Many drivers assume a wheel alignment simply means adjusting the wheels back to the manufacturer's specifications. In reality, every vehicle changes over time. Suspension components wear, tyres are replaced, accessories are fitted, and Australian roads are often very different from the smooth roads where many vehicles were originally designed and tested.
At MIT Automotive, we take a different approach. Rather than simply entering factory specifications into our alignment equipment, we carefully inspect your vehicle and customise the alignment to suit its current condition, the way you drive and the roads you regularly travel.
The result is improved tyre life, better steering feel, greater driving confidence and potentially significant savings on replacing tyres prematurely.
A wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of your vehicle's wheels so they point in the correct direction and work together as the manufacturer intended—or, more accurately, as your vehicle now requires.
The three main alignment angles include:
When these angles are incorrect, tyres no longer roll evenly across the road. Instead, they scrub against the road surface, creating unnecessary wear and reducing grip.
Every new vehicle leaves the factory with alignment specifications based on a brand-new vehicle, fitted with brand-new suspension, tyres and wheels.
However, once a vehicle has left the factory, been transported and delivered to the show room and then been driven for thousands of kilometres, those original settings may no longer provide the best results.
At MIT Automotive, we inspect the entire steering and suspension system before performing the alignment. We then customise the settings where appropriate to suit:
Rather than treating every vehicle the same, we tailor the alignment to achieve the best possible tyre wear and handling for your individual vehicle.
Many people blame wheel alignment whenever tyres wear unevenly, but there are actually three common causes.
Tyres that are consistently under-inflated or over-inflated wear differently.
Low pressures often wear both outer edges, while excessive pressure can wear the centre of the tread.
Regular pressure checks can dramatically increase tyre life.
A worn ball joint, control arm bush, tie rod end or shock absorber allows the wheel to move excessively.
Even the most accurate wheel alignment cannot compensate for worn suspension components.
This is why MIT Automotive always checks these components before carrying out an alignment.
If the wheels are not pointing correctly, the tyres scrub across the road instead of rolling naturally.
This creates uneven wear, poorer handling and higher rolling resistance.
Inner edge tyre wear is often one of the hardest problems for vehicle owners to detect because it isn't easily visible while the car is parked.
Common causes include:
In many cases, the outer tread still appears healthy while the inside edge has worn through to the cords.
Because of this, the safest way to inspect tyre condition is with the vehicle raised on a hoist, allowing the entire tyre to be examined.
Routine inspections at MIT Automotive can identify this hidden wear before it becomes a costly or dangerous problem.
Wear on the outside shoulder usually points to different issues, including:
Outside wear often develops gradually, making it easy to overlook until the tyre requires replacement.
A professional inspection can identify the underlying cause before your next set of tyres suffers the same fate.
Your vehicle may benefit from a custom wheel alignment if you notice:
Even if these symptoms seem minor, correcting them early can extend tyre life considerably.
Many people think of wheel alignments as a handling adjustment.
In reality, they're one of the best investments you can make in reducing running costs.
Correct alignment can help:
Considering a quality set of tyres can cost hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars, keeping them wearing evenly simply makes financial sense.
Tyres that are consistently under-inflated or over-inflated wear differently.
Around the ACT and surrounding NSW roads, your vehicle may regularly encounter:
These conditions can gradually alter wheel alignment over time, even without an obvious impact.
That's why periodic alignment checks are recommended, particularly after suspension repairs or replacing tyres.
A wheel alignment should be checked:
Regular inspections are often much cheaper than replacing tyres prematurely.
You can maximise tyre life by:
Small maintenance habits often make a big difference over the life of your tyres.
A tyre can scrub sideways several metres for every kilometre travelled if its alignment is only slightly out. While this movement is almost impossible to notice from behind the wheel, it can significantly accelerate tyre wear over thousands of kilometres.
Why doesn't every workshop customise wheel alignments?
Many workshops simply adjust vehicles back to the manufacturer's published specifications. At MIT Automotive, we recognise that suspension wear, tyre choice, vehicle accessories and Australian road conditions can all influence what alignment settings deliver the best real-world results.
Can new tyres hide an alignment problem?
Yes. New tyres often make a vehicle feel smoother initially, but if the alignment isn't corrected, uneven wear can begin almost immediately and shorten the life of your new tyres.
Does carrying heavy loads affect wheel alignment?
Regularly carrying heavy tools, equipment or towing can alter suspension height and affect wheel alignment over time. It's worth having your alignment checked if your vehicle's typical load has changed.
Is uneven tyre wear always caused by alignment?
No. Incorrect tyre pressures, worn suspension components and steering faults can all produce similar wear patterns. A professional inspection helps identify the true cause before adjustments are made.
Why can't I easily see inner tyre wear?
The inside edge of a tyre is often hidden behind the suspension and bodywork. Many tyres appear perfectly normal from the outside but are badly worn on the inner shoulder. Raising the vehicle on a hoist allows the entire tread surface to be inspected properly, helping detect problems before they become a safety risk.
At MIT Automotive, we don't believe every vehicle should receive exactly the same alignment settings simply because that's what it left the factory with years ago.
Our experienced technicians inspect your steering and suspension, assess tyre wear patterns and customise your wheel alignment to suit your vehicle's current condition, your driving style and Australian road conditions.
As an independently owned Repco Authorised Service centre, we're committed to providing honest advice and quality workmanship to help you get the maximum life from your tyres while improving your vehicle's safety and handling.
If your steering doesn't feel quite right or your tyres are wearing unevenly, book your custom wheel alignment with MIT Automotive in Fyshwick and let our team help keep your vehicle driving straight, safely and economically.
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