Clear Signs That You Need A Wheel Alignment

Tuesday 29 March 2022

It goes without saying that proper vehicle maintenance is essential for keeping your car in a safe, reliable and roadworthy condition.

You already know the importance of getting an annual service for your vehicle and checking things like your tyres and exterior lights regularly.

One other important maintenance check to carry out relates to your car's wheel alignment. If your wheels aren't aligned correctly, the problem can significantly impact your car's fuel economy and safety on the road.

But, how do you know if your wheels are out of alignment? The following tell-tale signs are definitive proof that you need to have a wheel alignment carried out on your car:

Your Steering Wheel Feels Loose

One of the most common tell-tale signs that your car needs a wheel alignment is when the steering wheel feels "loose" while you drive. You're likely used to your steering wheel having a bit of resistance when you turn it, especially at low speeds.

However, if your steering wheel feels unusually loose like your car tyres aren't connected to the ground below you, it can be a strong sign that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment.

There might also be steering-related issues alongside wheels that are out of alignment, so it's worth getting a professional repair centre like All Coast Tyre Solutions to check your wheel alignment and steering systems simultaneously.

Your Steering Wheel Doesn’t Look Straight

When you drive on a straight, flat road, and you lightly hold your steering wheel, does it look like it's at an angle instead of straight? If the answer is yes, you've got a strong tell-tale sign that your car needs a wheel alignment.

Steering wheels that don't appear straight when you drive in a straight line indicate that one of your front wheels isn't pointing in the same direction as the other.

Your Car Tyres Make Unusual Sounds

Have you noticed lately that you keep hearing unusual sounds coming from your car's front tyres? If so, it might be worth checking that your tyres have the correct pressures in them.

Should that be the case, and your car tyres don't appear worn (i.e., they have plenty of tread and no signs of unusual wear or damage on them), you likely need a wheel alignment check.

Unusual noises from front tyres often accompany other tell-tale signs of wheels that are out of alignment, such as the steering wheel not appearing straight when you drive in a straight line.

Your Car Pulls To The Left Or Right

Do you feel like you have to keep fighting with your car to go in the direction you want it to go? One simple check you can do in a large empty car park, for example, is to drive your car slowly while lightly holding the steering wheel.

If your car ends up drifting to your left or right, even though you're driving on a flat piece of road, it's a sure sign that you need a wheel alignment.

Your Steering Wheel Vibrates

Some motorists assume that vibrating steering wheels are the result of one or more tyres that are imbalanced. While that's often the case, it can also signify that your front wheels are out of alignment.

When your front car wheels aren't aligned correctly, one or both of them could be getting dragged instead of rolling perfectly. If that happens, it can cause steering components like your steering wheel to vibrate - especially at high speeds.

Your Car Tyres Have Uneven Wear

One final tell-tale sign that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment is when you have uneven wear on your front tyres. While it can sometimes happen due to incorrectly inflated tyres, uneven tyre wear is mainly attributed to front wheels that are out of alignment.

For example, you might notice that the outer edges of one or both of your front tyres have uneven wear.

How To Get A Wheel Alignment

If one or more of the above tell-tale signs apply to your vehicle, the best thing to do is have a wheel alignment carried out on your car.

We offer wheel alignment services at All Coast Tyre Solutions using state-of-the-art alignment tools.

Contact us to arrange for a wheel alignment on your vehicle. We can carry out the service on front or rear-wheel drive vehicles or 4WD cars and trucks.