A South Australian man is facing charges after he was allegedly caught using vice grips instead of a steering wheel to drive a car.

Police said they saw a white Holden sedan being driven dangerously with two blown tyres on Sudholz Road in the Adelaide suburb of Gilles Plains.

When the car was pulled over, police said there was no steering wheel and the driver was allegedly using a pair of vice grips to steer.

The car was found to be unregistered and uninsured and already subject to a defect notice.

Police also allege the vehicle was involved in a hit-run crash in Folland Avenue at Northfield just minutes before it was pulled over.

A 38-year-old Northfield man is facing charges including driving while disqualified and returning a positive drug test.