Everything you need to know about dry steering
If you’re in a tight parking spot, you may resort to dry steering. However, this is bad news for your car and can wear out the tyres and steering system if attempted too often.
In this article, we’ll explore what dry steering is, how it can impact your car, and how you can avoid using it where possible.
What is dry steering?
Dry steering is when you turn the steering wheel of a stationary vehicle. This action is most commonly performed when you’re in a tight parking spot or where movement is severely restricted.
Does dry steering cause tyre damage?
Frequent dry steering can damage your tyres and lead to premature wear. When you turn the wheels from a stationary position, your front tyres are exposed to excessive friction, leading to worn or uneven tyre tread that can impact the car’s safety and performance. The sidewall and rims may also be damaged by dry steering over time.
If you have no choice but to dry steer on a regular basis, whether that’s due to living on a small street with tight parking or for some other reason, then it’s worth regularly inspecting your tyres to assess the wear and tear. Ensuring that you keep up with tyre maintenance and regularly have your tyres inspected by a professional are also tasks worth doing.
What other problems can dry steering cause?
Along with tyre wear, dry steering can negatively impact your steering system. When you dry steer, you’re putting excessive force on this system, causing strain and resistance which can lead to wear of the steering components, such as the rack, rods and joints. Repeated dry steering can deteriorate these components over time, leading to repairs and replacements.
Is dry steering considered a fault?
The good news is that dry steering is not counted as a fault during a driving test. You are allowed to dry steer when it’s necessary for a manoeuvre and you will not be penalised for it. However, it’s still recommended that you don’t dry steer during a test if you can help it.
How to avoid dry steering
There are a few things you can try to avoid dry steering so let’s take a look:
- Attempt to introduce motion to the action where possible. Even a little bit of movement back and forth will reduce the impact of turning the wheel as opposed to performing this action with completely stationary wheels.
- Keep on top of your tyre maintenance. Here at Mr Tyre, we can check your tyre tread, alignment and inflation to ensure everything performs as it should and to help minimise the impact of dry steering. If you need a new tyre, we can also help with that, thanks to our stock consisting of hundreds of tyres from leading brands.
- Choose parking spaces where dry steering won’t be a necessity. This is sometimes easier said than done as occasionally there are slim pickings with parking spaces, but when possible, select places where there’s room to move.
Despite your best efforts, sometimes dry steering cannot be avoided. As long as you’re keeping up with tyre maintenance and regularly inspecting your vehicle, you can mitigate the negatives and lessen the effect on your vehicle.
Here at Mr Tyre, we’re the leading chain of autocentres for Central England and are here to help with all your motor needs. From tyre maintenance all the way to car batteries, exhausts and MOTs, we ensure you stay safe on the road. Get in touch to book an appointment or pay a visit to one of our branches.
