Why Does My Car Pull to the Left? – Tyre-Related Causes of Uneven Steering

You’re alert, focused on the road, holding the steering wheel straight and basically doing everything right, and yet for some reason, your car pulls to the left? It might just be a slight drag, but regardless of the extent, it can feel like you’re out of control. Add to that, your car veering to one side of the road poses a safety risk, so you can’t ignore the problem.

There are a variety of reasons why your car might pull to one side, and a common culprit is tyres.

In this article we’ll look at why tyres might be causing your car to pull to one side, and what you can do about sorting the issue out.

Car Pulling To One Side – Common Tyre-Related Causes

Is your car pulling to one side? Tyres are one of the first places you should look. Let’s run through the tyre-related issues that might cause your vehicle to steer off-centre.

1. Uneven air pressure

Air pressure in your tyres should be consistent. In particular, tyres sharing the same axle should have matching pressure. If one tyre has more air than another, then vehicle balance, rolling resistance, and tyre alignment can be impacted. Inconsistent air pressure can cause:

Traction imbalance

How much air is in a tyre affects how much of the tyre’s surface grips onto the road. A tyre with low-pressure (an under-inflated tyre) will spread out more on the road than a well-pumped tyre will. So if there’s a difference between the air pressure in different tyres, you could experience uneven traction—one tyre grips the road better than the other. Your vehicle can feel off-centre and can drift to one side.

Increase in rolling resistance in one tyre

As we mentioned above, when a tyre is underinflated (has less air pressure), it becomes marginally flatter and softer. The tyre has more contact with the road, and the tyre’s rolling resistance increases, meaning it won’t roll as freely. You may be left in a situation where one underinflated tyre is ‘dragging’, whilst the other tyre on the axle, with the correct air pressure, is rolling efficiently. This can pull your vehicle toward the side with the lower pressure tyre. This often happens with a front tyre, however can occur with tyres of any position.

Steering and suspension impacts

Modern vehicles rely on even tyre pressure to maintain correct suspension geometry. If one tyre is underinflated, the suspension and steering on that tyre’s side might compress more under load, and subtly alter the vehicle’s alignment, making the car pull to one side.

To conclude on the topic of correct tyre inflation, if you notice your car pulling to one side, the very first thing you should do is check your tyre air pressure. It’s an easy step that can prevent uneven tyre wear and more serious alignment issues. Do it at least monthly, and more often if you’re experiencing vehicle pull.

For tips on checking air pressure, read How to get ideal tyre pressure for your car?

*Contact Jim’s Mobile Tyres for a tyre pressure check if you notice one tyre consistently loses inflation. We’ll check it for slow leaks and/or punctures.

2. Uneven Tyre Wear

Uneven tyre wear disrupts the balance and grip between your tyres, and causes your vehicle to pull to one side. Let’s look at how tyre wear can impact driving:

Different Tyre Diameters = Uneven Rolling

A tyre that’s more worn than another will have a smaller diameter than the other tyre(s). Whilst it might barely be noticeable, this difference means the tyre covers less distance per rotation than the tyre on the other side. What happens? Your less-worn tyre will rotate faster than the worn tyre, and hence, the vehicle will drag in the direction of the worn tyre.

Uneven Tread Between Tyres

Tread depth decreases when a tyre wears out. Tyres with less tread can easily lose traction on the road, especially in slippery/wet conditions.

If one tyre has less tread than the others, it’ll have less grip, and your car will drift towards the tyre with better grip. This will happen in particular when accelerating, braking, and on wet roads.

Unevenly Worn Tyres – Causes

Tyres obviously gradually wear when we drive on them, however certain things can accelerate wear, or create wear on particular parts of the tyre only. Worn tyre causes include:

Suspension or Steering Issues – Irregular tyre wear can occur as a result of worn-out struts, components and bushings.

Unsuitable Tyre Pressure – Underinflated tyres wear more at the edges, and overinflated tyres, in the centre. Either way, tyre lifespan is reduced if tyres aren’t appropriately inflated.

Poor Wheel Alignment – When wheels aren’t properly aligned, your tyres don’t sit flat on the road. They may drag when they roll, causing parts of the tyre to wear at a faster rate than others.

Unbalanced Wheels – If a wheel isn’t balanced, it may bounce or vibrate, leading to patchy or cupped tread wear.

Aggressive driving – Hard braking, fast cornering, or rapid acceleration can cause tyres to wear faster, especially on the outer edges.

Failure to Rotate Tyres – Neglecting to regularly rotate your tyres will lead to uneven tread wear patterns, particularly in rear-wheel and front-wheel drive cars.

Carrying Too Much Weight – Tyres are designed to bear a certain weight, and carrying a greater load can increase heat and wear on your tyres. This is especially the case with rear tyres.

Mechanical Faults – Problems like a bent axle or worn wheel bearings can put uneven stress on tyres.

3. More significant vehicle issues are at play

A tyre losing its pressure or showing uneven tread wear can signal larger issues with your car. For instance, your tyre might be losing inflation due to a puncture.

Additionally, poor wheel alignment can lead to rapid and uneven wear on tyres, and lead to vehicle pull. Tyres can be a good indicator of this, and a tyre expert can detect the signs that poor wheel alignment is at play.

Other causes for vehicle pull could be faulty suspension components (e.g. bushing and control arms), and/or brake drag (a sticking caliper on one side can mimic tyre-related pull).

Whatever the case, it’s crucial to have the issue addressed quickly, so that you have a comfortable and safe time on the road. If all tyres have been checked and cleared, book your vehicle in with a mechanic for further assessment.

Vehicle pulling to one side – DIY Tyre checks

If you’re concerned your tyres are causing your vehicle to pull to one side, the safest bet is to get a qualified tyre technician to visit you and do a thorough tyre assessment onsite. But if you have the time and energy to do it on your own, here are some tips on where to start:

• Check your tyres for uneven tread wear. What does this look like? One tyre will appear more worn on either the inside or outside edge. This can signal unbalanced or misaligned tyres.
• Check for tyre damage. It’s important to check your tyres for bald spots, bulges or cupping. (Tyre cupping appears as a series of uneven, scalloped dips or high-low patches that are worn into the tyre’s tread, and usually appear around the edge of the tyre.) Any of these signs can indicate a faulty or damaged tyre that needs a tyre replacement. They could also signal a misalignment in tyres or a suspension issue.
  • Some tyre damage is not inconspicuous, and requires a tyre specialist to uncover. This can include:
    • Out-of-round tyres: Tyres should be perfectly circular. An ‘out-of-round’ tyre means that some sort of manufacturing defect or internal wear is causing the tyre to lose its roundness. (This can also happen after hitting an obstacle on the road, such as a pothole.)
    • Steel belts have separated: You might not be aware, but underneath your tyre’s tread lie steel belts that help maintain the shape of your tyre. If the belts separate, they can distort your tyre’s surface.
• Ensure your tyres are all the same size and type, or at least, that they are matched across each axle. If there’s a mismatch in tyre size or tread pattern, it can lead to vehicle pulling as well as vibrations. Buying new tyres that are the same brand, size and tread (all four tyres at once) is the best way to avoid mismatches.
• Rotate your tyres. Rotating tyres is also a good way to find out if the pull is impacting a particular tyre, as the pull should switch to the other side when you rotate the tyres. If the pull remains the same, it’s likely your tyres aren’t the cause, and wheel alignment and suspension should be considered. (Jim’s Mobile Tyres provide tyre rotation services, so you don’t need to do it yourself.)

How Jim’s Mobile Tyres Specialists Can Help With Car Pulling Concerns

If your vehicle is pulling to one side, get in touch with Jim’s Mobile Tyres. We’ll check all your tyres for damage or deformity. We’re experienced in spotting irregular and uneven tread wear, tyre damage like flat spots and bulges, and tyres that are out-of-round or impacted by belt separation. We can then advise of the best way to address the issue quickly.

If the vehicle pulling you’re experiencing relates to tyre rotation, we can rotate your tyres on the spot. For defective tyres, we can replace them conveniently at your location. We not only repair and replace tyres, but we have a range of tyres for sale, and can source tyres perfectly matched to your vehicle and driving requirements.

Have a question about why your car pulls to one side, or something else? Contact Jim’s Mobile Tyres for expert and convenient tyre services.