Tire Rotations & Wheel Alignments

Volvo Tire Rotation and Wheel Alignment Service Near East Lansing: Schedule Yours Today!

The safety of your Volvo greatly depends on getting certain services completed timely and consistently. And here at Crippen Volvo Cars in Lansing, MI, we provide the right resources to do just that. Our technicians are highly skilled and more than capable of completing everything necessary to keep your Volvo running smoothly. They are factory-trained as well as certified in their area of expertise, including tires and wheel alignments. Furthermore, we maintain the most technically advanced service equipment in our state-of-the-art facility.

Scheduling a wheel alignment and tire rotation for your Volvo is easy at our dealership. Take a look at why these particular services are highly beneficial for your safety and comfort while driving in the Mason area.

Wheel Alignment

What is a Wheel Alignment?

The basic premise of a wheel alignment is to ensure that your vehicle continues to drive straight on the road and prevent it from drifting. The process makes sure all four wheels are pointed in the same direction. When completed consistently and correctly, a wheel alignment can extend the life of your tires. An alignment is measured in three degrees, which includes Camber, Caster and Toe. Camber measures the degree to which the tire leans inward or outward. Caster measures the degree of forward or backward slope as it relates to the steering components. And toe measures the degree at which the tires are pointing inward or outward.

How Can You Determine if Your Volvo Needs a Wheel Alignment?

The most obvious sign of needing a wheel alignment is when your Volvo drifts to the left or right, especially as you apply the brake pedal. Typically, it requires more steering effort to maintain control of the vehicle and prevent it from entering another lane while driving down the highway. Naturally, that creates an unsafe driving situation. Or you may notice that your steering wheel shakes at high speeds. While those are the most common signs that are more obvious to you, other signs may go unnoticed. That includes excessive tire wear or uneven tire wear, particularly on the front axle.

Another indicator is worn or inefficient front suspension parts, which requires a certified Volvo technician to diagnose. Front suspension parts are essential to the effectiveness of a wheel alignment and can impact tire wear and your safety on the road. Each time you have a wheel alignment, a technician will inspect the parts to determine the effectiveness and recommend whether a replacement should occur. In most cases, the suspension parts become ineffective because of normal wear and tear or imperfections in the road surfaces. Often, it's the result of hitting a pothole, curb or parking bumper extremely hard while driving around the Charlotte, MI.

Tire Rotation

Why are Tire Rotations So Important?

The main objective of having your tires rotated is to extend the life of your tires. The process involves moving the front tires to the rear and vice versa. When done consistently, the tires have a better chance at longevity. But it also helps to reduce the potential of uneven tire wear developing to the point of having to replace your tires. Once uneven tire wear occurs, the damage is permanent. It's just a matter of time before the tires need to be replaced.

Is There a Way of Knowing When to Rotate Your Tires?

There's no clear way to determine if you need a tire rotation simply because the maintenance is routine. The recommendation for tire rotations is six-month intervals, and an inspection of the quality condition of the tires occurs at that time. Tires that are at or below 2/32 inches in tread must be replaced. At that point, the tires are unsafe. A simple test is to take a penny and put it in the tread, head down, and if the top of Abe Lincoln's head is visible, time for new tires!

Scheduling Your Appointment Near Lansing

To schedule your wheel alignment and tire rotation service, use our online service scheduler. Appointments can be made as far in advance as available. Don't forget that we sell new and used cars at Crippen Volvo Cars. And our parts center has an abundant inventory of genuine Volvo parts to maintain the value of your Volvo. We look forward to helping you soon!