Tire alignment is one of the most important factors that help the tires on your vehicle perform properly and last longer. A tire straightener can also improve handling and keep your car from wandering in one direction or even from bouncing awkwardly on the road.
What is a tire calendar?
The concept of straightening refers to the modification of a car's suspension system - the system that connects the car to its wheels. It is not a modification of the tires themselves or the wheels themselves. The alignment switch is actually a process of adjusting the angles of the tires that affect how they contact the road.
How do you know if you need a tire straightening?
There are two ways to find out if your car needs a tire straightener. And if you have noticed one or more of these indicators, you should check the tires and how long they have been running and go to the nearest licensed service technician to do so. They are as follows:
- Disproportionate wear between tires
- The car strays to the right or left without justification
- The steering wheel is uneven when driving straight ahead
- The steering wheel vibrates while driving
When a technician checks your car, he or she will pay attention to 3 things: bow, spacing and axle pitch
1. curvature
It is the inner or outer corner of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Internal or external curvature, also known as negative and positive curvature, respectively refer to improper curvature which means that this curvature needs to be modified. Damage to the bearings, ball joints, and other wheel suspension parts can contribute to wheel misalignment and wheel arches.
2. spacing
This problem differs from arch, which is the extent to which tires appear to be tilted inward or outward when viewed from above. If this is confusing for you, stand up and look down at your feet. Angle your feet inward toward the center of your body. When the tires on your car are oriented the same way we call that inward spacing. Point your feet outward and you will see an outward divergence. Both require modification.
3. inclination of the axis
The angle of the wheels helps you to steer your vehicle in a balanced and stable manner. Specifically, it's the angle of your steering axle when viewed from the side of your vehicle. If you have positive curvature, the steering axis is tilted toward the driver. A negative bow, on the other hand, means the steering axis is tilted toward the front of your vehicle.
Why is wheel alignment important?
Wheel misalignment can lead to unbalanced and premature tire wear. The following are some types of unjustified wear and tear caused by wheel misalignment:
1. feathering
Tires become feathery when the tread is smooth on one side and sharp on the other. This is usually a sign of misalignment and arching of the wheels.
2. Fraying due to wheel arches
This strain of wear means the inside or outside of the tire is much more worn than the center of the tyre. As the name suggests, positive or negative curvature causes this type of corrosion.
3. Damage due to wheel spacing
This occurs when one side of the tire tread wears more quickly than the other in the circumferential direction. When you run your hand over the frame, you will feel it like the teeth of a saw when viewed from the side. This type of wear can be a sign of low or high air pressure, or a tire outage problem as well.
- If you are experiencing any unusual wear patterns, you should bring the problem to a specialist for wheel alignment checks.