A lot of the work we do at Pugbitz seems fairly simple. If your car’s been scratched or dented then bring it into our body shop and we’ll have it looking as good as new again. If you need an MOT or a service then we’ll do it for you when it’s convenient and for the usual fantastic Pugbitz price. In fact, we’re so committed to making our customers happy that we’ll perform a free MOT for everyone who comes to us for a service.
The truth of the matter, though, is that we’re experts. Every member of our team knows the way your car works inside out and back to front. That’s why we know the importance of dealing with issues like wheel tracking. You might have heard of wheel tracking without knowing exactly what it is. It might have been mentioned by a mechanic sucking on their teeth and bumping up the estimate. Here at Pugbitz we do things differently. We’d like to explain what wheel tracking is, why it matters and how you should have yours checked after even the smallest bump.
The main problem caused by your wheel tracking being out is that the tyres will wear unevenly and more quickly. Tracking is related to the suspension of your car, and it refers to the angle which your wheels and tyres sit at. This angle can be altered gradually over time, by simple wear and tear, or more abruptly by even a relatively small impact. This can include incidents such as going through a pothole or hitting the kerb as well as being involved in a collision.
There are several signs that the wheel tracking on your car might need checking, and the following are amongst the most common:
- The tread on your tyres wears in an uneven and unusual manner
- The steering wheel is tricky to return to position after a turn
- The car drifts to one side when driving along in a straight line
- The steering wheel vibrates when being used
- The tyres make a squealing noise
None of these might seem like a major issue in their own right, but leaving the wheel tracking on your car without getting it checked can have a long-term negative impact. If your tyres are wearing unevenly then it can cause several problems. The most minor of these is that the wheels won’t meet the road properly, and the higher resistance will lead to more fuel consumption. It’s also obvious that tyres which wear more quickly will have to be replaced sooner, leading to cost and inconvenience. Perhaps of even more importance than either of these issues, however, is that of safety. Poor wheel tracking, which causes particular parts of a tyre to wear more quickly, could lead to blowouts, and even if the impact is not that dramatic, worn tyres will impact negatively on car handling in general. All driving, but particularly in wet or difficult conditions, will be less safe if your wheel tracking is off, and at Pugbitz we put the safety of our customers at the top of our priorities.
The good news is that if you pay a visit to our Denton depot we’ll check and adjust your wheel tracking in next to no time. Even if you haven’t noticed any of the symptoms listed above it’s worth checking after a minor bump or collision, just to be on the safe side. We’ll check your tyres and make the adjustments needed to ensure that they meet the road exactly as the manufacturer intended. The results will be a longer tyre life, lower fuel consumption and better handling and safety, and you’ll get back the money you spend many times over.