Systems and methods are disclosed that implement asymmetrical write fault thresholds. A data storage device may apply a different write fault threshold to each side of a target track, allowing a write head to deviate from a track center more in one direction than in the other direction. In some embodiments, the asymmetrical write fault thresholds may be applied to shingled tracks, allowing a lower write fault threshold to be applied in the direction of previously written shingled tracks, and a higher write fault threshold to be applied in the direction of tracks which are not yet written.