Vehicle alignment refers to the process of adjusting the angles of a car’s wheels so that they are set to the manufacturer’s specifications. Proper wheel alignment ensures optimal tire contact with the road surface. As a common example, consider a scenario where a vehicle has impacted a curb; this event could potentially disrupt the factory-set wheel angles, necessitating an alignment correction.
Precise wheel alignment contributes significantly to vehicle handling, tire longevity, and fuel efficiency. Misalignment leads to uneven tire wear, compromised steering response, and increased fuel consumption due to added rolling resistance. Historically, wheel alignment was performed using mechanical gauges; however, modern techniques utilize sophisticated laser or camera-based systems for enhanced accuracy.