Four Big Signs that Your Car Needs a Wheel Alignment

When your car’s wheels are properly aligned, your car handles well and your tires don’t take more abuse than they should. HRS AutoCare has these other tips for you about when you might need a wheel alignment.

Your Car Is Pulling While You’re Driving

A common sign of alignment issues is that the car pulls to one side or to the other while you’re driving along. When the alignment is only slightly off, you might not notice much of a pull. But when your wheels are very badly out of alignment you might find that you’re fighting the steering wheel to keep the car going in the direction you want it to go. Lots of people like to test this by letting go of the steering wheel, but that’s a dangerous practice. If you suspect an issue, it’s better to have your car inspected.

You’re Noticing the Car Handles Differently

Because it’s your car, you’re most likely to start noticing issues when they crop up, including with your wheel alignment. You might notice that the steering feels looser or that the handling is uneven or that it just feels odd to you. These are not signs that you should ignore, because they’re actually valuable information that you can use.

Your Tire Treads Are Wearing Unevenly

Ideally, you’re checking your tire treads at least a couple of times a month. When you do, pay attention to whether the treads are wearing evenly or not. Badly aligned wheels affect how your tires hit the road, so your tire treads can be a visual indication that your car’s wheels are not properly aligned. This can also cause you to need new tires a lot sooner than you expected.

The Steering Wheel Isn’t Returning to Center

It sounds small, but if your steering wheel isn’t centered or doesn’t return to center after a turn, this is a problem with your alignment. When you’re driving in a straight line on a flat surface, your car’s steering wheel should be perfectly centered, with the vehicle’s logo upright and level. If that’s not what’s happening, your wheels are likely out of alignment. This is important because it could mean that you might hit something in the road when you think you’re steering around that obstacle.

Keeping you safe on the road is what we’re all about here at HRS AutoCare in Nicholasville, KY. If you’re noticing anything odd about how your car is handling or think there’s an issue with your wheel alignment, let us take a look for you.