Wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of wheels so that they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground while ensuring the front and rear tires ‘track’ correctly. Often a tire shop or a mechanic will notice unusual tire wear and check the alignment to see if that is the cause of the improper wear. Sometimes a suspension component wears unusually which could also be a sign of a vehicle that is ‘out of alignment’. If a customer complains of erratic handling or ‘pulling‘ the mechanic will check the alignment to see if that is the reason for the customer’s concern. Alignment angles can also be altered beyond the maker’s specifications to obtain distinct characteristics. Racing, raising and lowering the vehicle (for appearance or handling), and off-road applications often mean that the different alignment angles will be set beyond what is ‘normal’ for the vehicle to met the customer’s requirements.