Car pulling to one side or steering wheel off-centre: the causes

A car pulls to one side when the wheels on the left and right do not roll equally easily or do not point in the same direction. Michelin names five causes: incorrect alignment, a difference in tyre pressure, unevenly worn tyres, a seized brake caliper and a rare fault in the tyre itself. On top of that there is the road itself and, in some cars, worn suspension parts.

Source: Michelin, Symptom: pulling to one side, and ANWB, Auto uitlijnen. Consulted November 2026.

The order matters. Measuring the tyre pressure takes a few minutes. An alignment only makes sense when the tyres, the brakes and the suspension are in order. Otherwise you align a car that still pulls afterwards.

Start with the tyre pressure, because that is the cause you can rule out yourself. According to Michelin, a tyre that is clearly softer on one side has more rolling resistance, which makes the car pull towards that side. Inflate all four tyres to the pressure the manufacturer specifies. Where to find it is in our article on tyre pressure.

Then look at the tread. Michelin writes that tyres with different tread depths have a different rolling circumference. The car then pulls towards the side of the more worn tyre. You often see this when there are different tyres on the left and right of the same axle, or when only one new tyre has been fitted.

If the car still pulls after a proper alignment, the tyre itself may be the cause. Michelin calls this conicity: a rare manufacturing fault in which the tyre is not fully cylindrical but slightly cone-shaped. Such a tyre rolls to one side, the way a cone does. One test that Michelin names is swapping the suspect tyre from front to rear. If the pull reverses or disappears, conicity is likely. That test only makes sense once the other causes have been ruled out.

The alignment is the likely cause if the car constantly pulls to the same side, even with good tyres at the right pressure. Michelin names incorrect alignment as the most common cause of a car pulling to one side. Wheel alignment means that the position of the wheels is measured and set back to the manufacturer’s data.

The alignment is mainly upset by a hard knock. The ANWB, the Dutch motoring organisation, names hitting a kerb, a deep pothole or a large bump and an accident, even a minor one. The alignment can also change after replacing suspension or steering parts, such as ball joints or control arms. When that applies is explained in wheel alignment after replacing suspension parts. For the terms toe, camber and caster, see toe, camber and caster explained.

According to the ANWB, wheel alignment is not part of a car’s regular service schedule. You have it done if you notice one of the signs above or after a hard knock. We measure all four wheels first. If an alignment is not needed, we tell you that too. How that works with us is on wheel alignment in Rotterdam.

If the car mainly pulls to one side during or after braking, the cause is more likely the brakes than the alignment. According to Michelin, a seized brake caliper applies constant braking force on one side, which makes the car pull mainly when braking. In that case Michelin advises having the brakes and the tyres checked together.

Other signs of a seized brake caliper: one wheel is clearly warmer than the others after a drive, or you smell burning near a wheel. We assess whether the caliper can be freed up or needs replacing. We tell you the cost in advance. More about the causes is in seized brake caliper.

If bushes, ball joints or shock absorbers are worn, an alignment does not make sense yet. A part with play does not hold the wheel firmly in the position it was set to. That is why we first check the control arm bushes, the ball joints, the tie rod ends and the shock absorbers on the lift. If something is worn, we replace it first, after your approval, and then we measure the alignment.

If the manufacturer asks for an alignment after this work, it is included in the quote straight away. We tell you one amount in advance. After a new tie rod end we set the toe again, because the length of the rod determines the position of the wheel.

Does your car have a camera behind the windscreen or a radar in the bumper or grille? Then that system may need to be set up again after an alignment or after work on the suspension. That depends on the make and model. We do not calibrate cameras or radar ourselves. That is done by the dealer or a specialist company. Ask about it when you book and we will check it for your car.

An off-centre steering wheel often points to the alignment, a vibrating steering wheel usually does not. If the steering wheel is off-centre while the car drives straight ahead, Michelin calls that a sign to have the alignment checked. You often see this after hitting a kerb. If the steering wheel is off-centre straight after the car has been aligned or after work on the steering, ask the garage that did the work to look at it again.

If the steering wheel vibrates on the motorway, the most common cause according to Michelin is wheel imbalance, and balancing is the solution. If the steering wheel only vibrates when braking, that usually points to warped brake discs, according to Michelin. Michelin does mention that incorrect alignment can also cause vibration over time, through uneven wear. More about vibration is in steering wheel vibration.

A slight pull towards the verge can come from the road and not from the car. Michelin writes that most roads slope slightly towards the side, so that rainwater drains away. A car follows that slope slightly. In the Netherlands, traffic drives on the right, so the verge is on your right.

Michelin names a straightforward test. On a quiet, straight road with several lanes, drive in a different lane for a while. If the pull changes with the lane, it is the road. If the car keeps pulling to the same side wherever you drive, it is the car. Only do this test where it is safe and keep your hands on the wheel.

We look for the cause in the order of this article: first what is quick to check, and only then the alignment. This is how it works:

1. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number (kenteken) and tell us what you notice: does the car pull constantly, only when braking or since a knock? We tell you when you can come in.
2. We measure the tyre pressure and look at the tread and the condition of all four tyres.
3. We take a short test drive and check whether the car also pulls when braking.
4. On the lift we check the brakes, the control arm bushes, the ball joints, the tie rod ends and the shock absorbers.
5. Only when that is in order do we measure all four wheels with our own alignment equipment, to the manufacturer’s data. If an alignment is not needed, we tell you that too.
6. We tell you the cost in advance. We only repair with your approval. You drop off the car and we call you when it is ready.

As an indication: according to the ANWB, a standard alignment costs € 70 to € 120 on average including labour and usually takes 30 to 60 minutes (consulted November 2026). We tell you your price in advance based on your registration number. We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.30 and on Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00. Wheel alignment is also possible on Saturday, by appointment. We have five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg.

According to the ANWB, a standard alignment costs € 70 to € 120 on average including labour (consulted November 2026). The price depends on the type of car. With us, we tell you the cost in advance based on your registration number. If it turns out after measuring that an alignment is not needed, we tell you that too.

According to the ANWB, the alignment itself usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. If parts need to be replaced first, such as a tie rod end or a control arm bush, it takes longer. You drop off the car and we call you when it is ready.

Yes. If the car still pulls after a proper alignment, a difference in tyre pressure, uneven tread or a fault in the tyre itself (conicity) can be the cause. One test Michelin names is swapping the suspect tyre from front to rear. If the pull reverses or disappears, the tyre is probably the cause.

No. It is not needed as standard. Michelin calls an alignment with new tyres sensible if you want the tyres to last as long as possible. It is mainly useful if the old tyres were worn unevenly or if the car was pulling to one side. Read more in wheel alignment after new tyres.

No. At the APK (MOT), the compulsory Dutch vehicle inspection comparable to the British MOT, the toe and camber are not measured. The inspector does check that the wheels are not out of line with the body of the car.

If the car pulls slightly and has done so for a while, book an appointment. If it pulls suddenly or hard, especially after a knock or when braking, or if you smell burning near a wheel, do not drive on and call +31 10 479 00 00.

Wear on the inner or outer edge of the tyre is, according to the ANWB, a sign that the alignment is out. Worn bushes or shock absorbers can also cause uneven wear. Have the cause found before you have new tyres fitted, otherwise they will wear in the same way. We can also replace your tyres, see tyre replacement in Rotterdam.

• Michelin: Symptom: pulling to one side (causes, road camber, conicity test)
• ANWB: Auto uitlijnen: signs, causes, cost € 70 to € 120 and duration (in Dutch)
• Michelin: When should I check my wheel alignment? (signs, and alignment or balancing)
• Michelin: Symptom: vibration (imbalance, brake discs, alignment)