How Often Should You Get A Wheel Alignment?

A proper wheel alignment keeps your car driving straight, your tires wearing evenly, and your wallet happier in the long run. But how often do you actually need one? And what happens if you skip it? Here’s what every Green Bay driver should know.

What Is a Wheel Alignment?

A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of your tires so they meet the road correctly and point in the right direction. The three main angles — toe, camber, and caster — are set to your vehicle’s factory specifications (or custom specs for modified vehicles). When these are off, your tires wear unevenly, your car may pull to one side, and you can lose fuel economy and handling. We use computerized alignment equipment at The Doctor Tires to get your numbers spot-on and give you a before/after printout.

Signs You Need an Alignment

The most common signs are your car pulling to the left or right when you let go of the wheel on a flat road, a steering wheel that’s crooked when driving straight, or uneven tire wear (e.g., one edge of the tread wearing faster than the other). If you feel vibration through the steering wheel or notice your tires are wearing out much faster than they should, it’s time to get your alignment checked. We can also inspect your steering and suspension components during the service to catch worn parts that could affect alignment.

Recommended Intervals

Many manufacturers suggest having your alignment checked once a year or every 12,000 miles — and definitely when you install new tires. After hitting a big pothole, curb, or replacing suspension parts (shocks, struts, control arms), you should get an alignment too. In Green Bay, our roads take a beating from winter and construction, so we recommend at least an annual check for most drivers. It’s a small investment that can add thousands of miles to your tire life.

The Cost of Ignoring It

Skipping alignments leads to uneven tire wear, which means you’ll need to replace tires sooner. What could have been a $80–$150 alignment turns into hundreds of dollars in premature tire replacement. It can also affect handling and safety, especially in rain or snow. For the cost of one tank of gas, you can have your alignment checked and corrected — and we’ll show you the before/after numbers so you know exactly what changed.

Why Green Bay Winters Make It Worse

Potholes, frost heaves, and rough winter roads can knock your alignment out of spec quickly. If your car was already slightly off, one bad bump can make it obvious. Getting an alignment in the fall or early winter helps your tires wear evenly through the season and keeps your car tracking straight when the roads are slick. We see a lot of Green Bay drivers come in after winter for new tires and an alignment — doing the alignment before the snow flies can save you money and extend tire life.

The Doctor Tires Alignment Service

We offer 4-wheel computer alignment with a printout of your before and after measurements. We’ll inspect steering and suspension components and adjust to manufacturer specs (or custom specs for lifted or lowered vehicles). Pricing is competitive — call us for current rates. Whether you need a check after hitting a pothole or you’re due for your annual alignment, we’ll get you in and out and back on the road with confidence.