One local automotive shop has taken tire maintenance to a whole new level. Robert Sands, his wife Kumiko and their sons took over at South Delta Motors back in March. He changed the name to Sands Sons Automotive and has spent the last several months giving the business, which has been in Tsawwassen for more than 30 years, a new lease on life.
He's upgraded the equipment, including a new, top-of-the-line Hunter Road Force Touch tire balancer and tire changer.
The technology is mostly seen at higher end car dealerships, said Alex Bilesky, a Hunter equipment specialist, and there are only a handful in the Lower
Mainland. The new equipment also gives Sands Sons the ability to balance bigger tires, giving drivers of trucks and larger vehicles a smoother ride.
Conventional tire balancers can only accommodate rims up to 23 inches in diameter. The Road Force Touch balancer can accommodate rims up to 30 inches in diameter and tires up to 40 inches.
Many of today's vehicles come equipped with low profile radial tires mounted on alloy wheels or regular standard wheels that can be easily damaged by curbs, potholes and bumps in the road. This damage can result in vibration problems that cannot be easily diagnosed using conventional wheel balancing equipment.
What sets the Road Force Touch apart from other systems is that it not only balances the tires, but it can also help diagnose issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. It can pinpoint if a problem is with the rim, the tire, or a combination.
The system simulates a road test using a roller that can apply up to 1,400 pounds of force against the rotating tire, and then recommends needed corrections, including the position of balancing weights and even tire positioning on the car, to help reduce vibrations, pulling and provide a smoother ride.
Once the correct weight placement is set, the system locks the tire in place, and a laser indicates the exact positioning, while the technician attaches the weight. The system can also make the process a lot faster for technicians, eliminating the need for repeated test drives. However, Sands said it's not about speed.
"It's not about time, it's about perfection and client satisfaction."
Sands Sons Automotive is located at 5646-12th Ave. Call 604-943-1158.
