A Short Course on Wheel Alignment In its most basic form, a wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road. This article begins with information that any motorist should know; however, if you are interested in learning more about this topic, click on the underlined words for more detailed explanations of each term. We will cover various levels of detail with the deepest levels containing information that even a wheel alignment technician will find informative. Wheel Alignment is often confused with Wheel Balancing.  The two really have nothing to do with each other except for the fact that they affect ride and handling.  If a wheel is out of balance, it will cause a vibration at highway speeds that can be felt in the ... read more