Imagine taking a long walk in a pair of shoes with one 3” heel and one 3 1/4” heel. Though a quarter of an inch is a small difference, you would quickly run into problems. You’d be forced to walk with a noticeable limp, and be more careful with each step you take. Over time, your joints and muscles would have to work harder on one side of your body than the other, just to make up for your uneven shoes, leading to lasting trouble for your health.

Now picture your tires as your car’s shoes. Just like the points of a pair of heels, the tire rubber is the only part that actually touches the ground. Even subtle discrepancies in alignment can cause lasting damage to your vehicle’s health and handling ability, and force you to steer more carefully in otherwise safe conditions. If a vehicle is not properly aligned, some joints and mechanisms are forced to do too much work, while others aren’t used at full capacity, eventually requiring costly repairs.