Front Wheel Alignment

Wheel Alignment Service

If your wheels aren’t aligned, the vehicle’s handling and maintenance will suffer, and you, your vehicle, and passengers will be in danger. That’s why wheel alignment – also known as wheel tracking – is so important. It ensures your wheels are all pointing towards the road ahead, letting you drive comfortably, effectively, and safely.

Book a car or van wheel alignment near you with Protyre today. You can book a front wheel alignment below. For a four-wheel alignment, please contact us for a quote – get in touch now.

What are wheel alignment and tyre tracking?

Wheel alignment refers to the way your vehicle’s wheels are facing, as well as the process of making sure they are all facing the same way.

Also known as tyre tracking, aligning the wheels first involves assessing the angles of the car or van’s wheels. Your technician will look at:

Camber: The vertical alignment of the wheels viewed from the front – whether they fold inwards or outwards.

Caster: The forward or backward angle when the steering system pivots the wheel, assessed from the side view.

Toe: Looking top-down, the angles the tyres point at inward or outward.

Thrust angle: The angle the vehicle is ‘aimed’, perpendicular to its rear axle.

Once they have this information, your mechanic will look at the wheel and tyre alignment angles recommended by your manufacturer for your vehicle model. After that, they will then manipulate the control arms and tie rods that hold the wheel in place and connect it to the steering system.

There are two main types of wheel alignment available:

Front wheel alignments focus on the front wheels and look at caster and toe. These are typically quick to perform and enough to solve most issues, given the front wheels are most likely to become misaligned.

Four-wheel alignments focus on the front and rear wheels and also look at their camber. These are more in-depth fixes and are typically not recommended since most issues are often solved by a front wheel alignment.

 

Why is getting a wheel alignment important?

Having the correct wheel alignment is crucial to keeping both your vehicle safe and your car parts free from damage and wear.·       

If your wheel tracking is incorrect, then your vehicle will manoeuvre to one side while you drive or turn, and the steering will not be as responsive, or behave strangely. These issues can all impede the safe handling of the vehicle, putting you, your passengers, and other road users at risk of injury or worse. What’s more, systems like adaptive cruise control, Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) and lane assist may also stop working altogether.

Poor tyre alignment can also result in your tyres becoming worn in areas not designed for wear, such as the shoulder. The tread can also become worn down faster, potentially making them below the legal limit. As your tyres wear quicker, they need replacing more often. Add to this the strain that incorrectly aligned wheels can put on your steering components and suspension, and your maintenance costs can be seriously impacted.

Lastly, if that wasn’t all, misaligned wheels will increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption too, raising your day-to-day running costs.

What’s the cost of car or van wheel alignment?

At Protyre, a front wheel alignment for a car or van costs £34.96 including VAT.

If all four wheels need tracking or the camber requires adjustment, the cost of this will be discussed with you after our mechanics perform their initial tyre tracking assessment.

How to tell if your car needs alignment or tracking

There are several tell-tale signs to watch out for when driving which may mean your car’s wheel alignment needs attention:

Vibration through the steering wheel.

The vehicle drags or pulls to the side while in motion.

Screeching or rubbing noises when you turn.

Uneven tyre wear, such as feathering, when one side of the tyre is much more worn than the opposite side.

If you discover any of these issues, contact your local Protyre garage and book in a wheel alignment service near you.

How long does a wheel alignment take?

Your wheel alignment should take around an hour to be completed, though it could take a shorter or longer amount of time depending on how severe the misalignment is and whether just the front or all four wheels need aligning.

For more information, contact our team on 0333 060 4019

 

Why choose Protyre for your wheel alignment and tracking?

Since 1972, Protyre has provided leading-quality wheel alignment and tyre tracking for cars and vans of all makes and models. Our highly trained mechanics are experts in diagnosing and performing car wheel tracking, so whatever your vehicle, you can be sure they’ll be able to help.

Looking for a wheel alignment near you? With over 160 Protyre garages up and down the country, you’re sure to have a centre close by. And thanks to our value-for-money rates and same-day service, you can get your vehicle fixed up fast, without worrying about the cost. It’s because of all these reasons that our services are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.