Everyone who's ever driven a vehicle of any kind understands how important it is to look after their tyres carefully so that they get good value out of their covers, maintain fuel efficiency and ensure a smooth ride. Tyres are designed to wear out with time but will certainly last a lot longer if they are correctly aligned at the outset and at regular intervals thereafter. This can be a relatively straightforward procedure on a car, but when it comes to a larger vehicle such as a truck, then additional elements have to be considered.

More Complication

The car owner will only need to worry about aligning the front wheels of their vehicle if they are to maintain the best practice. The rear wheels simply trail the front and are not involved in steering, per se, so there's little to worry about as far as alignment is concerned. However, there are usually several axles involved in truck wheel alignment, and due to the size and configuration of the rig, each axle must be addressed independently.

Set up

The axle connected to the drivetrain has to be addressed first, with the other axles then matched to the main axle to ensure that they're always perpendicular and travel parallel to the centreline of the truck. If they are not configured in this way, then they can produce unwanted forces that can have a significant effect on the drivability of the vehicle.

Driver Productivity

Axles that are out of line will either pull or push the vehicle away from the straight line and will make the driver's job a lot more difficult. He or she will have to constantly readjust the steering wheel, which will invariably make them more tired and less productive. Even the smallest error can lead to difficulties and this can detract from the profitability of the venture when gauged over time.

Worn Tyres

Misaligned axles can not only result in driver fatigue and increased fuel consumption, but will invariably cause a great deal of wear and tear to the tyres themselves. Due to the misalignment, the front tyres will be turned away from their desired angle to place great stress on the side walls, which will, in turn, wear down very quickly.

Bottom-Line

Truck wheel alignment is crucial if the organisation wants to achieve ultimate productivity with each vehicle. Otherwise, valuable profits may be frittered away due to excess fuel consumption, higher tyre bills and poor driver performance.