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side. Positive caster (the axis tilted toward the driver) provides stability at high speeds and helps the steering wheel return to center after a turn.

You likely need an alignment if you notice your car pulling left or right, your steering wheel is off-center while driving straight, or you see uneven tire wear patterns. Common causes include hitting potholes or curbs, worn suspension components, and general wear and tear. A professional alignment service uses precise sensors to measure these angles against your vehicle manufacturer's specifications and makes adjustments to bring them back into the ideal range. This is a crucial part of routine maintenance that saves you money on tires and ensures safety.

[AnnieDella]

Think of it as a chiropractic adjustment for your car. Hitting potholes or curbs can knock the suspension out of its ideal setup. When that happens, the tires aren't sitting flat on the road anymore. They're scrubbing at an angle, which wears them down super fast. You'll feel it as the car pulling to one side or a steering wheel that's crooked when you're going straight. Getting it fixed makes the drive smooth and safe again, and it saves you from buying new tires way too soon.

[McFinn]

From a technical standpoint, alignment is about three specific angles: camber, toe, and caster. Camber is the tire's vertical tilt. Toe is whether the fronts of the tires are closer or farther apart than the rears. Caster affects steering feel and stability. Technicians use an alignment machine to measure these angles against the vehicle's factory specs. The adjustments are made to the suspension components, not the wheels themselves, to ensure the tires contact the road perfectly, maximizing tire life and handling precision.

[VanSienna]

I learned the hard way after buying a new set of tires. Within 5,000 miles, the inside edges were completely bald, even though the rest of the tread looked new. My mechanic asked if I'd hit any big potholes recently—and I had. He explained that the impact threw the alignment off, specifically the "toe" angle, which basically made the tires drag sideways slightly. The new tires were a waste because I didn't fix the underlying problem first. Now I get an alignment check with every tire rotation.