Most drivers know that maintaining their car's tires is one of the most important things they can do as a responsible vehicle owner. However, many vehicle owners fail to recognize the importance of wheel alignment as part of an overall tire maintenance plan. Yet, this one thing can change how long your tires actually last and even help support the healthy life of your vehicle down the road. But when should you have your wheels aligned? Take a look at these three times when having your wheels aligned by a professional tire and automotive shop will be important.

Have your wheels aligned when you swap out tires. 

Most of the time, your wheels will be aligned if you buy tires and have them professionally installed. However, if you swap out a tire on your own, this is something you should still have done. When you change one of the tires, it can counteract the previous alignment, which was done with the previous tire in place. Therefore, having one tire out of sync with the rest can lead all of your tires from wearing evenly because weight distribution has changed. 

Have your wheels aligned after a collision or an accident. 

There are a lot of things that can be negatively affected when a car is involved in a wreck orcollision. You may be facing body damage, motor damage, and a whole list of other things that will have to be repaired. However, a collision can also knock the wheels out of alignment if the impact was hard enough. Therefore, it is a good idea to have your wheels aligned any time your vehicle has been involved in a collision. 

Have your wheels aligned if you hit a huge pothole or bump in the road. 

Most cars are resilient enough to handle small potholes and bumps in the road, but if you accidentally hit a huge pothole or a break in the pavement that jars your vehicle pretty hard, it can easily knock the alignment of your wheels out. It is a good idea to stop in at a tire shop to have them check your vehicle for alignment problems any time you hit a hole or bump that is deep enough that your car hits the ground with excessive force. Even though an alignment may not always be necessary, it is better to have the vehicle checked just to be sure. 

Contact a repair service, like D Wells Automotive Service, for more help.