Adam's Auto Solution Blog

Proper wheel alignment ensures that tires come into contact with the road at the right angle. The tires rotate in a straight line, which promotes even wear and tear and eases truck steering. Conversely, tire misalignment causes difficulties in braking, handling and steering, thereby jeopardising safety. It also exerts stress on the suspension system and increases the risk of costly repairs. Therefore, as a commercial truck owner or driver, it's vital to note and address the following issues that may cause tire misalignment in your truck.

New truck wheels

A tire alignment isn't necessary when installing new truck wheels. However, it is a good idea, especially if you want to maximise the usable life of the new tires. Installing new wheels may slightly throw off the angle of contact between the tire and the ground. Consequently, this can cause uneven wear and tear on your tires. By aligning the new wheels, you adjust and correct the angles of the suspension to improve tire contact with the road.

Suspension modifications

Suspension modifications can improve truck performance, boost driver comfort and increase ground clearance. Some popular truck suspension upgrades include changing truck shocks, lifting or lowering the truck, upgrading the bushes and installing bigger wheels. Suspension modifications usually affect the angles of the camber, toe-in and caster:

• Camber angle: The camber angle is the angle of the wheels when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Modifications to the suspension can cause a negative camber angle on the truck wheels, leading to uneven wear and tear.
• Toe angle: Toe angle measures the direction of the tires in relation to the truck's centerline as viewed from above. Tires that are pointing inwards have a positive toe angle or toe-in. If the tires are pointing outwards, they have a negative toe angle, which can lead to uneven wear.
• Caster angle: The caster angle is the angle of the steering pivot on the suspension. When this angle is negative on one of the front wheels, the truck pulls to one side, even when driving in a straight line.

If you have recently modified your truck suspension, you should align the suspension to correct the camber, toe and caster angles. 

Poor road conditions

Poor road conditions coupled with bad driving habits can cause wheel misalignment. For example, if you hit a pothole at high speeds, the impact and sudden jolt can throw the suspension out of alignment. Similarly, speeding on rough terrain, barrelling over speed bumps and braking hard can cause parts of the suspension, such as the shocks, to loosen or wear prematurely. 

Monitor your truck tires regularly for misalignment and uneven wear and tear. Contact an auto service for truck wheel alignment and inspection.