How to Determine the Position of the Wheels?
2 Answers
Methods to determine the position of the wheels are as follows: 1. Use the wiper to determine the wheel position. By observing the nodes on both sides of the wiper, you can determine the position of the wheels, as the position of the wiper nodes corresponds to where the wheels will pass. 2. You can also use the side mirrors to determine the wheel position. This method involves observing the door handles on both sides through the mirrors. The position where the door handles overlap with the solid line on the ground is where the wheels have passed. Therefore, if you notice the door handles overlapping with the solid line, it means the vehicle has crossed the line, which is a traffic violation. 3. Determine the wheel position through the center of the windshield. By observing the solid line on the road, if the line aligns with the center of the windshield, it indicates the position where the wheels will pass. 4. When driving on a road with lane markings and there is a vehicle ahead, use the lane markings as a reference. If the extended line on the right side of your vision is at the center of the vehicle's front, the wheels are in the middle of the lane. If there is no vehicle ahead, still use the lane markings as a reference. If the right side of the lane marking is at the center of the windshield, the wheels are in the middle of the lane.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and judging wheel positions relies entirely on accumulated experience. For example, when parking, I often use the wiper nodes on the hood as reference points. The left wheel position basically corresponds to a slightly protruding spot near the left edge of the hood, while the right wheel is in a symmetrical position. However, differences between car models can be significant—my old SUV required focusing on the left one-third height, whereas my new lower-profile car needs a slightly lower reference point. I always practice maneuvering in an empty space first, using soft grass or old tires as wheel markers to move slowly and check the alignment between actual position and perception. Over time, the body memorizes it automatically, especially when turning with the help of side mirrors. Safety is paramount—never rush; it's better to stop multiple times for confirmation to avoid scraping curbs or hitting walls and damaging the car. This method has saved me a lot of insurance trouble, and I always make it a habit to check the stability of reference points before every drive.
