Drivers 'should check car alignment following snow'

Date: 6/1/2011

Vehicle owners should get the alignment of their car checked out following the recent winter weather conditions, according to one group.

AlignMyCar.co.uk has claimed that the ice and snow that lay on UK roads in the lead-up to the festive period may have caused unknown or minor damage to motors that could prove to be a problem further down the line.

Indeed, the firm warns that drivers may find themselves forking out for extra expenses in the forthcoming months if they do not get the alignment of their car properly checked out.

Car owners who may have slipped slightly on the ice and bumped into the kerb may have unwittingly caused the vehicle's wheels to become misaligned, while the geometry settings could also have been damaged.

As a result, the motors will cost more to run as the tyres will wear out at a faster rate, while the problem may also prove a danger to other road users.

Paul Beaurain, Managing Director of Pro-Align, said: "Even very low speed impacts can cause significant misalignment or damage to components, especially if they occur at an unusual angle."

Investing in winter tyres could also be advisable, with DIAmond Advanced Motorists recently claiming the items can benefit drivers when temperatures drop below seven degrees Celsius.

Posted by Sarah Bailey