Tires or Alignment

Replacing the tires will take care of the metal showing. Some times a belt on one tire (usually the right front) will shift causing the car to pull left. If a belt has shifted, replacing both front tires will take care of that.

Before you go off to the alignment shop, check the ball joints and the wheel bearings. If either of these are a problem, it will make setting an alignment as tough as nailing jello on the wall. A really wobbled out suspension bushing will also cause this, but it hasn't been as dramatic in my experience. Checking it out beforehand will at least give you an idea if the alignment shop is trying to sell you a bill of goods rather than simply fix the problem(s).