WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TYRE MAINTENANCE

Regular tyre maintenance and wheel alignment reduces fuel consumption and prevents undue tyre wear. Worn shock absorbers and weak springs can also contribute to the waste of fuel. This leaflet provides information on wheel alignment and tyre maintenance.

FACTORS AFFECTING FUEL CONSUMPTION

The information in this pamphlet will help you in obtaining optimum mileage from your tyres and in reducing your monthly fuel expenditure.

WHY SHOULD A CAR'S WHEELS BE ALIGNED?

Correctly aligned wheels extend tyre life and improve fuel efficiency They also help safe steering of the vehicle and comfortable ride.

WHAT IS WHEEL ALIGNMENT?

Wheel alignment is the adjustment of steering and suspension components so that car steers properly, tyres experience minimum wear and fuel is used efficiently.

WHY DOES A CAR GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT?

Misalignment is caused by impacts from hitting potholes and bumps, loose steering or suspension mechanism and deterioration from aging of suspension parts. It is recommended that you have your car's wheels aligned at least twice a year or every 10,000 km, whichever is earlier.

HOW CRITICAL IS MISALIGNMENT TO TYRE MILEAGE?

The expected life of a tyre can be reduced drastically if a vehicle has a severe misalignment condition.

HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE TO ALIGN A CAR?

On most vehicles alignment can be completed in approximately 30-40 minutes.

HOW LONG SHOULD ALIGNMENT LAST?

Normally an alignment will hold for 5,000-10,000 km Naturally, if your vehicle suffers any severe shocks from hitting potholes, curbs, etc., your alignment can be thrown off in a short time.

IF TYRES ARE WORN UNEVENLY DOES IT MEAN THAT THE WHEELS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT?

Uneven wear can be caused by many factors such as improper wheel balancing, worn shock absorbers, warn front end part, alignment problems, etc. The best advice is to take your vehicle for inspection to a workshop.

IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A CAR ALIGNED THE SAME DAY AFTER PURCHASING NEW TYRES?

No. It is recommended that you have your alignment done within the first 800 km of mounting new tyres, unless your old tyres have shown a severe alignment problem.

IF A CAR VIBRATES AT DIFFERENT SPEED LEVELS. WILL WHEEL ALIGNMENT CURE THAT PROBLEM?

Poor alignment usually does not cause specific speed vibrations. This condition is normally attributed to the tyre and wheel assembly being out of dynamic balance. Therefore, wheel balancing is recommended

WHAT CAUSES TYRE WOBBLING?

Excessively worn wheel bearings, tie-rod ends, ball joints, patched tyres, or bent and out-of-round tyre rims can cause tyre wobbling.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD TYRES BE ROTATED?

 It is recommended that tyres be rotated at every 10,000 km in order that they may wear evenly. After performing tyre rotation readjust each tyre pressure to specifications.

WHY BUY RADIAL TYRES?

Radial tyres can save fuel and last twice as long as cross-ply tyres. They improve road-holding capability and maneuverability of your vehicle

THREE FACTORS IN ALIGNMENT: TOE-IN, CAMBER AND CASTER

WHAT IS TOE-IN?

Toe-in is the condition when the front edges of the wheels are closer together than the rear edges. A saw-tooth or feathered edge tyre wear pattern shows that the tyre is subjected to road scuff as a result of improper toe-in.

WHAT IS CAMBER?

Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the top of the tyre, as viewed from front of the vehicle. Excessive wear, on the edge of the tyre is generally the result of improper camber. Unequal camber, from side to side can cause pull or drift.

WHAT IS CASTER?

Caster is the forward or the rearward tilt of the steering axis versus vertical. Caster adds directional stability to the vehicle and returns the wheels to a straight-ahead position on turns.

IF A CAR HAS MCPHERSON STRUTS. WHAT WORK DOES THE WORKSHOP PERFORM ON IT?

Bent struts can be corrected by using a strut straightener. Some struts also have a provision for adjustment which will correct wheel camber, however, toe will be adjusted in the normal way.

WHAT IS WHEEL BALANCING?

No tyre or wheel is completely round or uniform. Each tyre has heavy spots that can cause vibrations at high speeds. The wheel assembly should be dynamically balanced. This involves spinning the wheel to identify the heavy spot and then crimping lead weights to the rim to counter balance the heavy spot

HOW DOES TYRE PRESSURE AFFECT WEAR, RIDE, AND HANDLING?

Under inflated tyres cause: (1) sidewalk and tread to buckle, thus reducing the area of the road contact patch (2) loss of traction (3) increased fuel consumption and excessive heat build-up, which causes raped wear and early tyre failure. Proper inflation results in maximum road contact area, traction, and fuel economy. Over inflation again reduces the road contact area and traction, however fuel economy increases slightly.

WHAT IS A RETREADED TYRE?

It is a used tyre which has been given a new tread.

WHAT IS THE LIFE OF A RETREAD?

Depending on the quality of the tread compound and condition of the vehicle, retreads can last as long as new tyres

HOW MUCH DOES A RETREAD COST?

The cost of a retread will vary from 30 to 40% of the price of a new tyre.

WHEN SHOULD A TYRE BE RETREADED?

Ideally when the tyre wear marks show or when tread depth is approximately 1 to 2mm.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A TYRE BE RETREADED?

A cross ply tyre can be retreaded at least once, while radials can be retreaded 2 to 3 times.

CAN DAMAGED TYRES BE RETREADED?

Yes, but tyres with broken beads, cracked sidewalk and excessively worn treads with holes or bare plies cannot be retreaded.

WHAT IS REGROOVING?

Increasing tread depth by removing rubber and reinforcement plies by a hand tool is known as regrooving. Tyres, if specified on sidewalk can be regrooved. Regrooving otherwise is dangerous and illegal.

DO RETREADS NEED BALANCING?

All tyres whether new or retreaded must be balanced after mounting on the tyre rim.