Why does my car pull to one side?

Tire pressure, alignment, brakes or worn parts. The usual reasons a car drifts, and what you can check yourself.

Letting go of the wheel for a second on a straight, flat road shouldn't send you toward the next lane. If it does, here are the usual suspects.

Check this first: tire pressure

One low tire is enough to make a car pull. Check all four with a gauge, using the numbers on your door jamb sticker.

Alignment

A hard hit on a pothole or curb can knock your alignment out. Signs include pulling, a steering wheel that sits crooked when you're driving straight, and tires wearing on one edge.

Brakes

If the car pulls mostly when you brake, a caliper may be sticking or one side may be wearing differently.

Worn steering and suspension parts

Worn parts can let the wheels move where they shouldn't, which shows up as pulling, wandering or a loose feeling in the steering.

A note on road crown

Most roads are built slightly higher in the middle so water runs off. A gentle drift toward the shoulder can come from the road, not the car. Try a flat parking lot to compare.