How is a vehicle's alignment assessed during the inspection process?

A vehicle's alignment is assessed primarily by checking tire wear patterns and steering responsiveness. During the inspection process, mechanics look for uneven tire wear, which can indicate misalignment, as improperly aligned wheels can cause certain areas of the tire to wear more quickly than others. This wear pattern can be a clear signal that the wheels are not properly aligned.

Additionally, steering responsiveness provides important feedback about the alignment. If the steering feels off-center or if the vehicle pulls to one side, it suggests that the wheels may be misaligned. Proper alignment ensures that the vehicle tracks straight and that the handling is stable, making this observation critical during the inspection process.

Although other factors such as wheel diameter and the condition of suspension springs are important for overall vehicle performance and safety, they do not directly assess alignment. Fuel efficiency can be affected by alignment but is not a method used for assessing it directly in an inspection. Thus, analyzing tire wear patterns and checking how the vehicle responds when steering provides the most direct insight into the vehicle's alignment condition.