A wheel alignment is one of the most commonly missed and most expensive maintenance jobs to ignore. When your wheel alignment is incorrect, not only does your car pull in one direction, but it also can make your brakes less efficient. Your vehicle might not grip the road well, causing slipping, and your tires might wear out much faster. Pay close attention to these possible symptoms of a misalignment:
- Vehicle pulling in one direction. The most obvious sign it’s time to get an alignment is if your vehicle starts to pull to
one side of the road while driving. If you let go of the steering wheel and your car pulls into one lane or the other, you might need to get your wheels aligned. - Uneven tire wear. Check the pattern of wear on your front and back tires. If the wear seems to be the same, you’re good to go. If the wear on the tires seems inconsistent, you might need to get your vehicle checked for misalignment.
- Vibration. Steering wheel vibration can be caused by various car problems, including a misalignment. If you notice your steering wheel vibrating as you drive, there likely is an underlying problem.
- Crooked steering wheel. Test letting go of your wheel (when you’re stopped safely at a red light, for example). If it’s crooked or steering one way over another, your tires likely are not aligned correctly. Your wheel should be almost completely straight. Pay attention; you could be correcting your steering wheel subconsciously as you drive.
- Loose steering wheel. A loose steering wheel is another — and especially dangerous — sign of a misalignment. If your car generally feels “wrong” while driving around a corner, or even while switching lanes, get your vehicle in for a checkup.
If you think your vehicle has any (or multiple) symptoms, you likely need to get your tires aligned. Luckily, it easily can be done when you bring your car in for your next oil change. Be sure to tell the mechanics all the symptoms, so they can diagnose the problem properly and fix the issue.
– Deidre Parker, owner-operator of Chloe’s Auto Repair, holds an ASE certification and has extensive experience in the area of automotive repair.
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