Does your car need a wheel alignment?
If you feel your car pulling to the left or right, it’s an obvious sign your vehicle might need a wheel alignment – but there are other clues.
RAA Car Advice consultant John Reissenweber says uneven tyre wear could indicate a wheel alignment problem.
“When you have your car serviced, your technician should report any unusual tyre wear and provide recommendations,” John says.
“If the tyres are wearing unevenly – maybe wearing more on an outer or an inner edge – this is indicative of an alignment issue.”
During the wheel alignment, the tyres can be rotated to even out the wear – if they’re not already too worn. This is also a good time to balance the wheels to prevent vibrations through the car, which typically occur at about 85-110 km/h.
If each individual tyre is wearing evenly, but the front tyres are more worn than the rear, the technician will likely recommend swapping the front and rear tyres to even out the wear. This is particularly important on all-wheel-drive vehicles to avoid mechanical damage.
“The amount of wheel alignment adjustment available varies between vehicle makes and models,” John says.
“A lot of cars only have front-toe adjustment, which means the wheels pointing into each other, known as toe-in, or away from each other, known as toe-out.
“Other cars will have front and rear-toe adjustment, as well as caster and camber adjustments.”
A wheel alignment check can identify any issues with the front or rear of the vehicle, including damage to steering or suspension components.
“Periodically inspect the tyres between scheduled car services,” John says. “This includes checking for low pressure, unusual wear, and tyre damage, like cracks or objects embedded in the tyre.”
Make sure the tyre pressures are set to the manufacturer’s recommendations shown on the vehicle tyre placard or in the owner’s manual.”
RAA members can save on new tyres from Bob Jane T-marts.
Do you need car advice?
RAA members can call our free Car Advice service.
Or call 8202 4689