Traction Control
Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) and
Traction Control(AST) Systems - while anti-lock brakes, traction control, and
vehicle stability systems help make it easier to utilize your tire's full
potential, none of these systems actually provides more traction. These systems
are only capable of manipulating or limiting your vehicle's acceleration,
braking and cornering capabilities to the traction provided by your tyres
All-Wheel Drive Systems
(AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive Systems (4WD) SUVs and light trucks have become very
popular among drivers living in the Snow Belt. While their year-round
versatility certainly plays a role, they are often selected primarily because
their all-wheel/four-wheel drive systems make winter driving easier.
The ability of these systems
to divide the vehicle's power among all four tyres provides a real advantage
when accelerating on slippery roads. So, whether your vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, traction control, a vehicle stability system, four-wheel drive or
all-wheel drive, it is your tyres that provide the real traction
Wheel / Steering Geometry
Tracking - is
where the front wheels are checked against each other using a laser and then
moved until the beam is a mirror of itself on the opposite wheel. However, you
need to ask yourself this question, what are the wheels actually being aligned
to? The answer is not each other; in fact they are not being aligned to
anything using tracking. The gauges may show the wheels as being out of
alignment; however, what they do not show is which one(s) will need adjusting
and there is no way of knowing what the actual angles measure.
They should be aligned to
the rear thrust angle; which is the centre point of the vehicles chassis and
should always be as close to zero degrees as possible. There is an imaginary
line joining both the front and rear wheels together and then a line joining
these down the centre. Where the centre line meets the line joining the rear
wheels this is the thrust angle and it shows where all four wheels sit in
relation to each other.
Geometry - the
direction and angle at which tyres are set are both important. When a
vehicle is measured on a geometry machine each wheel can be independently
aligned to the thrust angle with the help of viewing the angles on a computer
screen. This is done via separate panels being positioned on each wheel, which
are then linked to the computer via lasers. It does not matter if the car only
has adjustable front/rear toe, camber, caster or all three. If the rear
suspension is adjustable in some form, then geometry check is a must, nothing
else will suffice.
Tyre Sidewalls
The sidewall forms a bridge between the tread and plies. Largely
made with cross-linked polymers but reinforced with fabric or steel cords that
provide for strength and flexibility. The sidewall transmits the torque applied
by the drive axle to the tread in order to create traction. The sidewall, in
conjunction with the air inflation, also supports the load of the vehicle.
Most tyres will lose pressure over time and they should be
checked on a regular basis, it is also a good idea to check the tyre’s
condition especially the sidewalls. A tyre sidewalls absorbs road variations by
flexing and following the contours of the road, sudden failures will usually
occur while travelling at high speed on imperfect roads. Small cracks can open
rapidly, releasing the tire's air pressure in a severe blow-out with no warning
whatsoever. These cracks can lead to a sudden fracture severe enough to
separate the tyre from the rim with catastrophic results.
Tyre Inflation Pressure
A
recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported
that 27 percent of cars and 32 percent of vans, pickups and SUV's had at least
one tyre that was under inflated. Eight percent of light trucks and 3 percent
of cars had all four tyres under inflated.
Having the correct pressures
in your tyres is essential for safety and efficiency. Under-inflated tyres can
be dangerous; running 30 per cent below the recommended pressures gives a sharp
increase in the risk of aquaplaning on wet roads. Low pressure also affects the
car’s handling and reduces cornering ability, and can cause a build-up of
excess heat that can permanently weaken the tyre’s structure, possibly causing
it to fail.
This
survey estimates low tyre pressure kills as
many as 79 people a year with as many as 10,635 people at year injured. Under
inflated tyres also wear out more quickly and reduce fuel efficiency.
Tyre pressure should be
checked on a regular basis; don't fill the tire to the maximum pressure rating
on the tire sidewall. This figure does not take into account a specific
vehicle's needs but rather what the tire is capable of holding under max load.
The door placard is the place you want to get your air pressure specs. You can
of course adjust this plus or minus a few pounds (3-5 PSI) depending on tire,
load and handling. The correct pressure is important both for safety and for a
long tyre life.
Check tyre pressures (including the spare tyre) monthly, and
before any long trip. Tyre pressures should be checked cold (tyres not having
run for at least 2 hours, or run for less than 2 miles at low speed).
I
would like to think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to
detailing and to professionals alike, as well as industry experts who seek to
advance their knowledge.
I hope the
above article was informative. By having some understanding of the ‘What’ and
‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little science to help you understand
how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you would share this article as it
helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive
comments are always appreciated.
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