Discussion on Suspension Systems

Some people, when they think of vehicle performance, they are thinking of torque or horsepower if you will. However, the power generated by the engine is of no use, if you loose control of your vehicle. So you should pay attention to the different drivability systems of your car. First we we discuss the Suspension system. Control is key.


TIRES

The suspension system's job is to maximize performance between your vehicle and the road. So good tires is where you'd start. When choosing your tires pick the one that the manufacture suggest you to use. Over sized tires and tires not made for your make and model will restrict your vehicle's performance.



Posi-Trac tires -tires for high performance muscle cars such as the following: Firebird, Nova, and Camaro, such as an Iroc Z28. Posi-trac tires are directional to give the vehicle grip the road.


There are many manufacture of tires such as: Michelin, Kumo, Cooper, Uniroyal, Pirelli, BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, Dunlop, Yokohama, and Maxxis.

Be sure your vehicle whether it is a Classic car such as: Pontiac GTO, Plymouth Road Runner, Charger, Barracuda, a Cougar or a late model SUV's or a family style such as Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Dodge, Jeep, Chevrolet, Cadillac or European style has the recommended tire for that particular vehicle



Sometimes when people think of tires, wheels and hubcaps they think they are cosmetic additions their vehicle. Even thinking they can change wheel type and tire size. These alterations could create major safety and warranty issues with their vehicle. They were designed to operate safely and efficiently as the manufacturer intended. Altering wheel and tire sizes can create many issues such as: steering problems, changing the vehicles center of gravity and decreasing the stability of the vehicle. In some cases it may also Void your Manufacturers Warranty and Decrease your Insurance Protection Liability.


It's time to shop for tires when the tread has worn or the tire is damaged. Check your state regulations for when a tire should be replaced. Normally the tread should be worn to 3/32 of an inch. If you neglect your tires and the tread reaches 1/16 of an inch at any location it should be replaced immediately. The majority of tire failure occurs when the tread has worn to about 1/16 of an inch or less. When the smooth bands appear the tread has worn to about 1/16 of an inch.


All four tires on your vehicle needs to be the same size and type. Select the type and quality tires needed for the intended use of the vehicle and the manufacturer's recommendation. This is based on 1. How fast do you drive, 2. What type of loads you are carrying, 3. What kind of breaking and stopping quality you need and 4. How many miles do you want your tires to last? The Information is printed on the sidewall such as: Tire size, Type, Construction, Wheel size, Load range, Speed rating, Air pressure, Traction, Temperature, Tread wear, and DOT (Department of Transportation) code identifies the plant and date- week and year the tire was manufactured. This code is used for recalls.

Here at Weaver's Complete Auto Repair and Body Shop in Kannapolis, North Carolina, we specialize in all major and minor Suspension repairs.

Weaver's Complete Auto Repair and Body Shop
514 W 9th Street
Kannapolis, N.C. 28081
(704)706-4211