Published
Car pulling to one side? When to have the alignment checked
When a car pulls to one side on a straight road, the reason is often simple: one tyre has lower pressure than the others. If the pressures are fine, the cause may be the tyres, the wheel angles (in other words the alignment) or the brakes. It is worth finding out before the tyres have time to wear unevenly.
Check the pressures and the road first
Measure the pressure in all the tyres while they are cold and compare it with the values in the owner's manual. Even one tyre with clearly lower pressure than the others can make the car drift to one side.
Then try driving on a level, straight road. Roads are often sloped towards the edge so that water runs off, and the slope can make the car drift slightly to the right. If the car pulls on a level road as well, the cause is in the car.
Other common causes
- Tyres. The tyres on the same axle are in different condition, or a tyre has worn unevenly. If the pull changes direction when you swap the front wheels from side to side, the cause is probably a tyre.
- Wheel angles. Hitting a kerb or a deep pothole can change the alignment, and so can worn or replaced suspension parts. Typical signs are a steering wheel that is off-centre on a straight road and rapid wear on the inner or outer edge of a tyre.
- Brakes. If the car only pulls when you brake, the cause is more likely to be the brakes than the alignment. A sticking brake can also pull the car to one side. More on this in our article on brake noise and judder.
If your old tyres have worn on one edge only, find the cause before you buy new ones. Otherwise the new tyres will wear the same way.
Vibration or pull: balancing or alignment
These two are easily confused, but they fix different faults.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The steering wheel or the car vibrates at a certain speed | Wheel imbalance | Wheel balancing |
| The car pulls to one side, or the steering wheel is off-centre on a straight road | Wheel angles, tyres or pressures | Pressures first, then an alignment check |
| The car pulls only when braking | Brakes | Brake inspection and repair |
Balancing does not cure a pull to one side, and alignment does not get rid of vibration.
What you can book with us
Wheel alignment cannot be booked with us online. Call 010 508 9300 and we will tell you whether we can help.
Tyre work can be booked online. Wheel balancing costs €79, and it is the right job when the symptom is vibration. If a tyre keeps losing air, Tubeless / tyre repair costs €50–70. We repair brake faults on our own premises for all makes, based on a quote. Brake repairs cannot be booked online, so call us or send a message from our contact page.
Vibration or pull? Call and ask
Wheel balancing €79 can be booked online. Ask about wheel alignment by phone.