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A wheel and tire assembly seems like a relatively simple structure that's ready
to do its job once fitted together, balanced and mounted on your car. However,
like many things, it's more complicated than it seems. In years past when
suspensions were very "soft" and forgiving, this approach worked a great
majority of the time. Though the tire and wheel were actually creating a minor
disturbance, it wasn't enough to be felt in the driver's seat.
Today's high performance suspensions, lighter weight vehicles, and lower profile
tires have changed all that. Now the slightest vibrations can be felt.
Fortunately, with respect to the wheel and tire, there is a solution called Ride
Matching. Here's why you need it:
When a wheel and tire are mounted together they are seldom joined at the one
ideal spot. Each of these units, though it may be built to specification,
frequently adds to the slight error of the other. When combined, they can
generate a vibration you can feel.
As they spin together, the tire and wheel exert forces simultaneously in
different directions. Thanks to advancing technology, a system has been
developed to measure all these forces and calculate how this particular
wheel/tire pairing should be matched in order to ride as a perfectly smooth unit.
It's important to note that the source of disturbance is something that
cannot be sensed during wheel balancing. It is an entirely different
problem that necessitates Ride Matching. This process takes a skilled
operator approximately twenty minutes to perform on a set of tires and
wheels for a vehicle. The result, however, improves ride quality,
performance and wear (remember that a smooth riding tire lasts longer).
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