Auto Servicing: Understanding Wheel and Tyre Maintenance Practices
There are numerous maintenance tasks that must be performed for your vehicle to perform optimally. Unfortunately, the wheels and tyres are often forgotten in the routine servicing practices. This leads to premature wear of the components and unexpected failure when driving. You can avoid the inconvenience and costs attached to tyre repair and replacement by performing routine upkeep tasks. The practices will also ensure that the wear rate is gradual, promoting a better experience when driving. Here is a brief discussion of the critical wheel and tyre maintenance tasks.
Tyre Rotation
Tyre wear rates can vary due to driving conditions and even the vehicle design. In simple terms, the total weight exerted by the rear and the front axle is different. In most cases, the front wheels will experience accelerated wear because of the engine weight. In addition, the turning practices when driving will contribute to more wear on one side. For instance, if the turns in your normal routes are tighter on one side, the wheels on the other end will wear faster because of the longer travel distance. Tyre rotation involves moving the wheels and the tyres in your vehicle to different positions. This will promote even wear of the tread during the service life of the pertinent tyres.
Wheel Alignment
The manufacturer sets the angle of the wheels at a specific position when a vehicle is manufactured and assembled. This angle is designed to provide the tyre and the wheel with maximum contact with road. Unfortunately, the wheels will eventually fall out of this ideal setting as the vehicle is used and when the tyres are replaced. This can be attributed to the strain of normal driving conditions. Moreover, the wheels are likely to fall out of alignment in adverse off-road conditions or after road accidents. Basically, wheel alignment is the practice of adjusting the angle of the wheels to match the original manufacturer settings. This will make certain that the movement of the vehicle is straight and that the tyres are worn evenly.
Tyre Balancing
The distribution of the weight exerted on an auto tyre and the rest of the wheel can be different. Simply speaking, if the weight on one part of the wheel is higher than the other, the tyre is considered unbalanced. The balancing process is designed ensure that the mass is evenly distributed and asymmetry in the wheels eliminated. This will reduce vibrations and wobbling when driving.
You should have an auto technician regularly inspect and service your wheels and tyres for long-term performance.
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