Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Livonia and Farmington drivers until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment by hitting a curb or pothole on a Novi interstate or surface street.

When a vehicle’s out of alignment, one or more of the wheels does not track true and pulls against the others. This causes several serious problems. First off, the tires will wear out faster and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to expensive SUV suspension problems.

But the big issue for Livonia, Farmington, and Novi car owners is safety. When your SUV wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Sovel's Auto Service in Novi.

When undergoing an alignment service at Sovel's Auto Service, your SUV is put on an alignment rack where the tires, steering and suspension parts are checked for damage. Then the alignment is charted and checked against the factory settings.

Precision adjustments are made to bring the wheels back into alignment. This gets all four wheels going in exactly the same direction.

Farmington car owners should be aware of the signs of alignment problems. These include the car pulling to one side. Also, the steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your Novi service center look it over. If you’ve been in an auto accident in Michigan that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked.

Obviously, a big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Livonia drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up.

That’s why vehicle manufacturers recommend periodic alignment checks. If your SUV owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with Brian Sovel or your service advisor at Sovel's Auto Service in Novi.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Sovel's Auto Service is cheaper for Livonia motorists than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.