Keep Steering In Good Condition To Ensure Proper Truck Wheel Alignment And Tire Maintenance

Published: 2020-05-16 Views: 539
Author: texasautotrim
Published in: Business

Keep Steering In Good Condition To Ensure Proper Truck Wheel Alignment And Tire Maintenance

Did your vehicle come in violent contact with the road or the surface when you hit a very big pothole? If yes, then you need to take a look at your steering mechanism if you want to prevent excessive damage to your tires. Confused? What is the connection between these steering mechanism and your tires?

Well, the steering mechanism directs the wheels and commands the tires to move in one direction or the other. Theoretically speaking, the tire should be parallel to each other and should be traveling straight when the steering is in normal position.

However, if there is a slight deviation in the steering mechanism of your truck, it will mean that the tires would not be completely parallel. The moment such a problem arises; the tires shall operate in a slightly diagonal position.

That is to say, the line gone from one tire to another would not be completely parallel. Rather, it would be in the form of a parallel program. The end result is that the two tires will fight each other to stay in the same line. Obviously, this is going to lead to wear and tear on one side of the tire of your truck.

As you would travel over larger distances, the extent of wear and tear will increase. It is pertinent to note that this problem will be faced only by the front tires. The rear tire would be completely proper and normal. The end result is that the tires fixed at the front would be badly damaged while the tires fixed at the rear would be in reasonably good condition.

You will end up in the classic problem where you need to replace four tires just because two are damaged. How to avoid this problem? It is advisable to carry out <a href="https://texasautotrim.com/wheels-and-tires/">custom wheels houston</a> alignment tests on a regular basis. Further, it is important to check for wheel alignment after every major bump or every time your vehicle has hit the curb.

These precautions may cost you money in the short term. However, it will help you save a lot of money in the long run. Avoiding these problems is very important because wheel alignment is something that will have an immediate and instant effect on the condition of your tires.

It does not matter whether the tires are new or old or of good quality or of an unbranded manufacturer. Improper alignment of the wheel is automatically going to lead to performance issues in all tires of truck.

Vanagon Wheels: Why to Upgrade Your VW Wheels and What to Consider When You Do

Are you considering upgrading the wheels on your VW Vanagon? There are a number of good reasons to upgrade your Vanagon wheels, and the primary ones are safety and better handling. But don't just go with any larger wheels, make sure to get the right ones.

The 14" wheels that come standard on a VW Vanagon are literally just too small to do the job. You may already know that it's impossible to find tires that fit the standard Vanagon wheels and meet the safety requirements for the weight of the vehicle. Weighing in at over 4,000 pounds, no tires that fit the original 14" wheels are load-rated for the weight of the van. Of course, many people--yourself included perhaps--use 14" tires and get by for many years without accidents related to the weight of the van.

These people, however, are the ones who have to hold the steering wheel very tight (while praying to their angels) on a freeway to counteract the wobbling effect of a passing truck or strong cross wind. You see, the original VW Vanagon wheels are 14" x 5.5". This means the diameter of the wheel is 14" and the width (or "depth") of the wheel as measured from the outside of the car toward the center, is 5.5". When you upgrade your Vanagon's wheels, you'll be looking at wheels ranging from 7" to 7.5" in width.

So with the originals, you'll get blown all over the road, but the bigger wheels are wider, so there is more tire in contact with the ground at any time. As a result, the van will handle much more smoothly, you'll have increased stability, and, you won't feel every single bump in the pavement anymore either.

So if you're convinced that you want more stability, a smoother ride, and a higher safety standard, the next question is what kind of wheels to get for your VW Vanagon.

When you upgrade your Vanagon's wheels, you'll have to decide what size wheels you want to upgrade to. If your Vanagon is a Syncro, you'll probably want to consider 16" wheels, however for all other Vanagon wheels, 15" wheels are preferred. (Any larger and there just isn't enough room around the wheel well to have everything running correctly.)

Because the upgraded <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/erwolf73/vw-vanagon/">Vanagon</a> wheels are wider, many wheel upgrades require the use of a spacer in order to make sure the tires don't sit too close together. Spacers are also used when the bolt pattern of a wheel doesn't match the original bolt pattern on the car.

The bolt pattern describes the diameter of the imaginary circle between the centers of the lugs on the wheel. The Vanagon bolt pattern is 5 x 112. The first number in a bolt pattern, in this case, "5" refers to the number of bolt holes on the vehicle. The other number, "112" refers to the diameter of the imaginary circle created by the 5 bolt holes, which measures how far apart they are. On Vanagon wheels, this is measured in millimeters, so 112 mm is 11.2 cm or just under 4.5" inches. If your new Vanagon wheels don't have the same 5 x 112 bolt pattern, then a spacer may be used to "convert" the wheels.

There are two main drawbacks to using spacers, one more mechanical, one more cosmetic. Spacers can put an extra load on the wheel bearings, and they can also make the tires stick out beyond the fenders.

Vanagon wheels are generally made of either steel or aluminum alloy. Steel wheels are heavier, cheaper to make, and although they are durable, they're ugly. That's why steel wheels almost always are covered by hub caps. The alloy wheels are stronger, lighter, and because of their aesthetic appeal, do not require hub caps.

When you choose your Vanagon wheels, it's worth it to go for the alloys. And since different wheels have different designs so you'll want to pick one that highlights the unique style of your VW Vanagon.

So when you're considering the different types of Vanagon wheels, look for 15" Alloy wheels that have a 5 x 112 bolt pattern and don't require spacers.

Hopefully this article has helped you gain a better understanding of why you might consider upgrading your Vanagon wheels and what to look for when you do.

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