Wheel Alignment with ADAS Calibration -

The Foundation

What is a wheel alignment?

Wheel alignment is the precise measurement and adjustment of the angles at which your wheels meet the road. Those angles affect how the vehicle tracks, how the steering feels, and how evenly the tires wear.

01

Toe

The direction the tires point when viewed from above. Incorrect toe is a major cause of rapid, feathered tire wear.

02

Camber

The inward or outward tilt of a wheel when viewed from the front. Excessive camber can wear one edge of a tire.

03

Caster

The steering-axis angle that contributes to straight-line stability, steering feel, and the wheel returning toward center.

04

Thrust Angle

The direction the rear wheels push the vehicle. It should agree with the vehicle centerline for proper tracking.

Important: alignment corrects wheel geometry. It does not repair worn, bent, loose, or damaged steering and suspension parts. Those conditions may need to be corrected before an accurate alignment can be completed.

Why It Matters

A small angle can create a big problem

Proper alignment helps protect your tire investment and supports predictable vehicle handling. Misalignment can build gradually from normal wear or appear after a pothole, curb strike, collision, or steering and suspension repair.

Uneven or unusually fast tire wear
Vehicle pulls or drifts to one side
Steering wheel is off-center
Vehicle feels unstable or wanders
New tires were recently installed
Steering or suspension work was performed

Available Upon Request

Start with an alignment quick check

If you are unsure whether your vehicle needs a complete alignment, ask us for an alignment quick check. Using our Hunter equipment, we take a screening snapshot of the wheel-alignment readings available through the quick-check procedure and compare them with the applicable vehicle specifications.

The results can reveal out-of-range measurements that may contribute to irregular tire wear, pulling, an off-center steering wheel, or poor tracking. They also help you and your service advisor decide whether a complete alignment and a closer steering or suspension inspection should be recommended.

The Digital Safety Layer

What is ADAS?

ADAS stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Depending on the vehicle, cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, steering-angle information, and software work together to assist the driver.

These features can improve awareness and help in certain driving situations, but they remain driver-assistance features. The driver is always responsible for controlling the vehicle.

Automatic emergency braking and forward-collision alerts
Adaptive cruise control
Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance
Blind-spot, parking, and surround-view assistance
Traffic-sign recognition and other camera-based features

A Connected Vehicle Network

ADAS can involve many vehicle systems

ADAS is not one isolated camera or sensor. Depending on the vehicle and its options, driver-assistance functions may share information with—or request action from—many electronic and mechanical systems. A fault, incorrect reference, or incomplete calibration in one area can limit or disable several related features.

Cameras & visual sensing

Forward, rear, side, surround-view, and driver-monitoring cameras may support lane, sign, parking, collision, and attention features.

Radar, lidar & ultrasonic sensors

Depending on equipment, these sensors can measure distance, closing speed, blind-zone activity, and nearby parking obstacles.

Steering & steering-angle sensing

Electric power steering, the steering-angle sensor, and steering-center data may be used for lane assistance, stability control, and automated parking.

Brakes, ABS & stability control

Automatic emergency braking, traction control, electronic stability control, and wheel-speed information can work together during an intervention.

Engine, motor & speed control

Adaptive cruise and collision-mitigation functions may request reduced or increased power, regenerative braking, or other speed-control actions.

Tires, wheels, suspension & ride height

Tire size and condition, wheel angles, thrust angle, suspension condition, vehicle loading, and ride height can influence vehicle path or sensor aim.

Parking & low-speed assistance

Parking sensors, cameras, steering, braking, and electronic parking-brake functions may coordinate during assisted-parking maneuvers.

Displays, warnings & vehicle networks

Control modules communicate through vehicle data networks, while the instrument panel and displays tell the driver when features are ready, limited, or unavailable.

Navigation, mapping & software

Some advanced functions also use map, location, speed-limit, connectivity, or software-version data. Capabilities can change with vehicle configuration and updates.

Vehicle coverage varies: not every vehicle has every sensor or feature shown above. The repair and calibration procedure must match the exact year, make, model, trim, installed equipment, software, and condition.

One Vehicle, Two References

Why alignment and ADAS calibration are connected

Mechanical direction vs. digital direction

An alignment establishes the vehicle’s mechanical direction of travel. ADAS and stability systems may also use a digital reference—including steering-angle, camera, or sensor information—to understand where the vehicle is pointed.

If wheel angles or steering center change, the vehicle manufacturer may require a steering-angle reset, an ADAS calibration, or both so the electronic reference agrees with the corrected mechanical alignment.

Step 1

Measure & align

Measure wheel angles and adjust them to the applicable vehicle specification when adjustable.

Step 2

Reset the reference

Perform steering-angle or steering-system resets when the manufacturer’s procedure calls for them.

Step 3

Calibrate if required

Complete a supported static or dynamic ADAS calibration when required for that exact vehicle.

Not every alignment requires ADAS calibration. The exact requirement depends on the year, make, model, equipment, repair performed, diagnostic results, and the vehicle manufacturer’s service procedure.

Calibration Methods

Static, dynamic, or both

The vehicle manufacturer determines the required method. Some vehicles also require a steering-system reset without a full camera or radar calibration.

Static calibration

The vehicle remains parked while precisely placed targets, fixtures, and diagnostic software are used under specified shop conditions.

Dynamic calibration

The vehicle is driven using the manufacturer’s required speed, distance, road, traffic, lane-marking, and environmental conditions while the calibration routine runs.

Our New Alignment System

Hunter
HawkEye Elite®

High-resolution camera measurement combined with Hunter WinAlign® software and ADASLink® diagnostic capability.

Equipment Calibration RecordOur Hunter HawkEye Elite alignment system was calibrated on August 26, 2026, by a Hunter Service Representative.

Precision + Process

What the Hunter system adds

HawkEye Elite uses four high-resolution cameras to measure camber, toe, caster, and related wheel angles. The integrated workflow helps our technicians move from measurement and adjustment to supported steering resets and ADAS procedures.

Fast, accurate measurements with Hunter camera technology
WinAlign guidance for vehicle-specific alignment procedures and specifications
Pre- and post-scan capability to identify and document diagnostic trouble codes when applicable
Steering-system resets after alignment when supported and required
Dynamic calibration capability for supported vehicles and procedures
Static calibration support when the vehicle and available target/equipment configuration are supported

An Important Service Limitation

Why we cannot guarantee ADAS calibration for Tesla, Rivian, or Lucid vehicles

We may be able to perform and document the vehicle’s mechanical wheel alignment. However, successful ADAS calibration is a separate electronic procedure, and these manufacturers use highly integrated, proprietary systems whose final acceptance can depend on factors outside an independent repair shop’s control.

Tesla Rivian Lucid

Proprietary access and procedures

Required routines, software access, secure communication, targets, specifications, or authorization can be manufacturer-controlled and can vary by model and software version.

Vehicle-controlled self-calibration

Some systems complete or validate calibration through the vehicle itself. Completion may depend on driving time, speed, lane markings, traffic, weather, road type, and other conditions we cannot guarantee.

Faults or vehicle condition

Existing diagnostic faults, sensor or camera position, prior glass/body work, collision damage, ride height, tire setup, suspension modifications, or software status can prevent successful completion.

Manufacturer service may be required

The vehicle may need evaluation or final calibration by the manufacturer or a manufacturer-authorized service or calibration facility—even after its wheel alignment is mechanically correct.

What we can document Mechanical alignment measurements and adjustments we complete, plus supported scans, resets, or calibration attempts and their reported results.

What we cannot promise That every ADAS warning will clear, every driver-assistance feature will become available, or the vehicle will complete and accept calibration without manufacturer service.

Bottom line: a successful mechanical alignment is not a guarantee of successful ADAS calibration. Before work begins, we will review the vehicle and explain the procedures our equipment supports. If manufacturer service is indicated, we will tell you.

Our Workflow

What to expect

The exact steps vary by vehicle, condition, diagnostic results, and manufacturer requirements.

Confirm eligibilityReview the vehicle, symptoms, repairs, and supported procedures.

Inspect & scanCheck relevant tire, steering, suspension, and electronic conditions as applicable.

Measure & adjustMeasure wheel angles and make supported alignment adjustments.

Reset or calibratePerform the required supported electronic procedure when applicable.

Verify & reportDocument results and advise you if further manufacturer service is needed.

Common Questions

Alignment and ADAS FAQ

Does every alignment require an ADAS calibration?

No. Some vehicles require only the mechanical alignment. Others require a steering-angle reset, a static or dynamic calibration, or a combination. We follow the applicable vehicle procedure and the results of the diagnostic evaluation.

Can an alignment fix an ADAS warning light or message?

Not necessarily. A warning may relate to calibration, but it can also be caused by a diagnostic fault, damaged or blocked sensor, camera position, software condition, wiring problem, collision damage, or another issue. Diagnosis may be needed.

Can you align a Tesla, Rivian, or Lucid?

Mechanical alignment service may be available after we review the exact vehicle and its condition. ADAS calibration is separate and is not guaranteed for these brands; manufacturer service or a manufacturer-authorized calibration facility may be required.

Will ADAS work during or immediately after calibration?

Some features may be limited or unavailable until the vehicle successfully completes and accepts its required calibration. Dynamic or self-calibrating systems may need suitable driving conditions and additional mileage.

Capistrano Tire & Brake

Start with a complete alignment evaluation

Tell us what the vehicle is doing, whether warning messages are present, and whether it recently had tires, glass, suspension, steering, body, or collision work.

Book an Appointment Call (949) 443-9701

32201 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–6 PM Sat 8 AM–5 PM Sun 9 AM–2 PM

Service notice: ADAS availability, reset and calibration requirements, equipment coverage, and successful completion vary by vehicle, configuration, condition, software, diagnostic status, and manufacturer procedure. A scan or calibration does not repair an underlying fault. Estimates and recommendations may change after inspection or diagnosis.

Advanced driver-assistance systems do not replace an attentive driver. Always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s operating instructions and respond appropriately to vehicle warnings.

Technology information: Hunter HawkEye Elite and Hunter ADASLink.