I’ve previously written about the importance of checking your tyres and how to do it. I briefly mentioned wheel alignment, also known as tracking. However, I didn’t go into much depth about it. So, how do you know when you need to check your tyre alignment to see if it’s right?
Signs
The signs it’s time to get your alignment checked include:
- Steering wheel vibration
- Steering dragging or pulling to one side
- Uneven or unusual wear to your tyres
- Your steering wheel not being central when driving in a straight line
- Squealing noises at low speeds
Causes
So, what causes your tracking to be off?
You might have already guessed; those irritating potholes! Other than hitting potholes, it can also be caused by hitting kerbs or having a collision. If you’re aware of any of these occurring, then it would be a good time to check your wheel alignment.
Other than this, it’s a good idea to check if you have new tyres fitted or replace any suspension or steering parts. Alternatively, check it either once a year or every 12,000-15,000 miles, depending which comes first.
Problems
Making sure that your tracking is right is an important part of car maintenance. If your tyres aren’t aligned properly, it can affect how well they’re gripping the road and how your vehicle handles. It can increase the amount of fuel you’re using, so it’s not worth putting off as the money you’d save in tyres you’d likely burn off in petrol or diesel!
It can also cause your tyres to wear unevenly, in a variety of ways depending on where the misalignment problem lies.
What to do
You’ll need to take your car to a garage where they can sort out the tracking for you. There they can check for even the tiniest misalignment and rectify the problem. Once this is done, you will likely notice a much smoother ride!
Of course, you may need to replace your tyres too if they have worn badly due to the tracking being off.
Find tyres online in Essex from Jet Wheel Tyre.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Jet Wheel Tyre for which I have received compensation. As always, all views and opinions are honest and my own.
Oh my gosh I am SO useless at car maintenance….I’ve had some pretty grim experiences with tyre maintenance so thanks for the heads up and tips.
Thanks for sharing with #coolmumclub!
Our tyres and wheels are what truly keeps us travelling safely along the road so safety is crucial. Great post! Thank you for joining us for #ablogginggoodtime
Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…What you can do to help heal our world
There are so many potholes near our house at the moment, its crazy! I suspect I need to get my wheel alignment checked… #Coolmumclub
An interesting point of view! I have good experience in car maintenance and I recommend you to check the wheel alignment:
-every time you install new tires
-if you are going for a long trip (it may save you a decent amount of fuel)
-after the suspension repairs
Roman from Rims And Tires recently posted…What Is the Best Wheel Cleaner for Baked on Brake Dust