Why Fall is the Perfect Time for an Alignment in Pequannock Township

As the leaves in Pequannock Township begin to turn and the air gets crisp, our driving habits and road conditions start to shift. While you might be thinking about winter tires, there is another critical service that often gets overlooked: a wheel alignment. Scheduling an alignment this fall is one of the smartest moves you can make for your car’s safety, your wallet, and your driving comfort.

Falling temperatures and the coming winter make right now the ideal window to ensure your wheels are perfectly set. Here’s why.

Repair Summer’s Damage Before Winter Arrives

Summer is tough on your alignment. The heat can make asphalt soft, and the potholes left from last winter become even more pronounced. A single bad jolt from a pothole on Route 23 or a hard impact with a curb in a parking lot can easily knock your wheels out of their precise settings.

These misalignments might be minor at first, but they add up. Getting an alignment now corrects the cumulative damage from months of summer driving. This gives you a fresh start, ensuring your car is perfectly prepared for the more demanding winter months ahead.

Gain Maximum Traction for Slippery Roads

When your wheels are correctly aligned, your tires make full, even contact with the road. This is always important, but it becomes a critical safety feature when facing rain-slicked roads on a Pompton Plains commute or the first frosty morning in Lincoln Park.

A misaligned vehicle has tires that are fighting each other—one might be tilted inward while another is pointed slightly outward. This uneven contact patch reduces your car's grip. A proper alignment ensures your tires work together to provide the best possible traction for braking and cornering on wet or icy surfaces.

Stop Money from Draining at the Gas Pump

Does your car seem to be using more fuel lately? Misaligned wheels create extra rolling resistance. Because the tires are not pointing straight, your engine has to work harder and burn more fuel just to move the car forward at a normal speed.

With an alignment, you reduce this drag. Your engine operates more efficiently, and you’ll see the difference at the gas pump. This is a simple way to improve your fuel economy before the less-efficient driving conditions of winter set in.

Protect Your Tire Investment

This is one of the biggest financial benefits of an alignment. When your wheels are out of alignment, your tires wear down in an uneven and accelerated way. You might see the inner or outer edges of your tread wearing down much faster than the center.

This uneven wear shortens the life of your tires significantly. A set of tires that should last 60,000 miles might be ruined in 30,000. Given the cost of new tires, an alignment is a small investment that protects a much larger one. Getting your alignment checked now can save you hundreds of dollars on premature tire replacement.

How to Spot a Potential Alignment Issue

You might not need to wait for your next service interval to suspect an alignment problem. Keep an eye out for these common signs:

●     Your car pulls to the left or right when you are driving on a straight, flat road.

●     The steering wheel is off-center even when you are driving straight.

●     You notice uneven tire wear on the edges of your tires.

●     The steering wheel vibrates or feels loose.

Schedule Your Fall Alignment at Bock Automotive

Don’t head into a New Jersey winter with your wheels pointing in the wrong direction. At Bock Automotive in Pequannock Township, we use state-of-the-art computerized alignment equipment to make precise adjustments to your vehicle’s camber, toe, and caster angles. We service all makes and models, from rugged Jeeps to sophisticated Acuras.

Our technicians will get your wheels set to the manufacturer’s exact specifications, ensuring your vehicle handles predictably and safely.

Prepare your car for the season ahead.
 Contact Bock Automotive today at (973) 320-7520 to schedule your four-wheel alignment service.
Drive with confidence knowing your vehicle is ready for whatever the road brings.