M.D. Alignment tackles irregular tire wear and handling problems
M.D. Alignment now offers a series of instructional videos for truck operators and repair shops, developed to improve understanding of irregular tire wear and its causes. Based on a list of the most frequently asked questions from clients, the videos help operators identify the types of irregular tire wear they might be experiencing, help them identify the cause of the wear, and provide spec'ing, repair and service solutions to resolve the problems.
"This is the art and science of solving irregular tire wear," says M.D. Alignment's president, Mike Beckett. "The solutions proposed in each video are based on a combination of engineering, gut feeling and personal experience in dealing with irregular tire wear for more than 40 years."
As a follow-up to M.D. Alignment's highly successful books, "Truck Wheel Alignment, A Common Man's Guide," and "Common Sense for the Common Man, Tire Wear and Handling Seminar Handbook," the videos expand on those themes with live-action graphics, animation and shop-floor footage.
In a folksy, easy to understand and a decidedly non-technical manner, Beckett takes viewers from identifying the problem to solving the problem in 15 to 30 minutes per video. Alignment technicians, fleet owners and owner-operators will benefit from Beckett's deep understanding of the principles behind tire wear, and his ability to explain them in common language.
"With this video series, we set out to help customers solve their tire wear problems, not just to reset the truck to factory specs," Beckett says. "For a variety of reasons, the factory settings aren't always what's needed. We take an "as-driven" approach to vehicle alignment and suspension performance, and help customers set their trucks for their environment and application."
Customers of M.D. Alignment's books and telephone tech support report increases in tire life that saved single-truck operators one set of steer tire per year, and shaved thousands of dollars from fleet tire budgets. Repair shops report increased income due to improved knowledge of cause and effect on tire wear and handling issues, as well as additional revenue streams through the discovery of additional suspension repair opportunities.
Unlike M.D. Alignment's current online video archive, videos in this new series are delivered on a USB flash drive and are accompanied by MP3 audio files drivers can learn from while driving. Each flash drive holds 20 videos with more than five hours of commentary and discussion, and sells for $500 -- about the price of one premium steer tire.
"We feel very strongly that these videos will provide tremendous return on investment," Beckett says. "If you don't feel you can save at least one tire from the information we provide, then you shouldn't make the purchase."
There are 20 videos in this first series, and two additional offerings are planned. Topics covered in the first series include:
- Truck alignment 101 and 102 -- the basics
- Factory alignment spec vs. real-world as-driven alignment
- Diagnosing mechanical problems associated with irregular tire wear
- Cupping, feathering and edge wear causes and solutions
- Inflation-related tire wear
- Wear problems specific to wide-base single tires
- Bearing adjustment, vibration diagnosis, and much, much more
Each video in the series can be previewed online for fee of $9.95, but access is limited to 14-days. If you preview a video, the cost will be credited to your order of the full series on flash drive.
"We have had so many requests from customers to package all our instructional videos in one place, that we decided to offer them in this format," Beckett says. "The videos are yours to keep and can be viewed as often as you wish."
