Wheel Alignment: How Often, How Much, and Why It Saves You Money
A $120 alignment can save you $1,000 in premature tire wear. Here's when to get one, what the three angles actually mean, and what a proper alignment printout looks like.
Wheel alignment isn't about the wheels — it's about the suspension angles that affect how the tire sits on the road. Get them wrong and you'll be buying new tires twice as often.
The Three Angles That Matter
- Toe — whether the wheels point slightly in or out. Wrong toe = feathered, sawtooth wear across the tread. The biggest wear factor.
- Camber — whether the top of the tire leans in or out. Wrong camber = one-sided wear (inner or outer edge).
- Caster — the tilt of the steering axis. Doesn't affect tire wear much, but affects how the steering returns to centre.
When You Need an Alignment
- After any significant pothole or curb hit
- Every time you install a new set of tires
- Once a year as preventive maintenance
- Your car pulls to one side on a flat, straight road
- Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight
- Uneven tread wear on any tire
What a Good Alignment Costs
In Calgary: $90–$150 for a standard four-wheel alignment on a passenger car, $150–$220 for trucks and SUVs. Always demand a printed before/after report — if the shop can't produce one, leave.
Is It Worth It?
One misaligned tire can wear out 30,000 km early. A $1,000 set of four tires spread over 80,000 km = 1.25¢ per km. Lose 30,000 km = $375 wasted. An alignment pays for itself 3× over.
Our alignment bay runs a Hunter HawkEye laser system — bring your car in, get a printed report, and see the before/after angles in 45 minutes.