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Security & TechWhat Is Wheel Alignment and Why Does It Matter?
By Sun Garage, Owner, Sun Garage · 13 May 2026 · 5 min read
What wheel alignment actually means
Wheel alignment (sometimes called tracking) refers to the angles at which your wheels sit relative to each other and to the road. Manufacturers set precise specifications for these angles, and when a car leaves the factory, everything is set up correctly.
Over time, and especially after hitting a pothole, kerb, or speed bump, these angles can shift out of specification. The car will still drive, but not the way it was designed to.
The three angles that matter
Alignment is usually described using three measurements, each affecting handling and tyre wear in different ways.
Toe
This is whether the wheels point slightly inward or outward when viewed from above. Incorrect toe is the most common cause of rapid, uneven tyre wear and is usually what people mean by 'tracking'.
Camber
This is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front. Excessive camber wears one edge of the tyre much faster than the other.
Caster
This affects steering stability and how the steering wheel returns to centre after a turn. Caster problems are less common but can make a car feel vague or heavy to steer.
Signs your alignment is out
Poor alignment rarely announces itself dramatically, which is why it often goes unnoticed until tyres are already damaged. Watch for:
Common signs of incorrect wheel alignment:
- The car pulling to the left or right when driving on a flat, straight road
- The steering wheel sitting off-centre when driving straight ahead
- Uneven or rapid tyre wear, particularly on the inner or outer edges
- A vibration or vague feeling through the steering wheel
- Squealing or scrubbing tyre noise on corners
Any one of these is worth getting checked, particularly if you've recently hit a pothole or kerb.
What causes alignment to go out
The most frequent cause we see in West Bromwich is pothole damage, closely followed by kerbing a wheel while parking. Worn suspension bushes or track rod ends can also allow alignment to drift, and even a change in ride height from lowered or heavily loaded suspension can affect it.
New tyres are also a good moment to check alignment, since fitting fresh rubber onto misaligned wheels means the new tyres start wearing unevenly from day one.
Uneven tyre wear from poor alignment can shorten tyre life by thousands of miles and cause a tyre to fail its MOT years earlier than it should. It also affects how the car handles in an emergency stop or sudden swerve.
How wheel alignment is checked and corrected
We use alignment equipment that measures each wheel's angles precisely against the manufacturer's specification, rather than relying on guesswork or a straight edge. Any adjustable angles, usually toe and sometimes camber, are then corrected to bring the car back within tolerance.
If we find worn suspension components causing the misalignment, we'll flag this too, since adjusting the alignment alone won't fix a worn track rod end or bush.
Wheel alignment at Sun Garage in West Bromwich
We'd recommend a wheel alignment check at least once a year, after any new tyre fitting, and any time you notice pulling, uneven wear, or an off-centre steering wheel. It's a quick job that protects a much bigger investment in your tyres.
Call us on 0121 553 0296 or pop in and we'll check your alignment while you wait.
Tip: if you've recently hit a pothole hard enough to feel it through the steering wheel, get your alignment checked even if the car feels fine — damage isn't always immediately obvious.