Why Does My Car Pull to One Side? Causes and Fixes
If you have to hold the steering wheel slightly to one side to keep the car straight, something is wrong. A car that pulls is tiring to drive, wears tyres unevenly and can be dangerous if the cause is a fault in the brakes or suspension. The good news is that the cause is often simple, such as uneven tyre pressure.
Short version: check the tyre pressures first. If they are even, the next suspects are wheel alignment, uneven tyre wear or a faulty tyre, then brakes, suspension and steering parts.
First, rule out the road
Most roads slope slightly towards the edge so that rain runs off. This can make a car drift gently toward the kerb. To check, find a flat, quiet road or car park and see whether the pull is still there. Do this safely, with no traffic around, and keep both hands ready on the wheel.
Common causes
1. Uneven tyre pressure
If one front tyre is softer than the other, the car pulls toward the soft side. This is the easiest cause to check and fix. Measure all four tyres when they are cold and set them to the placard values. See correct tyre pressure in hot weather.
2. Wheel alignment
If the angles of the wheels are out, the car will drift, and the steering wheel may sit off-centre. Potholes, kerbs and worn suspension parts are the usual causes. Alignment also causes wear on one edge of the tyre. See tyre rotation, balancing and wheel alignment.
3. Uneven tyre wear or a faulty tyre
Tyres worn differently side to side can make the car pull. Occasionally a tyre has an internal fault that makes it tug to one side even when it is correctly inflated. Measure the tread depth across each tyre. See how to measure tyre tread depth.
4. A sticking brake
If the pull happens mainly when you brake, or if the car pulls constantly and one wheel is much hotter than the others after a drive, a brake caliper may be sticking. You may also smell something burning. Do not ignore this, because it can damage the brake and become a safety problem.
5. Worn suspension or steering parts
Worn bushes, ball joints, tie rods or a broken spring can all make a car wander or pull. You may notice clunks over bumps, loose steering or uneven tyre wear.
6. A wheel bearing problem
A worn bearing can cause a pull along with a humming or growling noise that changes with speed.
A simple tyre test
If the pressures are right and the pull remains, a workshop can swap the two front tyres from side to side. If the pull changes direction, the tyre is the problem. If the pull stays the same, the cause is more likely alignment, brakes or suspension.
How to tell what you have
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pulls steadily, steering wheel off-centre | Alignment |
| Pulls only when braking | Brake problem |
| Started after hitting a pothole or kerb | Alignment or damaged suspension |
| Pull changes after tyre pressures are corrected | Uneven pressure |
| Clunks, loose steering or humming noise | Suspension, steering or bearing wear |
What to do
- Check and correct all four tyre pressures.
- Inspect the tyres for uneven wear, bulges and damage. See signs you need new tyres.
- Have the alignment checked.
- If the pull comes with braking problems, noises or looseness, have the brakes and suspension inspected right away.
Do not keep driving a car that pulls hard, vibrates badly or has a hot, smelly wheel. Get it checked by a mechanic.