Mechanic issues warning to drivers who have 15,000 miles clocked up on car

James Rodger
·2-min read
Mechanic issues warning to drivers who have 15,000 miles clocked up on car
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Drivers who have 15,000 miles on the clock but who haven't had their wheels re-aligned have been urgently warned. As the Cost of Living crisis continues before Christmas, motorists and road users are being urged to ensure they are maximising efficiency.

Smith Bros suggested that one way drivers can lower fuel consumption is by making sure the wheels of the vehicle are correctly aligned. They explained in a warning for motorists up and down the UK: "When your tyres misalign with your wheel, it can cause a drag.

"The added drag and resistance here will mean your vehicle is chugging along while guzzling more fuel than it needs to. Better alignment means reduced rolling resistance. Even tyres at a quarter of a degree off straight will drive 10 feet to 15 feet sideways for every mile if not caught and corrected."

READ MORE:Drivers warned 'one in four' stand to risk losing their car in January

READ MORE:Drivers face £200 fine and six points after being 'dobbed in' by other motorists

READ MORE Met Office issues three-word update over snow battering UK within days

Proper alignment reduces rolling resistance, allowing your car to move more efficiently and consume less fuel. Misaligned wheels create additional drag and force the engine to work harder, thereby increasing fuel consumption.

After a wheel alignment, you’ll likely notice an improvement in your car’s handling and overall driving experience. Proper alignment ensures that your tires make optimal contact with the road, leading to smoother steering, better vehicle stability, and reduced tire wear.

Most manufacturers recommend a wheel alignment every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. However, it’s a good idea to check your car’s alignment annually or if you start to notice signs of misalignment, such as uneven tire wear or the vehicle pulling to one side.

The primary disadvantage of wheel alignment is the cost and time involved in the service. However, these are outweighed by the long-term benefits, including improved fuel economy, better handling, and extended tire life. Neglecting wheel alignment can lead to more costly issues down the line.

Latest stories

  • Bus swerves off road and into group of pedestrians at bus stop

    Shocking footage shows the moment a bus swerved off the road and onto the pavement - into a group of pedestrians waiting on the side of the road. The collision happened at 10:30am this morning on Lightmoor Way, Telford. The video shows the bus - which was heading to Telford Centre - drive into a group of three people. A crowd of people then run to the scene, to try and push the bus off the person who had been hit. The bus reverses off the pavement and emergency services were called to the scene.

  • Electric cars in winter: How cold weather affects EV range and charge

    Like everything powered by lithium batteries, electric cars can perform less well in the cold. Here’s what that means for you, and how to work around it.

  • Air Canada ordered to pay $10K after couple endures 'horrendous experience'

    A small claims court has ordered Air Canada to pay a couple $10,000, after an overbooked flight resulted in the two being sent to multiple Canadian airports under the promise of a replacement flight that never materialized, ruining a vacation that had been planned for years. A blistering decision from the Small Claims Court of Yukon concluded that the couple were "treated shamefully" by the airline. Justice Katherine L. McLeod wrote that Air Canada had breached the Air Passenger Protection Regul

  • 'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

    The officers seize it and take it to "the cage" - a lock-up behind nearby Bishopsgate police station - from where it will be taken away and crushed. Then, the officers are straight onto their next target - a powerful e-bike that can reach speeds far higher than the 15.5 mph allowed by law. City of London Police sergeant Stu Ford says they could be out doing this all day, every day.

  • 'Oh My Gosh!': Plane Crash That Injured 4 Caught on Dashcam

    Four people were injured after a small plane crashed onto a road and struck three vehicles at a busy intersection in Victoria, Texas, on Wednesday, December 11.The Victoria Police Department said officers responded to reports of a small plane crash at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Zac Lentz Parkway shortly after 3 pm.Police said five people were involved in the crash. Four people were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries while one person was transferred to a hospital outside of town. The pilot was being evaluated.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). confirmed a twin-engine Piper PA-31 crashed in Victoria at about 3 pm.In an update on Wednesday evening, police said local traffic routes had been adjusted and the Mockingbird Lane and Zac Lentz Parkway intersection would remained closed until further noticeThis dashcam footage captured by Anthony Poynor shows the moments before and after the crash. Credit: Anthony Poynor via Storyful

  • Christmas travel strikes: What trains and airports are affected by industrial action this winter?

    Walk-outs in the UK and continental Europe will disrupt millions of Christmas journeys

  • 50 years on, Ford Escort RS returns as official continuation car

    The original Ford Escort is ready to fire back into production, some five decades after the final RS2000 was assembled. County Durham-based Boreham Motorworks, part of the DRVN Automotive Group, has revealed full details of its Escort RS Mk1 ‘Continumod’. Officially licensed by the Ford Motor Company, Boreham Motorworks’ Escort will use a continuation chassis,

  • Bygone: Remembering the 1906 railway crash which killed 28 people

    The reaction to the article on the tunnel found at Salisbury Railway Station which appeared in last weeks Salisbury Journal has been quite incredible and has led to some interesting feedback.

  • Security Camera Captures Moment Car Flipped, School Bus Hit in Boston

    A vehicle was flipped on its side and a school bus was hit in a multi-vehicle crash in Boston, Massachusetts, on the evening of December 10.Security camera footage captured by a local business shows a school bus waiting to turn left across traffic at the three-way intersection of Warren, Waverly, and Copeland in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. A car in the left-turn lane can be seen attempting to quickly move into the right-hand lane, but does so at the moment another vehicle is passing on the right. The passing vehicle was flipped onto its side on impact and a third vehicle was rear-ended into the school bus.Two children were on board the bus at the time of the crash, reports said.According to local news reports citing officials, no one was taken to the hospital following the incident. Credit: Cesar Rivera via Storyful

  • Wreckage From Plane Crash Seen Scattered Across Texas Intersection

    Four people were injured after a small plane crashed onto a road and struck three vehicles at a busy intersection in Victoria, Texas, on Wednesday, December 11.Footage from Anthony Poynor shows the wreckage of the crash scattered across the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Zac Lentz Parkway.The Victoria Police Department said officers responded to reports of a small plane crash at the intersection shortly after 3 pm.Police said five people were involved in the crash. Four people were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries while one person was transferred to a hospital outside of town. The pilot was being evaluated.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed a twin-engine Piper PA-31 crashed in Victoria at about 3 pm.In an update on Wednesday evening, police said local traffic routes had been adjusted and the Mockingbird Lane and Zac Lentz Parkway intersection would remained closed until further notice Credit: Anthony Poynor via Storyful

  • Rogue taxi drivers ‘preying’ on Victorians as industry grapples with national crisis

    The state’s laws enable independent cabbies to overcharge with ‘no checks and balances’. But nowhere in Australia has a perfect system

  • Overweight lorry breaches traffic restrictions in town centre

    A lorry driver was issued with a Traffic Offence Report after driving through Leiston despite the 7.5 tonne weight limit.

  • Best new electric cars: 22 EVs to look forward to in 2025 and beyond

    FEATURE: From all-new plug-in Porsches to the highly-anticipated electric Range Rover – plus a whole new family of EVs from Jaguar – these are the new electric cars we’re looking forward to

  • Christmas getaway chaos fears amid ‘record’ traffic and crippled train services

    Families are bracing for Christmas getaway chaos amid warnings of record numbers of cars on the roads and staff shortages that could cripple rail lines.

  • Ford Escort Mk1 returns with souped-up engine and £300k price tag

    The Ford Escort is to return with a souped-up engine delivering nearly three times the power of the original – and a £300,000 price tag.

  • Cyclist in his 70s seriously injured in seafront crash

    Police were called to the Esplanade just before 11am today (Wednesday).

  • Fact Check: Tesla Made More Cars Than It Sold in Q1 2024, Some of Which Were Visible from Space

    Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker picked up delivery following overproduction at the start of 2024.

  • Pedestrian seriously injured in car collision at zebra crossing

    The incident happened in Sea Road, near the junction with Endwell Road in Bexhill, at about 7.20pm on December 11

  • View Photos of the 1991 BMW 850i

    1991 BMW 850i exterior and interior photos.

  • Plans for new homes spark traffic fears

    "How can you look at that plan and say there is not going to be an increased risk to safety for residents"