Poor wheel alignment does more than result in poor gas mileage. It can also lead to a myriad of safety issues for the driver, passenger, and other vehicles on the road. For this reason, it's important to have your alignment checked and adjusted regularly.

1. Poor Control

Alignment problems can cause a vehicle to shake, shimmy, and drift in either direction depending on the type and extent of alignment troubles. At lower speeds this may just be an inconvenient annoyance, but at higher speeds the car can become increasingly difficult to control. Cars with alignment issues have a higher chance of being in an accident, especially if they pull when you must hit the brakes hard in the event of an emergency.

2. Pulled Steering

One of the most obvious signs of poor wheel alignment is that the vehicle begins to pull to one side. You must grip the steering wheel tightly in order to maintain control of the car. If you relax your grip and attention for even a moment, the vehicle may begin to pull into neighboring lanes where an accident may then occur. A properly aligned car won't pull or drift as easily, which makes it much safer to drive. 

3. Blowout Risks

Poor alignment causes the tires to wear unevenly. Most often, the outside or inside edge of the tire will take on more wear compared to the center. Tread tends to be thinner on the edges of a tire, so this additional wear will occur relatively quickly. The result is a thinner, uneven section of the tire that can be more prone to blowing out. A blown tire isn't just an inconvenience, it can result in loss of vehicular control and an accident — especially when you are traveling at highway speeds. 

4. Suspension Damages

The vibration and pulling from misaligned wheels can put undue stress on your entire suspension system. This can lead to premature wear and tear, which can then result in the need for expensive repairs. Even more alarming is that the stress from the misaligned wheels can cause one of the strut mounts in your suspension system to fail. When the mount fails, the struts move freely and can cause damage to the steering components, thus resulting in a lack of vehicle control and the possibility of a major accident. 

Contact an auto shop to schedule a wheel alignment if you suspect that there may be issues with your car.

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