It is important to determine whether your car rental needs the wheels aligned or balanced to ensure the safe and efficient performance of the car. The six signs are as follows; There is ripping-off of the tyre treads, dragging the car towards one side while driving, shaking of the steering wheel, the steering wheel, being off-centre, the tyres making a squealing sound and lastly, the car becomes very hard to handle when cornering. Such signs should be fixed on time.
Uneven Tire Wear
This must be one of the most conspicuous indicators that your rental car needs wheel alignment or balancing depending on the extent of the wear of the tyres. Check the tread on the tyres, if there is a lot of difference it is a clear indication of alignment or balancing.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side
If you are driving on the road and observe that the rental car has a tendency, to veer to one side of the road than the other even when the steering wheel is not being touched, it could be an indication that the wheels are out of alignment.
Steering Wheel Vibration:
Shaking or vibrating that is detected via the steering wheel, particularly at high speeds, may be an early sign of wheel imbalance. This may be due to uneven distribution of weight or misalignment and needs urgent attention to avoid adding to the already existing problem.
Crooked Steering Wheel
If the car’s steering wheel is not pointing straight as it should while driving, then, it requires alignment. At the same time, the presence of various problems with the car’s alignment, even if it looks like moving straight, and the steering wheel is slightly crooked is proof that something ought to be fixed as soon as possible.
Squealing Tires
Any sounds, which include high-pitched and screaming sounds, especially during cornering or any quick action, are often a sign of unbalanced tyres. This noise stems from vibration that arises from the tyre being unable to make adequate contact with the ground surface because of a problem with the wheel balance.
Poor Handling
Finally, if you are aware that the rental car shows some signs of poor handling including drifting or poorly controlling, then this is a sign of misalignment or imbalance. If not addressed on time, the situation affects safety and the level of comfort while driving.
Bottom Line
The importance of periodically taking your rental car for wheel alignment and balancing cannot be overemphasized as this will go a long way in enhancing the safety of the car and ensuring that it is performing optimally. By paying attention to these signs, any complication will be made known and rectified in good time.
