A pothole or kerb strike can knock your wheel alignment out of spec, causing rapid and uneven tyre wear. Find out what alignment checks involve and when to book one.
Wheel alignment — sometimes called tracking — refers to the precise angle and direction at which each tyre contacts the road. Even a small misalignment, often caused by hitting a single pothole or kerb, can cause rapid tyre wear and noticeably degraded handling.
1What Misalignment Does to Tyres
When wheels are misaligned, the tyre is effectively being dragged sideways as it rolls forward, rather than rolling cleanly in its intended direction. This lateral scrub generates rapid, concentrated wear on one edge of the tread — a vehicle can wear through a new set of tyres in as little as 10,000 miles on a severe misalignment.
2Symptoms of Poor Alignment
The most obvious symptom is a vehicle that drifts to one side when you release the steering wheel on a straight, level road. Other signs include a steering wheel that sits off-centre at straight-ahead, uneven wear on one edge of the tyres, and a general feeling of imprecision at motorway speeds.
3When to Check Alignment
An alignment check should be part of every new tyre fitting and whenever you hit a significant pothole, kerb or road debris. Annual checks are also recommended even without a specific incident — suspension wear over time can cause alignment angles to drift gradually from specification.
4Four-Wheel vs Two-Wheel Alignment
Two-wheel alignment checks only the front axle, which was the standard for many years. Four-wheel alignment checks all four wheels simultaneously and is more thorough, particularly for vehicles with independent rear suspension. Most modern cars benefit from four-wheel alignment for accuracy.
Bradford Mobile Tyres recommends an alignment check with every new tyre fitting. We can identify wear patterns caused by misalignment and advise on corrective action before fitting replacement tyres.
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