Goodyear and Haweka Promote Benefits of Tractor Wheel Alignment

The importance of correct wheel alignment is already widely conveyed in the truck and passenger car segments. In these parts of the market customers have been hearing about how correct alignment improves road comfort, fuel consumption and prevents premature wear for years. But what about the off-road and agricultural segments? Is it worth aligning vehicles that are literally designed to face the axle jolting lumps and bumps other drivers try to avoid? Goodyear and Haweka certainly think so.

In June Goodyear and Haweka teamed up to promote an agricultural wheel alignment programme that will see the two-companies promote the benefits of wheel alignment to customers, dealers and vehicle sales offices. Goodyear is communicating the tyre alignment message because, according to the company, tough economic times mean improving fuel consumption and preventing the costs that come with premature tyre wear are more important than ever. A similar partnership between the German branches of the two companies has been in operation for some time.

In order to witness the benefits of wheel alignment in action, Goodyear invited Tyres & Accessories to see a demonstration of the technology at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire. Over the years Goodyear Dunlop has developed a long-term partnership with Harper Adams and is therefore able to use this leading agricultural educational establishment’s specialist facilities (which include an off-road test track and specialised covered and open test ploughing fields) from time to time with which the company.

During the demonstration Jason Hoare, part of the technical support/sales team within Goodyear UK’s agricultural tyre department, stressed that being just 14 millimetres out of alignment (a measurement that is dwarfed by the size of your average tractor – and that has been known to be found on brand new vehicles) can reduce tyre life by 33 per cent and absorb nearly six horse power when travelling at 50 km/h.

Peter Spraggs, managing director of Haweka UK, explained that tractor wheel alignment using the company’s equipment takes about 15 minutes including time for making adjustments. The Haweka alignment unit uses a laser-based system £3,600

To make adjustment easy, the front wheels are placed on turning plates so the tyres do not deflect. The magnetically-mounted frame and laser is then attached to the rear axle to make sure the steering is set straight ahead. To get a reading of how much the tyres are out of alignment, markers are positioned a distance of five times the front rim diameter ahead of and behind the tractor’s front axle.