Signs your car needs wheel alignment and balancing

Even minor impacts like mounting the curb, knocking a bollard or driving over potholes and road debris can knock your wheels out of alignment. This stops your car from driving in a straight line, making you more likely to cross into another lane and cause a traffic collision.

Next time you're driving your car, check for these signs your car needs wheel alignment and balancing before the problem gets out of hand.

Signs your wheels are out of alignment

Your steering wheel emblem is off-centre

When you're driving straight (preferably at low speed), take a quick look at the manufacturer emblem in the centre of your steering wheel. If the emblem is off-centre, it means that you're constantly steering to the left or right to compensate for poor wheel alignment.

Your vehicle pulls to one side

For your safety, only perform this check while driving slowly on a wide road with little-to-no traffic. As you drive forward, take your hands off the steering wheel. If your car moves to the side by itself, your wheels are probably misaligned.

Your steering feels loose

Loose steering means that your car turns too far when you take a turn. This unexpected movement is a huge safety risk, as it makes it very difficult for you and others to anticipate your road positioning.

Your steering wheel vibrates

A vibrating steering wheel is always a sign that there's a serious problem with your car. One of these problems might be unbalanced tyres, which suggests that your wheels need to be realigned.

Your tyres are unevenly worn

When you properly maintain your tyres, wear will occur right down the centres. But excessive wear on the inner or outer areas is a sign of poor tyre alignment. In this case, it's also recommended to arrange tyre repair and replacement.

Your tyres make a squealing sound

Misaligned wheels can cause a high-pitched squealing sound whenever you accelerate or turn. However, this might also be a sign of worn brake pads. Make sure you book an appointment with a wheel alignment and brake check specialist to find and fix the real cause of squealing tyres.

Why you should fix wheel alignment and balancing problems quickly

Once you notice a problem with your wheels or tyres, it can be tempting to put it at the back of your mind. But the longer you ignore them, the worse they get.

Fixing wheel alignment and balancing problems right away means you can:

• Keep repair and replacement costs low.
• Save money by improving fuel efficiency.
• Extend the life of your tyres, steering column and suspension.
• Stay safe with responsive handling and control.
• Ensure your tyre warranty remains valid.

At Ablefit, we offer cheap wheel and tyre alignment and balancing with no booking required from three locations across Bristol: Longwell Green, Brislington and Muller Road. Our expert mechanics use laser alignment technology to diagnose and fix wheel alignment issues in no time.

Keeping your car in great shape lets you and your passengers stay safe on the road. Call us today for a free wheel alignment estimate.