Pulling, off-centre steering, feathered tread edges and the other symptoms Kenyan drivers ignore until the tyres are ruined.
The car pulls to one side on a flat road. The steering wheel sits off-centre when you are driving straight. The steering feels loose or vague. You hear squealing on gentle turns.
And the two you can see: one tyre wearing on a single edge, or a feathered, saw-tooth feel when you run your hand across the tread.
A single hard pothole strike at 60km/h can knock toe out of specification. Kerbing a wheel while parking does the same. Nairobi supplies both in quantity.
That is why we recommend an alignment check with every new set of tyres and after any significant impact. It is cheaper than a tyre.
Camber, caster and toe measured on all four wheels against manufacturer data, corrected where adjustable, and a printed report you keep.
If a bushing or ball joint is worn, alignment will not hold. An honest shop tells you that before taking your money, and we do.
If any of this raises a question about your own car, bring it in. The tyre safety check is free and takes ten minutes, and we will give you a written summary whether or not you buy anything.
Tread depth at three points, DOT dates on all five tyres, pressures set and wear patterns explained. Ten minutes, no charge.
See what's includedEvery 10,000km, with every new set of tyres, and after any hard pothole or kerb strike.
About 45 minutes for a standard four-wheel alignment.
Yes. Severe misalignment can strip the shoulder off a new tyre in a few thousand kilometres.
WhatsApp the workshop directly. You will get a straight answer from someone who fits tyres all day.