Wheel alignment: when you need it and what gets adjusted
Updated 26 October 20266 min read
A wheel alignment brings the angles of your wheels back to the values set by the car's manufacturer. You need one when the car pulls to one side, when the steering wheel is off-centre on a straight road, when tyres wear on one edge, after suspension or steering work, and after a hard knock against a kerb or a pothole.
Below: what is measured, in plain words, the signs to look for, when it's worth checking, what to ask for at the end and which problems an alignment won't fix.
Contents
What wheel alignment is#
Wheels don't sit perfectly straight and perfectly upright: the manufacturer gives them small angles, worked out so the car runs straight, steers precisely and wears its tyres evenly. Over time, potholes, kerbs and worn suspension parts change them.
At the garage, the car goes onto an alignment rig. Sensors, or targets read by cameras, are fitted to the wheels, and the machine compares the measured angles with the manufacturer's values for your model. The mechanic then adjusts what can be adjusted until the readings are within tolerance.
What is measured and what is adjusted#
| Angle | What it means, briefly | What you notice when it's wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Toe | How far the wheels point inwards or outwards, seen from above | Tyres worn on the edges, the car wanders off line |
| Camber | How far the wheel leans inwards or outwards, seen from the front | Wear on only the inner or outer part of the tyre |
| Caster | The tilt of the axis the wheel steers around, seen from the side | The steering is slow to return to centre, the car is less stable in a straight line |
| Steering wheel position | The steering wheel is straight when the wheels point straight | The steering wheel sits crooked while the car goes straight |
On many cars, the routine adjustment is toe. The other angles depend heavily on the suspension parts: if they're out of tolerance, the cause is usually a worn or bent part that gets replaced, not adjusted. All four wheels are measured, even on cars where only the front can be adjusted.
Signs you need an alignment#
- The car pulls to one side on a straight road when you hold the wheel lightly.
- The steering wheel is off-centre when you drive straight.
- The tyres wear unevenly: more on the inner or outer edge, or in steps.
- The tyres squeal in slow corners for no obvious reason.
- The steering feels vague, or the wheel no longer returns to centre on its own after a turn.
Before an alignment, check the tyre pressures: one tyre softer than the other can also make the car pull.
When to have an alignment#
| Situation | Why |
|---|---|
| After suspension or steering work (arms, ball joints, track rod ends, tie rods) | New parts change the angles; without adjustment, tyres can wear quickly |
| When fitting new tyres | So the new set wears evenly from the start |
| After a hard knock against a kerb or pothole | A bent part can upset the alignment without being visible |
| When one of the signs above appears | It's the surest hint that the angles are no longer right |
| At the checks in the service book | Some manufacturers list an alignment check there |
An alignment on a suspension with worn parts won't hold. If the mechanic finds play in the ball joints, bushes or track rod ends, those parts are replaced first and only then is the alignment set.
What to ask the garage for#
- Ask for the printout with the before and after values, with the manufacturer's tolerances. It shows what was out of limits and what was corrected.
- Ask whether they found worn parts in the suspension or steering, and what they recommend.
- Mention it if the car has lane-keeping assistance or other camera-based systems: on some models these need recalibrating after an alignment.
- Take a test drive afterwards: steering wheel straight, no pulling.
Find a garage for wheel alignment in your city.
What an alignment won't fix#
- Steering wheel vibration at speed usually comes from unbalanced wheels, not alignment. Balancing is a separate job, done at a tyre shop.
- A sticking brake can pull the car to one side. That's found at the brakes, not on the alignment rig.
- A tyre with a manufacturing fault can pull the car even with perfect alignment. A simple test: swap the front wheels over and see whether the pull changes side.
- Knocks over bumps are a suspension matter; see signs of worn suspension.
Tyre wear and the legal tread limit are covered in our winter tyres guide.
How CariX helps#
In the free driver account you add your car, and the work done by garages on CariX stays linked to it.
- Search by service and city: find garages that do alignments, with opening hours, services with price ranges and reviews from customers who had a job finished there.
- "Is the price fair?" shows an indicative range for an alignment in your city, based on the prices businesses show in CariX; the real price depends on the car and what needs adjusting.
- The car passport keeps the work recorded by garages, including an alignment done after a suspension repair.
- Active warranties: if the garage records a warranty on the job, you see it on the car and get an email reminder 30 days before it ends (for a warranty in months).
Add your car: the jobs and warranties garages record in CariX stay in its history.
See the other wheel and tyre services too, from tyre fitting to tyre storage.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an alignment at every seasonal tyre change?
Not necessarily. If the car doesn't pull, the steering wheel is straight and the tyres wear evenly, ask the tyre shop whether it's needed. With new tyres or after a knock, a check is worth it.
Why does the car still pull to one side after an alignment?
The cause may be something else: different tyre pressures, a faulty tyre, a sticking brake or a worn suspension part. Tell the mechanic exactly when it happens: accelerating, braking or all the time.
Is a 3D alignment better than a conventional one?
Both measure the same angles. What matters more is that the machine is calibrated, has the right values for your model, and that the mechanic gives you the before and after printout.
Are the rear wheels aligned too?
All four are measured. Whether the rear can be adjusted depends on how the suspension is built; on some cars it can't, and a wrong reading there points to a bent or worn part.