Symptoms of Poor Wheel Alignment
Poor wheel alignment is a common issue that can affect your vehicle's performance, tyre wear, and overall driving experience. Identifying the symptoms early can help you avoid costly repairs and keep your vehicle running smoothly. In this blog, we’ll cover the key signs of poor wheel alignment, what causes it, and how to address the problem.
What is Wheel Alignment?
Understanding Wheel Alignment Basics Wheel alignment refers to adjusting the angles of your vehicle's wheels to meet manufacturer specifications. Proper alignment ensures that all four wheels are working together, providing optimal performance and tyre longevity.
Why Wheel Alignment Matters for Your Vehicle Correct alignment is not only about ensuring your tyres are wearing evenly; it also plays a major role in maintaining your vehicle’s safety. Proper wheel alignment improves fuel efficiency, handling, and braking performance. Ignoring wheel alignment can lead to uneven tyre wear, which in turn may cause unsafe driving conditions and more significant mechanical issues down the line.
Key Symptoms of Poor Wheel Alignment
Uneven Tyre Wear One of the most common signs of poor wheel alignment is uneven tyre wear. If you notice the tread on your tyres is wearing more on one side than the other, it’s a clear indicator that your wheels are not aligned properly. Uneven tyre wear can reduce the lifespan of your tyres and decrease road traction, which can impact both performance and safety.
Steering Wheel Misalignment When driving straight, your steering wheel should naturally rest in a centred position. If you find that your steering wheel is tilted or misaligned, this often signals an issue with wheel alignment. This imbalance can affect your control over the vehicle, making it harder to steer accurately and safely.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side Another sign of poor wheel alignment is when your car pulls to one side while driving. If you constantly need to correct the steering to keep the vehicle going straight, your wheels are likely misaligned. This pulling can affect your vehicle's handling, making it harder to control and increasing the risk of accidents.
Vibrating Steering Wheel A vibrating or shaking steering wheel, especially at higher speeds, can be a result of poor wheel alignment. This vibration is not just an inconvenience—it could also signal other underlying issues, such as unbalanced tyres or worn-out suspension components. It’s important to have this checked immediately to avoid further damage.
What Causes Poor Wheel Alignment?
Hitting Curbs or Potholes Hitting a curb or a pothole can easily knock your wheels out of alignment, even if there’s no visible damage to your tyres.
Suspension Wear and Tear Over time, the components of your suspension can wear out, affecting wheel alignment. Regular checks can help catch this early.
Modifications to the Vehicle Adding accessories like larger tyres or lift kits without adjusting your alignment can lead to poor wheel performance.
How to Fix Poor Wheel Alignment
Regular Wheel Alignment Checks It’s recommended to have your wheel alignment checked every 10,000 km or during routine vehicle maintenance to prevent serious issues.
Professional Wheel Alignment Services Having a professional adjust your wheel alignment will ensure your tyres wear evenly, provide better fuel economy, and improve your vehicle's handling.
Contact Us for Alignment Services Is your vehicle showing signs of poor wheel alignment? Call Tyrepower Margaret River or drop by our location to schedule an alignment check today. We’ll help you get back on the road safely.
