Alignment Basics

Caster

Caster is the angle of the steering axis (the part of the suspension that supports the wheel and tyre assembly). Viewed from the side of the vehicle, an imaginary line drawn between the centers of the upper and lower ball joints forms an angle with true vertical, this is defined as Caster. The illustration to the right shows whether this angle is referred to as positive or negative. Caster is important to steering feel and high-speed stability

Camber

Viewed from the front of the diagram, camber describes the inward or outward tilt of the tyre. The illustration to the right shows whether this tilt is referred to as positive or negative. The camber adjustment maximizes the tyre-to-road contact and takes into account the changes of force when a vehicle is turning. Camber is the one adjustment that can be set according to driving habits. Generally, if you drive more aggressively when cornering, more negative camber can be set. If you drive on highways and do very little hard cornering, more positive camber can be set.

Toe

From the illustration above, the vehicle, toe describes whether the fronts of the tyres are closer (toe-in) or farther (toe-out)apart than the rears of the tyres. The illustration below shows this relationship. Toe settings vary between front and rear wheel drive vehicles. In a front wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels try to pull toward each other when the vehicle is in motion, which requires a compensating toe-out setting. A rear wheel drive vehicle works just the opposite, necessitating a toe-in setting. Stated differently, toe is set to let the tyres roll in parallel (at zero toe) when the vehicle is in motion.

Ride Height

Ride height is simply the distance between the vehicle’s frame and the road. This is the reference point for all alignment measurements. Vehicle customizing will often include raising or lowering the vehicle. Don’t forget to have your vehicle aligned afterward. Also, this rule applies if you put a taller or shorter tyre on your vehicle.

Misalignment and Tyre Wear

By now you may have concluded that poor tyre wear and misalignment are closely related. That is correct!

But what can be done to minimize this condition? It turns out that many of these misalignment conditions can be read by a tyre expert, and he can recommend the appropriate solution, which will definitely be “get your alignment corrected” For your assistance, Armed yourself with this knowledge to be able to check your tyres periodically. Thus a knowledgeable glance at your tyres on occasion can pay big dividends.

Send in your comments please…..

AIR PRESSURE

Check Your Air Pressure! Proper Inflation Saves Gas!

As Fuel/Gas prices continue to reach all-time highs, drivers are frequently looking for more ways to save money on gas. While you can't control the price of gas, you can control how efficiently your vehicle uses it. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure that your tyres are properly inflated.

The Consequences of Underinflated Tyres

Tyres that are underinflated can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi (pound per square inch) drop in the pressure of all four tyres. While you may think that it's unlikely that your tyres are underinflated, the statistics might surprise you. A major survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 27% of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks (including SUVs & Vans) on U.S. roadways have one or more tyres underinflated by at least eight psi.

Poor gas mileage isn't the only consequence of underinflated tyres, however. Tyres that are substantially underinflated compromise both safety and tyre life span. According to the NHTSA, driving a vehicle with tyres that are significantly underinflated increases the risk of tyre failure, including blowouts and tread separation. These incidents could potentially result in loss of control of the vehicle.

The Benefits of Correct Air Pressure

Many industry experts agree that keeping the correct air pressure in your tyres is as important as giving your engine a tune-up. Properly inflated tyres also last longer, allow you to save money by getting more mileage out of your tyres and help to replace them less frequently.

The Importance Of Regular Air Pressure Checks

Regularly checking the air pressure in your tyres is an important task, yet many drivers frequently overlook it. The need for tyre pressure maintenance is often put off until it is too late and a driver is forced to deal with the consequences. A careful Drivers need to be aware that tyres lose a little bit of air pressure each day. In cool weather, tyres typically lose one or two pounds of pressure per month. In warm weather, the loss rate increases. Therefore, it's crucial for you to realize that, while appearances may not indicate it, your tyres are continuously losing air pressure.

Refilling your tyres is as important as refilling your gas tank. Associating the two is a good way to remind yourself to check your air pressure. If you check the air pressure in your tyres every other time you stop to refuel your car, you should be checking consistently.

Additional Information on Air Pressure:

contact: +2348023257290

Inflation Saves Fuel

Air Pressure Check!

As fuel prices continue to reach all-time highs, drivers are frequently looking for more ways to save money on fuel. While you can’t control the continue increase price of fuel, you can control how efficiently your vehicle uses it. One of the best ways to do that is to ensure that your tyres are properly inflated.

The Consequences of Under Inflated Tyres

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tyres that are under inflated can lower fuel mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi (Pound per Square Inch) drop in the pressure of all four tyres. While you may be thinking that it’s unlikely that your tyres are under inflated, the statistics might surprise you. A major survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 27 percent of passenger cars and 32 percent of light trucks (including SUVs and vans) on road have one or more tyres under inflated by at least eight psi.

Poor fuel/gas mileage is not the only consequence of under inflated tyres, however, Tyres that are substantially under inflated compromise both safety and tyre life span. According to the NHTSA, driving a vehicle with  significantly under inflated tyres increases the risk of tyre failure, including blowouts and tread separation. These incidents could potentially result in loss of control of the vehicle.

The Benefits of Correct Air Pressure

Many industry experts agree that keeping the correct air pressure in your tyres is as important as giving your engine a tune-up. Thus properly inflated tyres also last longer, allowing drivers to save money by getting more mileage out of their tyres mileage span and having to replace them less frequently.

The Importance Of Regular Air Pressure Checks

1. Regularly checking the air pressure in your tyres is an important task, yet many drivers frequently overlook it. The need for tyre pressure maintenance is often put off until it is too late and a driver is forced to deal with the consequences. Drivers need to be aware that tyres lose a little bit of air pressure each day. In cool weather, tyres typically lose one or two pounds of pressure per month. In warm weather, the loss rate increases. Therefore, it is essential  for drivers to realize that, though appearances may not indicate it, their tyres are continuously losing air pressure.
2. Refilling your tyres is as important as refilling your fuel/gas tank. Associating the two is a good way to remind yourself to check your air pressure. If you check the air pressure in your tyres every other time you stop to get gas, you should be checking consistently.

Additional Information on Air Pressure

We have a more in-depth info on air pressure and this article includes a guide to help you find the air pressure information specific to your vehicle and instructions on how to check your air pressure. kindly drop comments regarding any challenges you may be facing with your tyres.

Cheers…

Mr Dougie On Air @Security24/7

What Do The Numbers On My Tyre Represnt?

Taking a first glance at the sidewall of your tyre, you often asked yourself, “’Do I need a super secret decoder ring to read this?” In addition to the Brand name of the tyre, there is a series of numbers that at first, you don’t deem important. However, these numbers are extremely helpful, especially when it’s time replacing your tyres. 

Here is a quick breakdown that may unveil to you some of the best kept secrets in the automotive world.

TIRE SIZE

Example: P225/50/R17 98H

P identifies your tyre as a Passenger Tyre. The P stands for PMetric. If your tyre size starts with LT, it identifies the tyre as a Light Truck tyre.

225 identifies the tyre section width, which is the measurement of the tyre from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters. This measurement varies depending on the rim to which it is fitted.

(There are 25.4 millimeters per 1 inch.)

50 is the two-figure aspect ratio. This percentage compares the tyre's section height with the tyre's section width. For example, this aspect ratio of 50 means that the tyre's section height is 50% of the tyre's section width.

R indicates the construction used within the tyres casing. R stands for radial construction. B means belted bias and D stands for diagonal bias construction.

17 The last dimension listed in the size is the diameter of the wheel rim, which is most often measured in inches.

LOAD INDEX AND SPEED RATING

Example: P225/50/R17 98H

The load index and speed rating, or service description, are the numbers that follow the tyre size.

The load index tells you how much weight the tyre can support when properly inflated. Load index range from 75 - 105 for passenger tires, with each numeric value corresponding to a certain carrying capacity. The carrying capacity for each value can be found on a load index chart. On each U.S. passenger car tyre, the load limit is listed in pounds. European tyres have the load limit listed in kilograms and sometimes pounds.

H Speed ratings are represented by letters ranging from A to Z. Each letter coincides to the maximum speed a tire can sustain under its recommended load capacity. For instance, S is equivalent to a maximum speed of 112 mph. Even though a tyre can perform at this speed, though we does not advocate exceeding legal speed limits.

Rating	Maximum Speed
Q	100 MPH
S	112 MPH
T	118 MPH
U	124 MPH
H	130 MPH
V	149 MPH
W	168 MPH
Y	186 MPH
Z	Over 149 MPH

 

DOT Serial Number

The "DOT" symbol certifies the tyre manufacturer's compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) tyre safety standards. Tyres made in the United States have the DOT serial number located on the inside sidewall near the rim.

Below is a description of the serial number. Starting with the year 2000, four numbers are used for the Date of Manufacture, first two numbers identify the week and the last two numbers identify the year of manufacture.

Prior to year 2000 three numbers are used for the date of manufacture, first two numbers identify the week and the last number identifies the year of manufacture. To identify tyres manufactured in the 90s, a decade symbol (a triangle on its side) is located at the end of the DOT serial number.

ALIGNMENT

Caster

Caster is the angle of the steering axis (the part of the suspension that supports the wheel and tyre assembly). Viewed from the side of the vehicle, an imaginary line drawn between the centers of the upper and lower ball joints forms an angle with true vertical, this is defined as Caster. The illustration to the right shows whether this angle is referred to as positive or negative. Caster is important to steering feel and high-speed stability

Camber

Viewed from the front of the diagram, camber describes the inward or outward tilt of the tyre. The illustration to the right shows whether this tilt is referred to as positive or negative. The camber adjustment maximizes the tyre-to-road contact and takes into account the changes of force when a vehicle is turning. Camber is the one adjustment that can be set according to driving habits. Generally, if you drive more aggressively when cornering, more negative camber can be set. If you drive on highways and do very little hard cornering, more positive camber can be set.

Toe

From the illustration above, the vehicle, toe describes whether the fronts of the tyres are closer (toe-in) or farther (toe-out)apart than the rears of the tyres. The illustration below shows this relationship. Toe settings vary between front and rear wheel drive vehicles. In a front wheel drive vehicle, the front wheels try to pull toward each other when the vehicle is in motion, which requires a compensating toe-out setting. A rear wheel drive vehicle works just the opposite, necessitating a toe-in setting. Stated differently, toe is set to let the tyres roll in parallel (at zero toe) when the vehicle is in motion.

Ride Height

Ride height is simply the distance between the vehicle’s frame and the road. This is the reference point for all alignment measurements. Vehicle customizing will often include raising or lowering the vehicle. Don’t forget to have your vehicle aligned afterward. Also, this rule applies if you put a taller or shorter tyre on your vehicle.

Misalignment and Tyre Wear

By now you may have concluded that poor tyre wear and misalignment are closely related. That is correct!

But what can be done to minimize this condition? It turns out that many of these misalignment conditions can be read by a tyre expert, and he can recommend the appropriate solution, which will definitely be “get your alignment corrected” For your assistance, Armed yourself with this knowledge to be able to check your tyres periodically. Thus a knowledgeable glance at your tyres on occasion can pay big dividends.

Send in your comments please…..