Britain's cars are out of line

More than four million drivers would be pulled off the road if their car had its own way. Our latest study found that one in eight motorists (12%) said the steering on their car pulls to one side or the other. Almost one million who are experiencing the problem say their steering pulls significantly.

Wayward steering is more prevalent amongst younger car owners, with a quarter (25%) of those under 34 saying that their car pulled to one side when driving on a straight road. This contrasts dramatically with older drivers - only 2% of drivers over 55 say they experience this problem.

There are a number of possible reasons why cars pull to one side and it appears that more experienced drivers know how to spot the danger signs. It could be as simple as a difference in pressures between the left and right tyres, or that they are mismatched and the tyres have worn at different rates. If that is not the case, it may be a wheel alignment issue, with the car’s wheels not running at the angles set out in the manufacturer’s specifications.

This can be the result of gradual wear, but also be caused by an impact. Unsurprisingly, 40% of drivers said that they had hit a pothole in the last year, and many wheel alignment problems stem from the conditions of the nation’s roads. Depending on the severity of the impact, hitting a pothole can lead to tyre damage, balancing weights falling off rims, a loss of tyre pressure or even damage to suspension components.

At Kwik Fit we offer Hunter Wheel Alignment technology at many of our UK centres. Hunter uses laser positioning to accurately set up your wheel alignment to the manufacturer’s original recommendation.

It may seem obvious, but tyres are the only thing that connects a car to the road, so it’s vital that they are set up properly. The fact that four million drivers are struggling with their steering on a daily basis is not only a safety issue but increases tyre wear and fuel consumption. If your vehicle pulls to one side, why not pop in to your nearest Kwik Fit centre and have your alignment and suspension checked for free.