Wheel alignment is an often-overlooked aspect of vehicle maintenance. It is very important, however, as even a small misalignment can cause uneven tire wear and unsafe driving. All drivers should have an alignment done every 6,000 miles and know some of the most common red flags that your alignment is off, so you can take it in for automotive repairs.

An Automotive Repair Guide to the Signs of Poor Alignment

1. Pulling to the Side

When you let go of your steering wheel, the vehicle should stay on a straight path. If it starts pulling off to the left or the right, then the alignment is off. The more dramatically it pulls to the side, the more serious the alignment issue.

2. Crooked Steering Wheel

Your steering wheel should be straight up and down when the vehicle is moving directly forward. If it has a logo in the center of it, it should not be crooked when driving in a straight line. When it’s at an angle, it means you are pulling the car off to one side or the other to get it to move straight.

3. Uneven Tread Wear

The alignment of the wheels controls the way your tires sit on the pavement. When it’s off, all the weight of the vehicle will be distributed on one side of the tread rather than evenly distributed across all of it. As a result, the improper alignment will cause your tread to wear unevenly.

The type of wear will tell you what the alignment issue is. For example, feathering occurs when the tread is smooth on one side and sharper on the other. This indicates bad toe alignment, or how the wheel is aligned when looking down from above. Camber wear occurs when the inside or outside is more worn than the center, which means the wheel is angled when looked at from behind or in front of the car.

If you notice any of the signs above, take your car in for automotive repairs as soon as possible. A mechanic can realign your wheels for proper traction on the road. Jerry Ernst Auto Body is the premier auto body repair team for Cincinnati, OH. This locally owned and operated company has more than 30 years of experience and is accredited with the Better Business Bureau for their collision repair work. Contact them online or at (513) 871-7200 to request a written estimate.