Proper alignment means your vehicle moves down the highway in a straight line without veering either right or left. Things that can knock your vehicle out of alignment can be that railroad track that is so bumpy it almost rattles teeth; a pothole road maintenance hasn’t taken care of yet, running off the road, and etc.

Aligning tires on a vehicle is a job best left to an auto technician; however, it never hurts to know the process. The technician, using a very precise alignment machine aided by a computer, will check and adjust caster, camber, and toe angles, returning them to the specifications recommended by your car’s manufacturer. Most modern vehicles require all four wheels to be aligned, not just the front, and the latest alignment equipment is designed to do this very accurately. It’s all about the angles, and here’s what those angle names mean:

The caster angle indicates the backward or forward slope of the steering axis determined by the upper and lower ball joints or by the MacPherson strut. Caster angle is expressed in degrees. Caster is considered positive if the top of the axis tilts toward the rear of the car, and negative if it tilts forward.

The camber angle indicates how far a wheel tilts away from the vertical when viewed from the front. Camber angle is expressed in degrees, and is considered positive when the tops of the wheels tilt away from the center of the car and negative when they tilt toward the center.

The toe angle indicates the exact direction each wheel is pointed when compared to the center line of the vehicle. Toe angle is expressed either in fractions of an inch or in degrees. Positive toe or toe-in has the wheels turning into each other. Negative toe or toe out has the wheels turning away from each other.

Caster, camber and toe angles influence handling and tire wear. Any deviations from manufacturer’s specifications can become exponentially exaggerated as speed increases because your tires are not working as they were designed so remember take your vehicle in should you notice variations in steering.

When winter kicks in and the road conditions become more of a challenge, now is the time to arm yourself with some good techniques when it comes to handling your car. There are many different situations where you may find yourself not being in total control of your car, but knowing how to react when they occur will increase your chances of preventing an accident or getting stuck.

If you hit the roads early in the morning before most people then you’ll need to be extra alert. The roads may only appear to be wet, but its a good idea to find out just how dangerous they are. When you are driving on roads that look as though they have ice on them, try using your brakes very gradually to see if your car reacts normally. If you press down on the break and begin to slow down, increase the pressure a bit to see if the decrease in speed is relative to the braking you are applying. You may notice that there is a point where your car does slide a bit if the brakes are heavily applied. That will give you a good idea on how much of a safe travel distance you should have between your car and any other cars around you.

Driving in snow can be challenging especially if you live in an area with mountains or significant hills. One thing you will want to keep in mind is that locking up the brakes is like taking your tires and replacing them with a set of skis. You want to avoid having to depress the brake pedal more than 50% if possible, which means you will want to avoid constant changes in speed. If the roads are really bad, its best if you can rarely use the brakes. With an automatic, putting it into D as opposed to OD will allow your car to benefit from engine braking. Its similar to driving a manual where downshifting is also a means to slow a vehicle and avoid using the brakes.

If you live in an area where the roads or even your driveway has a significant slope, you may not be able to go anywhere without chains or studded tires and 4WD. The deeper the snow, the more likely it is to prevent your tires from actually hitting the pavement. If the snow is wet you may find yourself hitting some spots where other cars have compacted the snow, this can be a very challenging drive. By understanding how to steer and make subtle changes in speed, your less likely to end up on the phone with a tow truck or friend to bail you out.