Wheel alignment is the angle at which your wheels meet the road. When it is right, the tyres roll straight and wear evenly. When it is wrong, every kilometre drags the tyres slightly sideways, wearing rubber, wasting fuel and making the car harder to control. Potholes, kerbs and speed bumps knock alignment out more often than most drivers think.
Here are five signs it is time to check.
1. The car pulls to one side
On a straight, flat road, let go of the steering wheel for a moment (only where it is safe). If the car drifts left or right, the alignment is probably out. A slight drift can also come from uneven tyre pressure, so check the pressures first.
2. The steering wheel is not straight
When you drive in a straight line, the steering wheel should be centred. If you have to hold it turned to go straight, the wheels are pointing in different directions.
3. The tyres wear on one edge
Look at the front tyres. If the inside or outside edge is much more worn than the middle, or if the tread feels rough and feathered when you run your hand across it, the alignment is wearing them out. This is the most expensive sign, because by the time you see it, the tyre has already lost part of its life.
4. The tyres squeal on corners
Tyres that squeal on normal, slow turns are often being dragged rather than rolled.
5. You hit something hard
After a deep pothole, a kerb or an accident, get the alignment checked even if the car feels fine. A bent steering part or knocked suspension may not show at once, but it will show on the tyres within weeks.
What a 3D alignment does
At our auto centre, the car goes onto a four-post lift and a target is clipped onto each wheel. Two cameras read the position of all four wheels at once, to a fraction of a degree, and the screen shows which wheel is out and by how much. We adjust the toe and, where the car allows it, the camber and caster, then measure again. You receive a printout of the readings before and after.
How often?
As a guide: every 10,000 km, whenever you fit new tyres, and after any hard knock. On rough roads, more often costs less than replacing tyres early.
Not alignment?
Some problems feel similar but have other causes. A steering wheel that shakes at speed is usually wheel balance. A pull that changes when you brake can be a brake problem. We check these during the visit and tell you what we find.
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