Wheel and Tire Service
Conner Judge
1. Wheels
1.1 Materials
Wheels are designed using multiple types of materials. Aluminum, Magnesium,
Aluminum Alloy, Steel, and Chrome plated. These materials are used for different wheel designs
for manufacturers.
1.2 Size/Design
Manufacturers design their wheel size around the amount of torque produced. They will use
these specifications to determine what type, size, and tire size would properly work. The design is
dependent on the type of material, the load rating, and purpose of the rim.
1.2.1 Diameter
The diameter of a wheel can affect how much torque is needed to
turn it. A larger wheel requires more torque to turn than a smaller wheel.
This is why different car manufacturers use different wheel and tire sizes
for their vehicles.
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1.2.2 Offset
“The offset of a wheel is the distance from the
hub mounting surface to the center line of the wheel.
The wheel offset is measured in millimeters and results
in a positive, negative, or zero offset. Positive offset is
when the hub mounting surface is toward the front or
wheel side of the wheel. It is common to find a positive
offset in newer and front wheel drive vehicles. Negative
offset is when the hub mounting surface is toward the
back or brake side of the wheels’ centerline. A negative
offset wheel usually has a "deep lip" Zero offset The
hub mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.” (TSW Alloy Wheels)
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1.2.3 Center Hole configuration
The size of the center hole and number of lugs
depends on the amount of torque the engine produces and
puts out through the axe. Some center holes are designed to
sit on the hub to take stress off the lugs. Most hubs are
designed from the factory to perfectly match to minimize the
amount of vibration from the road.
1.2.4 Load capacity
Manufacturers specify their max load ratings and tire diameters on the back size of the rim. If
the wheels do not have a load rating, then they should not be used on the vehicle. OEM wheel
manufacturers will provide these specifications, but some aftermarket manufacturers will not.
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1.3 Warranty
Wheel warranties will vary between each manufacture. For example, Kia provides coverage for
any damage by road hazards. They offer a standard plan for three, four, or five-year plan. A $40
allowance for each tire repaired and up to $200 for each tire or wheel replaced. The maximum amount
you can claim is $1,200 for lifetime repairs or replacements. The deluxe plan offers the same year
coverage as well as the $40 allowance for each tire repaired. The benefit of this plan is a $5,000 lifetime
maximum for repair or replacement.
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1.4 Aftermarket consideration
There are many aftermarket brands to choose from when looking at wheels. When searching for
aftermarket wheels they should have a load rating and tire diameter printed on the rim. If not, your rims
may not be able to handle the weight, speed, or maneuverability of the vehicle.
1.5 Service
Wheel and tire service is available at dealerships and independent shops across the world. At an
automotive shop that has the equipment and trained technicians will provide new tires, dismount,
disposal, and provide mounting and balancing as services available.
1.5.1 Runout
Runout can cause a wobble sensation
when driving. Lateral runout is the side-to-side
motion of the tire or rim while rotating. Radial
runout is from the tire or rim rotating as an oval
shape instead of a circle.
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1.5.2 Balance
Almost every tire is
balanced when it is made, but still
requires getting balanced after
mounted onto the rim. This is
because the balance points of the
tire and rim may not match completely. After adding the proper weight, the wheel will have its weight
around the rim spread evenly and be balanced. “You can balance a square wheel, but it wouldn’t drive
very well.” -Mr. Boyle
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Weights
1.5.3 Rim straightening
Rim straightening is a service available for bent or damaged wheels. This service is important
because it helps the rim stay balanced. Preventing vibrations and excessive noise. Dealers, independent
shops, and some rim manufacturers have a rim straightening machine and will offer this service.
2. Tires
2.1 Types of tires
Summer Passenger, All-Season Passenger, Winter/Snow Passenger, Temporary/Compact Spare,
Track & Competition DOT, Summer Light Truck/SUV, All-Season Light Truck/SUV, On/Off-Road Light
Truck/SUV, Winter/Snow Light Truck/SUV, and Trailer Tires. These labels indicate the different types and
purpose tires. Winter/Snow tires are designed to have high grip in low traction conditions. While the
Summer tires are designed for heat resistance.
2.2 Tread differences
Each tire is designed with a specific tread to perform a specific way. Winter tires have more grip
designs in their tread to perform better in the rain and snow while summer tires have a smoother tread
design.
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2.3 Specifications
2.3.1 Tire Wear/Tread life
The treadwear rating is printed on the sidewall of tires. “The grades are
assigned by the tire manufacturers based on their test results or those
conducted by an independent testing company they have hired. The NHTSA has
the right to inspect the tire manufacturer's data and can fine them if
inconsistencies are found.” Some companies such as Uniform Tire Quality Grade
Standards (UTQG) will test their tires in a 400-mile loop in west Texas for a total
of 7,200 miles.
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2.3.2 Load
The load index shows the weight limit the tire can handle. The greater the load index number
the greater its load carrying capacity. Mention what makes a tire with a high load carrying designation
different from a lower load rated tire.
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0/sidewallinfo
2.3.3 Temperature
The temperature grades identify how much the tires resistance to generate heat at speeds. Tires
graded A have the highest resistance to heat generation. While C would create more heat, being less
effective. “The grades are assigned by the tire manufacturers based on their test results or those
conducted by an independent testing company they have hired.” Some companies such as Uniform Tire
Quality Grade Standards (UTQG) will test their tires in a 400-mile loop in west Texas for a total of 7,200
miles.
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2.3.4 Warranty
Most tread life/mileage warranties cover around 30,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the tire
manufacturer and what grade tire being bought. This warranty helps assure customers that their tire will
perform for that amount of mileage or further. In able to receive the warranty a consumer must prove
that all tires were properly inflated, rotated and aligned, and replace worn suspension components as
necessary. This warranty will give you pro-rated replacement when tires need replacing. Most states’
law requires replacement of tires when reaching 2/32” of remaining tread depth. Some manufacture
warranties will even give you 25% if all four tires are even worn down to 2/32” before reaching the
stated mileage coverage.
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2.4 Service
2.4.1 Patching/Pluging
Tires that need patching or plugging can only be done if the puncture hole is NOT bigger than
6mm (1/4). Manufactures specify that you are to never repair a tire that is at the 2/32 mark on any spot
on the tire.
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2.4.2 Removal considerations
When tires need replaced you must use a tire machine
to teardown, mount, and balance the tire on the rim. For every
day tires and even some low-profile tires a regular tire machine
will work. Each piece of the tire machine has its own functions.
The swing-arm on the top of the machine sits next to the lip of
a rim and Is used as a pivot point to get the tire off the rim. It is
used in both direction for mounting and dismounting purposes.
The Center of the machine is where you place the rim. The
machine has four arms that hold the rim onto the machine. This
is done by the foot pedal on the bottom. After gripping the rim
the machine will be able to rotate the rim in either direction to
help mounting and dismounting There is also an air chuck
attached for quick inflation. Along with a bead blaster that shoots air pressure through the center
mounting arms to sit the tire correctly.
Some newer tire machines have a design that will lift the
wheel onto the machine for you. The arm on the bottom right
seen in (figure below) uses air pressure to puncture the bead of a
tire. With the newer modeled machines come with nylon bead
breakers instead of the side mounted bead breaker.
Still today if you want to you can buy a tire removal stand and can
remove and mount a tire without a machine.
2.4.3 Match mount
Match mount is the positioning of the tire mounted onto the wheel. It minimizes and helps to
eliminate imbalances. To find this manufacturer test their tires and find the maximum radial force
variation. And its lightest balance points. Manufacturers mark their maximum radial runout point with a
red dot. A yellow dot indicates the least weight.
Other match mount issues may be found when custom wheels require hubcentrics. Hubcentrics
are adapters to properly fit a wheel to a hub assembly. These may need to be installed with some
aftermarket wheels. Even wheel fasteners much match the seat of the wheel correctly.
The wheel fastener seat style must
match the seat style of the wheels to
be installed. Shown here are (l. to r.):
conical nut, conical nut with shank
extension, radius nut and wheel bolt
featuring a radius seat.
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2.4.4 Balance
When balancing a wheel, most
machines will ask you for the
dimensions. The tire machine will have
functions to figure out the wheel sizes.
After entering the wheel size choose what type of balancing you will be
doing. Either hammer on weights or sticky weights depending on the rim
and owner. Lower the top of the machine down and it will spin the wheel
and displays what weight is needed where on the rim. Try to minimize the
usage of weights for proper balancing.
2.4.5 Road Force
Some vibrations can’t be fixed by balancing the tires. Attached to some tire machines is a Road
Force roller. This roller applies 1,200 pounds of pressure to mimic the vehicles weight while going down
the road. This roller is attached to a computer which reads any
bumps or out-of-round areas on the tire and tells you how to
position the tire to maximize a smooth ride.
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2.4.6 Runout
Vibrations that still occur after balancing a tire may be
a cause of runout. Many components can cause runout on a
tire such as flat spots, off center, and bent rims. Those are just
a couple examples of what could cause runout. If vibrations are
occurring after balancing your tires, check to see if the tire is simply
out of round. You can also perform a road force test, if the proper
machine is available, to figure out what areas of the tire is causing the
vibration.
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