How to Identify Car Tyre Tracking Issues

By David Sholicar

Identifying car tyre tracking issues is essential for maintaining optimal vehicle performance and ensuring safety on the road. Tyre tracking, also known as wheel alignment, involves adjusting the angles of the tyres to meet the manufacturer's specifications. Misalignment can lead to uneven tyre wear, poor handling, and decreased fuel efficiency. Recognising the signs of tracking problems early can prevent more serious issues and costly repairs.

Car Tyre Tracking Issues

Tracking issues

If you find your tyres seem to be wearing quicker than usual, this may be a sign of a problem with your car's wheel alignment, also known as 'tracking'. Incorrect alignment could also mean that you experience crooked/unstable steering, pulling from the steering wheel, or a steering wheel that is not level when driving. Your steering wheel may also stay at an angle even when driving in a straight line and your tyres may squeal occasionally.

There are many factors that may cause wheel misalignment, including worn suspension springs, incorrect adjustments and general wear and tear. Wheel misalignment is also quite common after accidents or even after hitting a pothole or bumping a curb.

Get a Free Alignment Check with Protyre

Protyre offer a number of free checks to keep your vehicle safe and on the road. Click the button below to book an alignment check.

Free Alignment Check

Getting your vehicle's wheels aligned regularly - every 10,000 miles or two years - is recommended and provides the following benefits:

  • Enhanced vehicle handling.

  • Increased fuel efficiency.

  • Reduced repair costs.

  • Slower tyre wear.

  • Improved vehicle safety.

Front wheel alignment costs an average of just under £35, depending on the make and model of the car. Remember that it is usually more expensive at a registered dealership than one of our trusted local Protyre garages.

Protyre Garage Services

Wheel alignment is just one of many Garage Services available at Protyre. Click on the button below to book now.

Book Wheel Alignment

If you are thinking to yourself "When should my car be serviced?", you will be interested to know that recommended car servicing intervals vary by make and model of the car; however, as a rule, it is recommended that your car should undergo a full service every 12 months or 12,000 miles - whichever occurs first.

Is your service due? Take advantage of Protyre Autocare's Gold, Silver or Bronze service packages!

What happens if your car fails its MOT?

If your car fails its MOT, the garage will issue you with a VT30 certificate outlining the factors that caused the failure of the test. There is no time limit as to when a retest must be carried out. This is entirely up to the discretion of the individual; however, it is crucial to remember that any vehicle that does not have a current MOT certificate cannot be used on the road, apart from when going for repairs or to a pre-arranged MOT test. 
You can get free MOT retests at your local Protyre garage if your car failed its MOT first time.

Is your MOT due soon? Click the button below to book now and prevent a last minute panic!

Book MOT

Choosing the Right Tyre Made Easy

When it comes to your car's safety and performance, tyres can play a huge role. That's why we've put together a collection of helpful articles to guide you through the process of selecting the perfect tyres for your ride and maintaining your vehicle in general.

If you're looking for a smoother, more luxurious driving experience, premium car tyres might be the way to go. Or, if you want added security against flats, run flat car tyres could be your best bet. Trying to decide between summer car tyres and winter car tyres? We've got you covered there, too.

We also dive into the world of tyre brands, comparing top manufacturers like BF Goodrich tyres, Bridgestone tyres, Continental tyres, Dunlop tyres, Falken tyres, General tyres, Goodyear tyres, GT Radial tyres , Hankook tyres, Michelin tyres, Pirelli tyres, Runway tyres, Sumitomo tyres, and Toyo tyres.

But we don't just stop at helping you choose the right tyres – we also share tips on how to keep them in tip-top shape. From checking your tread depth and keeping your tyres properly inflated to extending their life through regular rotation and balancing, our articles have got you covered.

So, whether you're a car enthusiast or just looking to keep your vehicle safe and reliable, our car help and advice articles are here to help you make informed decisions about your tyres. Check them out and feel confident in your tyre choices!

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About the author

Article Author Photo
By David Sholicar
David is the National Retail Operations Manager for Protyre. One of David’s areas of responsibility and expertise is dealing with the DVSA and MOT’s for Protyre. As the Authorised Examiner Designate Manager ( AEDM ) David deals with applications for changes to the many Vehicle Testing Stations ( VTS’s) including managing the growth of the Number of MOT testing stations that Protyre operate, allocating MOT tester roles, and monitoring the MOT Test logs to ensure that Protyre MOT standards are maintained as the best in the industry.
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