‘Is it bad to park a car with its wheels turned?’ is a question lots of drivers have. It’s common to find drivers parking their cars with the wheels turned. Whether they are parking uphill, downhill, or in a non-inclined parking spot, many drivers see this as a sensible move.
However, will turning the wheels when parking your car cause damage to any components? Is parking your car with the wheels turned help in preventing your car from rolling away?
Keep reading to find out.
Is It Bad to Park a Car With Its Wheels Turned?
Well, the answer is a bit complicated. It’s bad to park your car with the wheels turned. While there will be no effect on the car’s power steering. Other parts like ball joints and driveshafts will be under lots of stress if the wheels are not straight.
Basically, when you park with the wheels turned, you leave the steering wheel turned. When this happens, the steering column transfers that force to the drive shaft and other components. This has the same effect as when you take a U-turn.
After turning and you release the power steering, it straightens out by itself. So, when you park your car with the wheels turned, the steering column exerts this force.
However, if you park with the wheels straight, no force is exerted on the steering column and other components.
It’s also not bad to park your car with your wheels turned. According to experts, parking your car with the wheels turned helps to prevent runaway vehicles. In fact, local laws require drivers to curb their wheels when parking.
In case another driver hits your car, or the parking brake fails, the wheels act as an additional safety measure. Basically, your car will not roll into people, traffic, or even the curb.
Also Read: Should Rear Wheels Turn When In Park? [Plus 4 TYPES Of Drive Wheels]
Should Front Wheels Turn When in Park?
If you park your car facing uphill or downhill, the rule of thumb is to turn the wheels. This helps to ensure that the weight of your car will not roll towards the curb and into people, traffic, or other objects.
If you’re unsure if you’re parked uphill or downhill, the best way to find out is to set your car in neutral gear. By doing so, you’ll know whether your car rolls uphill or downhill.
If you park your car facing uphill, turn your front wheels away from the back. Then allow the car to slowly and gently touch the curb. If parking facing downhill, turn your front wheels towards the curb.
Will the Front Wheels Spin in Park?
The front wheels can spin in park. When you park, it locks the transmission or drivetrain. Since the differential can still work, when you turn the front wheels or a rear-driven car, they can turn in the opposite direction.
However, if you park a front-wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels will not work. As aforementioned, park locks the transmission or drivetrain.
So, in a front-wheel vehicle, it will lock the front wheels meaning they cannot turn.
How to Tell if Your Car Is Parked Straight
There are several ways to tell if you parked your car straight without opening the window or getting out.
First, you can drive forward or back a little. If you notice the car veering off in one direction, then you’ll know the car is not parked straight. Also, you’ll know in which direction to turn the wheels to park straight.
Second, you can add colored tape to the top center of your steering wheel just like they do in racing cars. This will allow you to know if your steering wheel is straight without even looking down.
Why Do I Always Park Crooked?
One of the reasons you are always parked crooked is failure to pay attention. The majority of drivers drive into a parking spot, whether in a hurry or not, without making sure the car is in the correct spot.
If you park crooked, it may be difficult for other drivers to park next to your vehicle. Also, crooked parking makes it difficult for you to enter your car from the driver’s side since the car next to you is also parked close to it.
The good news is you can learn to park straight and accurately. All you need to do is practice parking with your car to know how much space you need and how to approach the parking space properly.
Conclusion
Parking your car with the wheels turned is not wrong. In fact, it helps to prevent your car from rolling onto the curb and into people or objects. However, if you turn the wheels while the car is stationary, it will cause tire wear.
Parking straight is a challenge for lots of drivers. However, it’s not impossible to learn. All you need to do is practice in an empty parking space, and you’ll be grateful you learned.
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.