Guide to Alignment

We make it our business to know everything there is to know about tyres, and we can advise you on every aspect of tyre safety, specification and suitability. We stock a wide range of tyres to suit all budgets, and can supply and fit them for you whether you need replacement tyres in locally.

Here, we’ve teamed up with the experts at Michelin to bring you a guide to alignment.

How can I tell if my wheels are misaligned?
If you notice abnormal wear on your tyres, it’s often an indication of a mechanical anomaly with the vehicle, such as incorrect alignment, or problems with the steering or suspension mechanism. Vehicle suspension misalignment can result in rapid, irregular tyre wear, which can lead to expensive problems, and can affect the handling and safety of your vehicle. If you notice any irregular wear on your tyres, you should have it checked by a professional as soon as possible. Our experts can check the alignment or tracking of your vehicle, and identify and correct any problems.

Michelin always advise you to have the mechanical parts of your vehicle checked and rectified by a professional, such as one of our experts.

What happens if my wheels are misaligned?
If your suspension is misaligned by just 4mm (2mm per wheel), then for every mile you travel the tyre is being forced sideways by the equivalent of 8.4 metres (28 feet) on a car with 15’’ wheels, causing excessive shoulder wear on your tyres. By ensuring that your wheels are correctly aligned, you can add thousands of miles to the life of your tyres, and also increase your fuel efficiency by reducing roll resistance.

If you notice any irregular wear on your tyres, or would like advice on anything related to tyres, you can get in touch with one of our experts at by calling the telephone number displayed at the top of this page.

article provided by Michelin