Not only do you need to have your tyres changed and rotated to ensure safety and proper wear, but you also need to have them properly aligned. When you have proper wheels alignments, you will be able to steer much easier, improve gas mileage and decrease the amount of wear on your tyres. Knowing when to have your tyres realigned can be made easy by being aware of the most noticeable signs to be on the lookout for.
Uneven Wear
If your wheels are not properly aligned, your tyres will not wear at the same rate. If you check your front and back tyres and notice a major difference in wear, you likely need to have your wheels aligned. The opposite tyre will have a much different wear pattern when the tyres are not aligned.
Pulling
It is also a good idea to pay attention to your car when you are driving. If you notice that the wheel is pulling to one side, this is a major sign that you have a tyre alignment issue. You will likely only notice a slight pull in the beginning, but as time goes on you will notice that it pulls even more. This is a sign that you need to be on the lookout for before the problem worsens. Passive pulling is the early stages of an issue and involves the car only pulling in one direction when you let go of the steering wheel. If a car has tyres that are properly aligned, it will never pull in any direction and will always steer straight ahead.
Vibrating
Sometimes vibration can also be a telltale sign that there is a problem with tyre alignment. It is possible for vibrating to be present as the tyres pull against one another. This is not normal and is only the case when proper alignment is not maintained. You might notice the vibration most when your vehicle is going at high speeds down the roadways. Over time, the vibrating might become more apparent.
Angled Steering Wheel
If you notice that your steering wheel is at an angle or crooked when the car is moving straight, this is also a sign that the tyres need to be realigned. The steering wheel is angled because the tyres are not aligned and will only move straight when the steering wheel is crooked. This means that keeping a close eye on the steering wheel can help you notice a tyre alignment problem early on.
Share10 November 2015
It's easy to get overlooked when you head into get your car serviced if you are a woman. I have found the trick to getting the auto repairers to take me seriously is to do some research beforehand and look at what the log book says they need to replace this service. I wish I had started doing it earlier because it's also helping me trouble shoot repair issues and I'm saving myself a lot of time and stress this way. I'm keeping track of everything I have learned on this blog so I can share it with other new drivers and help them understand their auto service requirements as well.