What causes car pulls to one side?

Wheel misalignment; Uneven tire pressure; Sticking brake caliper; Uneven or mismatched tires; Worn suspension or steering components; Tire conicity or road crown.

Caution

Car Pulls to One Side: Why and What to Do

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If your car constantly drifts to one side when you let the steering wheel go straight, something is making one side resist more than the other. The usual suspects are wheel alignment, uneven tire pressure, or a brake problem, and many causes are inexpensive to fix. The key clue is whether it pulls all the time or only when you brake.

Common causes

1
Wheel misalignment
The most common cause. If the wheels aren't set to the correct angles (often after hitting a pothole or curb), the car won't track straight and drifts steadily to one side. An alignment usually fixes it and also prevents uneven tire wear.
2
Uneven tire pressure
A tire with lower pressure has more rolling resistance, so the car leans and pulls toward that side. This is the quickest and cheapest thing to check and fix, just set all tires to the recommended pressure.
3
Sticking brake caliper
If the car pulls mainly while braking (or one wheel feels hot), a sticking caliper or restricted brake line is dragging one side. This needs prompt attention because it can overheat the brake and reduce stopping power.
4
Uneven or mismatched tires
A worn, damaged, or different-sized tire on one side, or uneven tread wear, changes how the car tracks and causes a pull. Rotating or replacing tires can resolve it.
5
Worn suspension or steering components
Worn control arms, bushings, tie rods, or ball joints let the geometry shift, causing the car to wander or pull and feel unstable.
6
Tire conicity or road crown
A manufacturing defect in a tire (conicity) can cause a constant pull, and most roads are slightly crowned, which can cause a mild drift to the right that's normal.

What to do

A pull is a caution-level safety issue because it forces you to constantly correct the wheel and can signal a brake problem. Start with the easy check, set all four tires to the correct pressure and look for uneven wear; if it pulls only when braking or a wheel feels hot, suspect a caliper and get it checked soon. If pressure is even and it still pulls, have a shop perform an alignment and inspect the suspension.

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Common causes

Wheel misalignment

The most common cause. If the wheels aren't set to the correct angles (often after hitting a pothole or curb), the car won't track straight and drifts steadily to one side. An alignment usually fixes it and also prevents uneven tire wear.

Uneven tire pressure

A tire with lower pressure has more rolling resistance, so the car leans and pulls toward that side. This is the quickest and cheapest thing to check and fix, just set all tires to the recommended pressure.

Sticking brake caliper

If the car pulls mainly while braking (or one wheel feels hot), a sticking caliper or restricted brake line is dragging one side. This needs prompt attention because it can overheat the brake and reduce stopping power.

Uneven or mismatched tires

A worn, damaged, or different-sized tire on one side, or uneven tread wear, changes how the car tracks and causes a pull. Rotating or replacing tires can resolve it.

Worn suspension or steering components

Worn control arms, bushings, tie rods, or ball joints let the geometry shift, causing the car to wander or pull and feel unstable.

Tire conicity or road crown

A manufacturing defect in a tire (conicity) can cause a constant pull, and most roads are slightly crowned, which can cause a mild drift to the right that's normal.

What to do