Accurate Wheel Alignment Extends Tire Tread Life
Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010
by Wally Koster
Michigan and Ohio drivers experience five different seasons: summer, fall, winter, spring and pothole season. Sometimes called kettles or chuckholes, potholes appear after water freezes in cracks or crevices of the road surface. Periodic freezing and thawing causes them to widen and surrounding surface area to flake away. The hole then further expands as vehicles bump their way through it, loosening even more of the already fragile pavement around it.
You might also notice unusual or excessive tire wear. That's because, instead of running straight and true, your tires are now skidding or scrubbing across the road, almost as it they were constantly cornering. Fortunately, there are some tire discount stores that have state-of-the-art computerized wheel alignment equipment to quickly, accurately and affordably adjust any alignment problems that could cause your vehicle to pull or vibrate and ultimately shorten the life of your tires.
Balancing versus Alignment
Don't be confused by tire retailers who say tire-wheel balancing and wheel alignment is the same thing or that balancing is good enough. Tires generate enormous centrifugal forces at high speeds. Balancing evens out weight irregularities in each tire and wheel combination. It helps ensure the tire maintains constant surface contact without skipping, jumping or bumping over the road. A wheel alignment ensures all four wheels and tires track straight and true. It centers them with your steering system, maximizes suspensions system performance and helps prevent uneven tire wear.
Alignment Geometry
Accurate wheel alignment is a matter of geometry. To ensure safe everyday driving with good directional stability and extended tire tread life, four critical suspension angles must be precisely aligned and adjusted to the vehicle's factory specifications.
- Camber angle measures how far the tire slants away from vertical when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Camber is negative when the top of the tire leans inward and positive when it leans outward.
- Caster angle measures how far the tire slopes forward or backward of a line drawn through the upper and lower pivot points of the steering system when viewed directly from the side. Caster is negative if the line slopes forward and positive if it slopes backward toward the rear of the vehicle.
- Toe angle measures the direction the tires are pointed compared to a line drawn through the center of the vehicle when viewed from above. Tires are toe-in if they intersect the centerline and toe-out if they do not.
- Thrust angle compares the direction the rear axle is aimed compared to a line drawn down the center of the vehicle. Thrust angle is on-center if the rear axle is parallel to the front axle and off-center if it is not.
Ask a Professional
If your vehicle pulls to the left or right when the steering wheel is in a straight ahead position, if experience excessive vibration at high speeds or if you notice uneven tire wear, it might be time for an alignment check. But, precisely adjusting the critical geometry angles engineered into today's sophisticated suspension systems isn't a job for an amateur.
ASE Certified Technicians at most tire discount stores have the training, tools and state-of-the-art computerized equipment to do it quickly, accurately and affordably. Even if you don't have an unexpected meeting with a pothole, it's a good idea to have your wheel alignment inspected every twelve months or 12,000 miles.
So, enjoy every Michigan and Ohio driving season. Have your wheel alignment checked by a professional after any pothole mishap or every twelve months or 12,000 miles. Many tire discounters offer free alignment checks that will tell you if you're in need of an alignment. You'll not only maximize your suspension system and tire performance, you'll also save money down the road because you won't have to replace your tires as often.
Belle Tire is prepared to apply its expertise and support to provide consumers with discount tires, more auto care offerings and the best customer service possible. People have trusted Belle Tire for the best value since 1922. Now Belle Tire is working even harder to bring you the lowest tire price, period! And get you Out-The-Door with more value, services and protection the other stores can't offer at any price! To learn more about Belle Tire, please visit www.BelleTire.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)My wife is from Metro-Detroit and we lived there for a couple of years...my neighbors used to joke that there were only 2 seasons in MI...winter and road construction season!
Great article Wally. This piece has good information and advice. Thanks for sharing this with us. All the best to you and yours, ~Nenita~
I would make shorter paragraphs because, online anyway, it makes for an easier read. Good information and also something I don't keep up with enough! I live in New York which also has the same driving seasons.
Great information. You know alot about it. I guess I jsut take it to Pep Boys.
Very interesting topic.
Good tip and relevant in todays budget landscape.
Wally I am from Ohio so I know exactly what you are talking about. Adding pothole season was right on the money. Your article was very helpfull, a lot of people do not know the difference between wheel balancing and wheel alighnment. Thanks for writing the article that was both entertaining and informational.
Thanks a lot. At least I now know the difference between wheel balancing and wheel alignment.
Wally: thanks for the information about how to be sure the alignment is correct. I notice that most tire shops here in Brasil only balance the tires when purchased or rotating. They do an electronic alignment but sometimes my car still shimmies at higher speeds. I'll keep your information handy.
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