During road testing for alignment, what should you do to evaluate the vehicle’s behavior?

• A. Drive On a Closed Track
• B. Drive On a Variety Of Road Surfaces
• C. Drive Only On City Streets
• D. Drive On a Single Smooth Highway

Answer: (B)

Evaluating alignment through road testing requires observing how the car behaves across different pavement conditions, because the interaction between the suspension, steering, tires, and the road surface reveals misalignment symptoms that may not show up on a uniform surface. A vehicle with improper toe, camber, or caster can track straight on perfectly smooth pavement but pull, wander, or tramline when the road has grooves, crowns, potholes, or other irregularities. Driving on a variety of road surfaces lets you notice signs like pulling to one side, a crooked steering wheel at speed, vibrations or instability, and uneven tire wear patterns that only appear under real-world surface conditions. Testing on just one type of surface or in a controlled, limited environment can mask these issues, so a mix of surfaces provides the most reliable assessment of alignment-related handling.