What Happens When You Drive on Bad Alignment?

June 30, 2023

Wheel alignment is the process of ensuring a vehicle's tires are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. You should get your wheels aligned if you feel your car pulling off to one side when driving. Driving a car with bad wheel alignment can affect your car negatively, including in the following ways:

Uneven Tire Wear

One of the most common effects of driving a car with bad wheel alignment is uneven wire tear. The tires at a particular angle will experience more wear and tear than the tires at another angle.

Nothing is more frustrating to car owners than replacing a tire because of a single bald spot. Some tires will have the inner or outer treads wear out more than vice-versa.

Improper tread wire means less grip on the road. Therefore, align your car's wheels for even tire wear.

Steering Issues

Wheel misalignment will cause the car to pull off to one side, which can cause significant steering problems, especially in terrible weather conditions.

You will struggle to keep your car in one line, particularly when driving on long, straight roads. Maneuvering the vehicle will also be quite difficult with misaligned wheels.

You could lose control of the car because you hit a pothole or speed bump. Properly aligned wheels ensure no steering problems and increased safety while driving.

Suspension Problems

A vehicle's suspension system determines how smooth the ride is. Driving misaligned wheels will cause suspension issues to your vehicle over time.

An alignment problem adds more stress to the car's suspension. One side of the suspension wears out more than the other side, leading to expensive suspension problems.

If you need a wheel alignment, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Toole's Garage today!

April 28, 2025
When it comes to wheel safety, lug nuts don’t always get the attention they deserve. These critical fasteners are what keep your wheels securely attached to your car, and they need to be tightened to a very specific level of force—known as torque. Get it wrong, and you're risking more than just a loose wheel.
April 15, 2025
Toole’s Garage is proud to announce opening of our Jackson, CA location - a family owned and operated full service auto repair shop that serves Jackson-Martell-Sutter Creek area.
April 13, 2025
It’s difficult to drive anywhere in the Bay Area and not see a lot of Subaru vehicles. Whether it’s the Subaru Crosstrek, WRX, Outback, Forester, or Ascend, Subaru vehicles are everywhere. At Toole’s Garage we are big Subaru fans. Subaru vehicles are built for the great outdoors, and of course California provides plenty of opportunity for on-road and off-road adventures. All wheel drive (AWD) comes standard on many Subaru models, and can provide consistent traction whether you are on a muddy road, or skiing in the Sierras. If a roof rack did not come standard with your model, it’s easy to add. And of course, interior space is pretty generous, especially if you drive an Outback or Ascent – you can stow plenty of camping and hiking gear. At Toole’s Garage we can provide your Subaru with the maintenance it needs to provide you with a reliable ride – wherever your adventures take you. We highly recommend regular oil change – it not only improves performance and extends engine life, but it also allows us to inspect various sub-systems of your Subaru to catch any impending problems (for example, older Subaru models were prone to oil leaks). And if a long summer trip is in the cards, we definitely suggest bringing it in for a checkup. Being a full service auto repair shop, Toole’s Garage can provide your Subaru with routine maintenance services, diagnostics, as well as major repairs. If your Subaru needs new brake pads, has the check engine light “on”, suffers from transmission problems, or needs major engine repairs – we can make your vehicle healthy again. Whether you have owned your Subaru for a long time, or have recently acquired one, bring it to our San Carlos auto repair shop – we will keep your vehicle in peak condition. Call us to make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online, on our website.
More Posts