## Does Changing Wheels and Tires Affect Alignment?
The answer is yes, changing wheels and tires can affect alignment. This is because the alignment of your vehicle is determined by the position of the wheels in relation to each other and to the body of the car. When you change wheels or tires, you are changing the position of the wheels, which can affect the alignment.
### How Wheel and Tire Changes Can Affect Alignment
There are a few ways that changing wheels and tires can affect alignment:
The offset of the new wheels may be different from the offset of the old wheels. The offset is the distance between the hub mounting surface of the wheel and the centerline of the wheel. If the offset of the new wheels is different from the offset of the old wheels, it can cause the wheels to be pushed in or out too far, which can affect the alignment.
The width of the new tires may be different from the width of the old tires. The width of the tires is the distance from one sidewall to the other. If the width of the new tires is different from the width of the old tires, it can cause the tires to rub against the suspension components, which can affect the alignment.
The diameter of the new tires may be different from the diameter of the old tires. The diameter of the tires is the distance from one sidewall to the other across the tread. If the diameter of the new tires is different from the diameter of the old tires, it can cause the speedometer to be inaccurate, which can affect the alignment.
### Symptoms of Misalignment
There are a few symptoms that can indicate that your vehicle’s alignment is out of spec:
The car pulls to one side when driving. This is the most common symptom of misalignment. If your car pulls to the left or right when you are driving, it is likely that the alignment is out of spec.
The steering wheel is off-center when driving straight. If the steering wheel is off-center when you are driving straight, it is likely that the alignment is out of spec.
The tires are wearing unevenly. If the tires are wearing unevenly, it is likely that the alignment is out of spec.
### How to Fix Misalignment
If you think that your vehicle’s alignment is out of spec, you should take it to a mechanic to have it checked. The mechanic will be able to adjust the alignment so that it is within spec.
### How to Prevent Misalignment
There are a few things that you can do to help prevent misalignment:
Avoid hitting potholes and other road hazards. Potholes and other road hazards can knock your wheels out of alignment.
Get your tires rotated regularly. Rotating your tires regularly will help to ensure that they wear evenly, which can help to prevent misalignment.
Have your alignment checked regularly. Having your alignment checked regularly will help to catch any problems early before they become more serious.
### Conclusion
Changing wheels and tires can affect alignment. If you think that your vehicle’s alignment is out of spec, you should take it to a mechanic to have it checked.