Basic Types of Tyre Alignment Services
Wheel alignment ensures your tyres are working properly and improves the handling of your vehicle. Tyre alignment means adjusting the system that connects your car to the wheel, also known as the vehicle's suspension. If you notice your vehicle pulling to the right or left, the steering wheel is off the centre when driving, or the steering wheel is vibrating, you need to get your tyres aligned. Here are some of the basic types of wheel alignment.
Caster, Thrust, and Toe Alignment
The caster angle balances the steering, cornering, and stability of the vehicle. The caster angle is the steering angle when examined from the side of your car. A positive caster means that the steering axis is oriented towards the driver. A negative caster means the steering axis is oriented toward the front of your car.
Thrust alignment occurs when the front wheels of a car are oriented with the rear axle. Thrust is the direction where the rear wheels are moving. The alignment ensures that the direction of the rear wheels matches the direction of the front wheels.
The toe angle compares the angles of tyres with the centre of the vehicle. Toe-in means the tyres are facing each other. Toe-out means the tyres are pointed in different directions. The right toe-position for your vehicle depends on the car's suspension and will also vary depending on whether your car is an all-wheel-drive, rear-wheel, or front-wheel.
Two-Wheel and Four-Wheel Alignment
A two-wheel alignment focuses on the two front wheels. These wheels need to be aligned toward the centre of the vehicle. The rear wheels are often disregarded because they are usually correctly aligned with the centre of the vehicle. Because of the popularity of front-wheel drive, most cars only need two-wheel alignments.
A four-wheel alignment is where the four wheels of a vehicle are adjusted to make them parallel to each other, the thrust angle of the vehicle, and the ground. Four-wheel is for four-wheel drives because they have independent suspensions for each wheel. Four-wheel alignment is also used for front-wheel drives with adjustable suspensions. This form of alignment is commonly used for sports cars to improve the driving experience.
Summing It Up
Aligning the wheels of your vehicles is crucial for a good driving experience. When wheels are misaligned, you are likely to be involved in accidents because your steering wheel and other functions of your car will be compromised. The basic types of wheel alignments include caster, toe, thrust, two-wheel, and four-wheel alignments.
Contact a professional if you have further questions about car tyres.