Can Poor Wheel Tracking Affect Your MOT?

In the intricate world of automotive care, “wheel tracking” holds a crucial yet often misunderstood role. It goes beyond a routine adjustment; it’s an important process that ensures your vehicle’s wheels are perfectly aligned, leading to a safer and more efficient driving experience. This comprehensive guide delves into the specifics of wheel tracking, clarifies its relationship with wheel balancing, and critically examines its indirect, yet significant, impact on your vehicle’s MOT. Understanding these aspects isn’t just about maintenance; it’s about ensuring optimal performance, longevity for your vehicle’s components, and most importantly, your safety on the road.

What Exactly is Wheel Tracking? Demystifying the Terminology

First off, when we talk about wheel alignment, we’re referring to a rather thorough process. It’s all about adjusting your car’s wheels to the precise angles recommended by the manufacturer. Why bother, you ask? Well, it’s crucial for making sure your car drives straight, without veering off to one side. This isn’t just about a smoother ride; it also means less wear on your tyres, better handling, and ensuring your steering wheel isn’t off-centre when you’re cruising along a straight road.

Now, onto wheel tracking. Often, you’ll hear people use this term interchangeably with wheel alignment. However, there’s a slight nuance here. Wheel tracking, in some cases, specifically refers to making sure the wheels are perfectly parallel to each other and at the right angle to the ground. Think of it as a part of the whole wheel alignment process. It focuses on the ‘toe’ angle – whether the front of the wheels are pointing slightly inwards or outwards. This seemingly minor detail has a profound effect on how your car drives and how your tyres wear.

So, while the terms might be tossed around as if they’re the same, wheel alignment is the broader term that covers all aspects of adjusting your wheels, including wheel tracking, camber (the inward or outward tilt of the tyre), and caster (the angle of the steering axis). Getting your wheels properly aligned is essential – it’s not just about a smooth drive; it’s about safety and keeping your tyres in good nick for longer.

The Crucial Difference: Wheel Balancing vs. Wheel Tracking/Alignment

It’s common for motorists to confuse wheel tracking (or alignment) with wheel balancing, but they are distinct processes addressing different issues. Understanding the difference is key to diagnosing your car’s symptoms correctly and ensuring the right repair.

• Wheel Balancing: This is the process of equalising the weight of a tyre and wheel assembly to ensure smooth rotation. Even a slight imbalance – perhaps due to a heavy spot on the tyre or wheel, or the addition of a valve stem – can cause vibrations. When your wheels are not balanced correctly, it can cause vibrations in the steering wheel, floor, or seats, especially noticeable at certain speeds. This leads to an uncomfortable driving experience and can put unnecessary stress on your car’s suspension system and tyres, which can result in uneven tyre wear, increased fuel consumption, and reduced overall vehicle performance. Wheel balancing should be done every 5,000 – 6,000 miles or as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer, and always after a new tyre is fitted.
• Wheel Tracking/Alignment: As discussed, this involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. It addresses issues related to how the vehicle tracks down the road. Misalignment can lead to the car pulling to one side, uneven tyre wear (such as feathering or shoulder wear), and an off-centre steering wheel. It’s typically needed after hitting a significant pothole, curb, or after replacing steering or suspension components.

In essence, wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the tyres relative to the car and the road, while wheel balancing ensures that the weight of the wheel and tyre is evenly distributed around its axis of rotation.

Why Precision Matters: The Undeniable Importance of Correct Wheel Tracking

Proper wheel tracking and balancing play a significant role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of your vehicle. Neglecting these aspects can lead to a cascade of problems, impacting everything from your wallet to your well-being on the road.

• Enhanced Safety: Misaligned wheels can cause significant handling issues, including the car pulling strongly to one side, difficulty steering, and poor stability, particularly at higher speeds or during braking. This can be especially dangerous in emergency situations or adverse weather conditions, as it can lead to loss of control over your vehicle. Additionally, vibrations caused by imbalanced wheels can affect your ability to steer and react quickly while driving, reducing driver comfort and increasing fatigue.
• Optimised Tyre Lifespan: One of the most immediate and costly consequences of poor tracking is accelerated and uneven tyre wear. When wheels are misaligned, tyres ‘scrub’ against the road surface instead of rolling smoothly. This can lead to feathering, cupping, or excessive wear on one side of the tyre, drastically reducing its lifespan. Considering the cost of replacement tyres, proper alignment is a significant money-saver in the long run. Did you know that regularly checking your car wheel alignment can extend the life of your tyres by up to 12,000 miles?
• Improved Fuel Efficiency: When your wheels aren’t aligned correctly, there’s increased rolling resistance as the tyres fight against each other. This means your engine has to work harder to propel the vehicle forward, leading directly to higher fuel efficiency. Maintaining correct alignment ensures your vehicle operates at its peak efficiency, helping you save money at the pump.
• Superior Driving Comfort: A vehicle with properly aligned wheels simply feels better to drive. The steering will be precise, the ride smoother, and there will be no irritating vibrations or constant need to correct the steering. This makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable driving experience, especially on longer journeys.
• Reduced Component Wear: Correctly aligned wheels reduce the strain on your entire suspension and steering system. When wheels are out of alignment, components like ball joints, shock absorbers, struts, and bearings are subjected to unnecessary stress and premature wear. Regular alignment checks can significantly prolong the life of these expensive parts, preventing costly repairs down the line.

Telltale Signs: Is Your Car Crying Out for a Wheel Alignment?

Recognising the signs of misalignment is crucial for maintaining vehicle performance and safety. Don’t wait for your tyres to be completely worn out; be proactive! Here are the key indicators:

• Vehicle Pulling to One Side: If you notice your car consistently drifting or pulling to the left or right when you’re driving on a straight, flat road, this is a classic sign of misalignment. You’ll find yourself constantly having to steer to keep the car going straight.
• Uneven or Rapid Tyre Wear: This is perhaps the most common and visible symptom. Instead of wearing evenly across the tread, you might see excessive wear on the inner or outer edge of your tyres, or even a ‘feathering’ pattern where the tread blocks are worn more on one side than the other. Cupping or scalloping (where parts of the tread are worn down irregularly) can also indicate alignment issues, often combined with suspension problems.
• Off-Centre Steering Wheel: Even when driving perfectly straight on a level road, if your steering wheel isn’t centred and sits at an angle, it’s a strong indicator that your wheels are out of alignment.
• Vibrations in the Steering Wheel: While often a sign of unbalanced wheels, severe misalignment can also cause vibrations, particularly felt through the steering wheel. These vibrations can become more pronounced at certain speeds.
• Squealing Tyres: When tyres are not aligned properly, they might squeal excessively, especially during turns or even when driving straight, due to abnormal friction with the road surface. This indicates the tyres are not making optimal contact.
• Difficulty Steering or Looseness: If your car feels less responsive, or the steering feels loose and imprecise, making it harder to hold a straight line or handle corners effectively, this could be due to misalignment. Conversely, the steering might feel unusually stiff.
• Increased Fuel Consumption: As mentioned, misaligned wheels create more rolling resistance. If you notice your fuel economy has suddenly worsened without any obvious changes in your driving habits, poor alignment could be the hidden culprit.

Regular checks and adjustments can prevent these issues from escalating, ensuring a smoother, safer drive.

The Cost of Precision: What to Expect for Wheel Tracking Services

Investing in wheel tracking (wheel alignment) is cost-effective in the long run, considering the benefits of reduced tyre wear and improved fuel efficiency. Pricing can vary based on your vehicle type, the garage’s location, and the specific services required (e.g., 2-wheel vs. 4-wheel alignment, or additional camber/caster adjustments). Here’s a breakdown of typical costs, though these are illustrative and subject to change:

* Pricing accurate at the time of writing (December 2023). It’s always best to get a specific quote from your chosen garage.

Many reputable garages offer a free wheel alignment check, which uses advanced laser technology to measure your wheel angles precisely. This check can quickly determine if an adjustment is needed before you commit to any cost.

The MOT Connection: How Poor Wheel Tracking Can Indirectly Impact Your MOT

This is the question on many drivers’ minds: Is wheel tracking part of a car MOT? The direct answer is no, wheel tracking isn’t a specific item that’s tested as part of the standard MOT (Ministry of Transport) test, which is a legal requirement in the UK to ensure that vehicles meet road safety and environmental standards.

However, and this is a crucial distinction, the effects of poor wheel tracking can absolutely be flagged during an MOT and lead to a failure. The MOT test focuses on the roadworthiness and safety of your vehicle. While the alignment itself isn’t measured, the consequences of misalignment directly relate to several MOT testable items:

• Tyre Condition: This is the most common way poor tracking can lead to an MOT failure. If your wheels are misaligned, they will cause uneven and excessive wear on your tyres. The MOT test includes a thorough inspection of your tyres for tread depth (minimum 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread), condition (no bulges, cuts, or cord exposure), and overall integrity. If poor tracking has caused your tyres to wear below the legal limit or to develop dangerous defects, your car will fail its MOT.
• Steering Components: Prolonged misalignment puts undue stress on various steering and suspension components. This can lead to premature wear in parts like track rod ends, ball joints, suspension bushes, and even the steering rack itself. The MOT test includes checking for excessive play or wear in these components. If they are worn beyond tolerance due due to the constant strain from misaligned wheels, your vehicle will fail.
• Suspension System: Similarly, the constant struggle of misaligned wheels can negatively impact the suspension system. Worn shock absorbers, springs, or other suspension linkages can be a direct result of the added stress. These are all critical components checked during an MOT for condition and effectiveness.
• Braking Performance (Indirectly): While not a direct MOT failure for tracking, uneven tyre wear caused by misalignment can affect the tyre’s contact patch with the road. This can subtly impact braking efficiency and stability, especially during emergency stops, potentially affecting the brake test results or increasing stopping distances, though this is less common as a direct MOT failure from tracking alone.

Therefore, while the MOT tester won’t hook up your car to an alignment machine, they will certainly notice the symptoms and resulting damage caused by poor tracking. Addressing wheel alignment proactively is a smart strategy to ensure your vehicle is not only safe and economical to run but also passes its MOT with flying colours, avoiding inconvenient retests and costly last-minute repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Wheel Tracking

To further clarify common queries, here are some frequently asked questions regarding wheel tracking:

How often should I have my wheel tracking checked?

It’s generally recommended to have your wheel tracking checked annually or every 10,000-12,000 miles. However, you should also get it checked immediately if you hit a significant pothole or kerb, notice any of the signs of misalignment (like pulling or uneven tyre wear), or after replacing any steering or suspension components.

Can poor tracking damage other car parts?

Absolutely. Beyond causing premature and uneven tyre wear, poor tracking puts undue stress on your car’s steering and suspension components. This can lead to accelerated wear of parts like ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, and even wheel bearings, leading to more expensive repairs down the line.

What causes wheel misalignment?

The most common causes include hitting potholes, bumping into kerbs, minor accidents, or general wear and tear of suspension components over time. Even normal driving can gradually cause minor shifts in alignment.

Is 2-wheel or 4-wheel alignment necessary?

This depends on your vehicle. Most front-wheel-drive cars primarily require a 2-wheel (front) alignment, as only the front wheels’ angles are adjustable. However, if your vehicle has independent rear suspension or is four-wheel drive, a 4-wheel alignment is usually recommended as the rear wheels’ angles are also adjustable and contribute significantly to overall vehicle handling and tyre wear.

How long does a wheel alignment take?

A standard wheel alignment check typically takes about 15-30 minutes. If adjustments are needed, the actual alignment process usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity and how many adjustments are required. More complex cases, especially if seized bolts need freeing, can take longer.

Conclusion: Your Move Towards Better Driving

We cannot stress enough the importance of checking wheel alignment regularly as it should be an integral part of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Too many motorists neglect this step, which can lead to serious and expensive issues down the line. Properly aligned wheels can help keep long-term running costs down while ensuring the vehicle is safe to drive, offering significant benefits in terms of safety, tyre longevity, fuel efficiency, and peace of mind when it comes to your MOT.

If you’ve noticed any of the signs of misalignment, or if it’s been a while since your last check, it’s time to consider a wheel tracking service. Proactive maintenance is always cheaper and safer than reactive repairs. Don’t wait until uneven tyre wear or a steering issue becomes an MOT failure; take action today for a smoother, safer, and more economical driving experience.

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