Four Signs Your Wheels Are Misaligned
Misaligned wheels can come from a variety of situations. Potholes, “curb checks*,” or debris on the road are just a few of the many reasons why your car got knocked off its alignment. Regardless of how your tires got misaligned, it’s best for car owners to get this problem remedied as soon as possible. Issues such as damaged suspension parts, reduced fuel efficiency, and uneven tire wear can affect your vehicle if not quickly treated.
*Slang for running over the curb of a road
Found yourself hitting a pothole or curb (we won’t judge, we’ve done it too) and unsure if your car was knocked off its alignment? If so, here are some signs that it’s time to visit our shop:
Uneven Tire Wear
One of the issues that affect your vehicle can also be used to identify misaligned tires. Simply check your front two tires to see if the tire wear patterns match. Then, inspect your back two tires for the same pattern. If they appear the same, more than likely your tires are aligned. If you’re still curious, ask your Auto Pros technician to inspect the tire tread!
Slight or Severe Pull
This can be extremely dangerous when on the road. Sure, you may be able to adjust for it, but what if you don’t? The best way to determine a slight pull when braking is to take yourself to a flat neighborhood road or parking lot. While driving slowly, let go of the wheel. If you see the car pulling one way or the other, that means your tires are misaligned.
For a severe pull, make sure that the tire pressure in your car meets the manufacturer’s standard. If it doesn’t, that could be the reason for the pull. But if it is, then you likely have misaligned tires.
Vibrating Steering Wheel
Whenever your steering wheel starts to vibrate, your tires are actually pulling in different directions as you drive. The vibrating can get worse the faster you go and continuing to drive can severely reduce the life of your tire and damage your suspension. Though there are a handful of reasons for this, the most common one is misaligned tires. Make sure to bring your car to our shop so we can properly assess what is wrong with your vehicle.