5 Signs of Poor Wheel Alignment

If you feel like you don’t have control over the steering or the car is going improperly on the road, it can be due to poor wheel alignment. Misaligned wheels make the car work harder, increasing fuel consumption.
 

Fixing poorly aligned wheels may not strike you as the first thing your mind when you’re not able to drive properly on the road. It’s important to identify and fix the poorly aligned wheels to avoid more damage to the tyres and car. And it can also be an issue that causes accidents and other problems when you drive.

Let’s look at the signs of poor wheel alignment so that you can fix them if you happen to identify any one of them while driving your car.

1. Car pulls to one side

   One of the best ways to check the alignment of your wheels is on the road. Leave the steering and let the car guide you on an empty road. If it’s drifting to a side, then you can learn that the wheels are misaligned. The greater the pull, the more the misalignment.
   
   Repeat the experiment two to three times on a flat road and check whether the car is swerving to a side. Address the issue as soon as possible so that your wheels have a firm grip on the wheels. 

2. Uneven steering

   Another easy way to notice misaligned wheels is through the steering. If you’re driving on a flat road, then the steering should remain straight and not in any other direction. The easy way to check whether the steering wheel is straight or not is by the emblem. If the emblem is at the centre and is not tilting in any direction, then the wheels are not misaligned.

3. Loose or vibrating steering

   Misaligned wheels make the steering sloppy and loose. It can be very dangerous as it decreases the reaction time when you cross a turn. Turnings are the places where you should have complete control over the steering, and if not, your car may bump into objects, or worse, you may crash into other persons and vehicles.
   
   If you feel like you have less control over the steering and feel a vibration-like sensation, take your car to a professional mechanic to resolve the issue. 

4. Tyres squeal

   Uneven wheels also make the tyres squeal when you are either accelerating or while making turns. However, squealing can also occur when the brake pads are worn out. To determine the cause, always check your car with a professional to understand the cause. If it’s due to misalignment, the car expert can easily identify and resolve the problem.

5. Uneven tyre wear

   You can check the misalignment in the tyres by physically examining them. As you may know, tyres consist of threads that are responsible for a firm grip on the road while you’re driving. If you notice that these threads are worn out or less visible when compared to other tyres, then misalignment occurs.
   
   During servicing of your car, a professional will check for the tyre’s wear and tear issues like excessive outer tyre wear, excessive inner tyre wear, and tyre scalloping. These issues may cause misalignment of the wheels which you can resolve during the servicing itself.

Why You Should Not Ignore the Misalignment Problem

We accept that the misalignment of the tyres may not be an as serious issue as engine breakdown. And you may think that it’s an additional investment to repair it.

However, a small issue like misalignment can affect driving, unnecessarily increasing the load on your tyres and engine. You will not only get poor mileage from your car but your engine’s health also diminishes. And what you thought was a small issue can become worse the longer you ignore it.

Moreover, repairing poorly aligned wheels is not expensive when compared to the money needed for other prominent issues like damage repair, increased fuel costs, and having to replace tyres early.

Hence, whenever you identify the signs of misalignment, don’t ignore them and take your car to a professional for a thorough check-up. Remember early diagnosis of car issues can save you a lot of money on more extensive repairs and damages.