All of the components of your vehicle suffer from a great deal of wear due to the general stress of operating, since a combustion engine creates a massive amount of friction and heat. However, perhaps no other part of your car suffers from stress as much as the tires do: since they are constantly touching the road, they can suffer from a whole host of mechanical issues.
One of the most common issues that can affect your vehicle's tires is misalignment, which is when your tires do not all point in the same direction. This can have a significant negative effect on your vehicle, and so being able to identify misaligned tires can help you avoid performance issues with your car by allowing you to head to a mechanic straight away.
1. Vibrations in the Steering Wheel
One of the clearest indications that your tires may be misaligned is if you notice that your steering wheel shakes significantly while you are driving. This is caused by your wheels chronically pulling in different directions, and is a serious concern for two reasons. Firstly, this shaking can make it harder for you to control your vehicle on the road, since it will be harder to hold it in a straight line. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, is the fact that the constant shaking points to increased friction within your vehicle's suspension system, making other mechanical issues more likely to develop over time.
2. Pulling
Another fairly obvious indication that there is something wrong with your tires' alignment is if you find that your vehicle tends to drive slightly to the side. This can vary widely in terms of severity, and you may find yourself constantly fighting your vehicle to keep it in your lane or to prevent swerving while turning in extreme cases. This is a serious concern and can make it much more likely for you to experience a collision if you don't pay attention even for a short period of time, and so should be addressed as soon as possible.
3. Excessive and Concentrated Wear
Finally, keep an eye on the tread of your tires. Misalignment can cause a specific edge of your tires to wear away quicker than the rest of the tread: keep in mind that depending on the misalignment, this specific area does not have to be uniform across all of the tires. For instance, the left-hand side of your driver's side tires could be worn away, but the right-hand side could be worn on the passenger side.
For more information, contact a company like C & A MOBILE TIRE SHOP.