Course Title: Professional Tire Services: Vulcanizing, Balancing & Alignment

Duration: 2 Weeks (Monday – Friday)

Target Audience: Aspiring tire technicians, auto repair apprentices, individuals seeking vocational skills.  “Tire Vulcanizing, Wheel Balancing, and Alignment,” suitable for individuals seeking hands-on skills in Nigeria. This assumes access to necessary tools and equipment (tire changer, balancer, alignment machine, vulcanizing tools, training vehicles/wheels).

Week 1: Tire Fundamentals, Vulcanizing & Wheel Balancing

• Day 1: Introduction, Safety & Tire Basics
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Course Introduction & Objectives.
    • Workshop Safety: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), lifting techniques, tool safety, hazard awareness (compressed air, heat, chemicals).
    • Introduction to Tires: Types (radial, bias-ply), functions, basic construction (bead, sidewall, tread, belts).
    • Understanding Tire Sidewall Markings: Size, load index, speed rating, date code, UTQG.
    • Importance of Proper Tire Inflation and Tread Depth.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Workshop safety drills & PPE usage.
    • Identifying different tire types and components.
    • Reading and interpreting sidewall information on various tires.
    • Using a tire pressure gauge and tread depth gauge correctly.
• Day 2: Tire Removal, Mounting & Basic Inspection
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Tools for Tire Service: Tire levers, bead breaker, torque wrench, impact wrench, tire changer machine.
    • Procedure for Safely Removing a Wheel from a Vehicle (jacking, lug nuts).
    • Using a Tire Changer Machine: Steps for demounting and mounting tires.
    • Identifying Common Tire Damage: Punctures, cuts, sidewall damage, impact breaks, irregular wear patterns.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Practice safely jacking up a vehicle and removing/installing wheels (using correct lug nut patterns & torque).
    • Hands-on practice using a tire changer machine to demount and mount different tire sizes.
    • Inspecting tires for various types of damage and wear.
• Day 3: Tire Vulcanizing – Preparation & Cold Patching
  • Morning (Theory):
    • What is Vulcanizing? (Process of repairing tire damage).
    • Types of Repairable Damage vs. Non-Repairable Damage (location, size limits – e.g., sidewall damage often non-repairable).
    • Tools for Vulcanizing: Tire spreader, buffer/grinder, probes, rollers, patches, plugs, rubber cement, vulcanizing solution, heat press (for hot vulcanizing).
    • Preparing the Damaged Area: Cleaning, probing, buffing/skiving. Importance of a clean, properly prepared surface.
    • Cold Patching Method: Using pre-made patches and rubber cement for simple punctures.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Identifying repairable vs. non-repairable punctures.
    • Practice preparing puncture sites (cleaning, buffing).
    • Applying cold patches and plugs correctly using rollers.
    • Leak testing repairs (using soapy water or dunk tank).
• Day 4: Tire Vulcanizing – Hot Vulcanizing & Finishing
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Hot Vulcanizing Method: Using heat and pressure to cure rubber compound/patches for stronger repairs, often used for larger injuries or specific areas.
    • Operating a Vulcanizing Heat Press/Clamp safely.
    • Understanding curing times and temperatures.
    • Finishing and inspecting the repair: Trimming excess material, final leak check.
    • Quality control standards for vulcanized repairs.

• • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Hands-on practice setting up and using a hot vulcanizing press/clamp for patch repairs.
    • Monitoring curing process.
    • Finishing techniques for a smooth, reliable repair.
    • Thorough inspection and leak testing of hot vulcanized repairs.
• Day 5: Wheel Balancing – Theory & Static Balancing
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Why Balance Wheels? Effects of imbalance (vibrations, uneven tire wear, suspension wear).
    • Static Imbalance vs. Dynamic Imbalance explained. [Image illustrating static vs dynamic wheel imbalance]
    • Types of Wheel Weights: Clip-on (flange types), Stick-on/Adhesive (for alloy wheels).
    • Introduction to the Wheel Balancer Machine: Components, setup, basic operation.
    • Static Balancing Procedure.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Mounting wheel/tire assemblies onto the balancer.
    • Entering wheel dimensions correctly into the machine.
    • Performing static balance checks.
    • Selecting and correctly applying appropriate wheel weights (clip-on and stick-on).
    • Verifying balance after weight application.

Week 2: Wheel Balancing (Dynamic) & Wheel Alignment

• Day 6: Wheel Balancing – Dynamic Balancing & Troubleshooting
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Dynamic Balancing Procedure: Balancing across two planes (inner and outer).
    • Understanding balancer readouts for dynamic imbalance.
    • Special considerations: Alloy wheels, match mounting (concept introduction).
    • Common Balancing Problems: Bent rims, improperly seated tire bead, machine calibration issues.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Hands-on practice performing dynamic balancing on various wheel types.
    • Using adhesive weights correctly on alloy wheels.
    • Identifying potential sources of balancing errors.
    • Re-checking balance.
• Day 7: Wheel Alignment – Introduction & Key Angles (Camber, Caster)
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Why Perform Wheel Alignment? Effects of misalignment (tire wear, pulling, steering wheel off-center, fuel economy).
    • Introduction to Suspension Systems (basic types: MacPherson strut, Double Wishbone).
    • Key Alignment Angles Part 1:
      • Camber: Definition (inward/outward tilt), effects of positive/negative camber. [Image illustrating Camber angle on a wheel]
      • Caster: Definition (forward/backward tilt of steering axis), effects of positive/negative caster on steering stability and return. [Image illustrating Caster angle]
    • Introduction to Alignment Equipment (Laser vs. 3D systems). Vehicle preparation (tire pressure, loading).
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Identifying key suspension components related to alignment (control arms, struts, tie rods).
    • Preparing a vehicle for alignment check (level surface, tire pressures).
    • Mounting alignment heads/targets correctly on wheels.
    • Navigating the basic interface of the alignment machine.
• Day 8: Wheel Alignment – Key Angles (Toe, SAI, Thrust) & Measurement
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Key Alignment Angles Part 2:
      • Toe: Definition (inward/outward direction of wheels), Toe-in vs. Toe-out, Total Toe, effects on tire wear and stability. [Image illustrating Toe angle]
      • Steering Axis Inclination (SAI): Definition and relation to steering returnability.
      • Included Angle: Camber + SAI.
      • Thrust Angle: Rear axle alignment relative to vehicle centerline.
    • Understanding Alignment Specifications: Manufacturer tolerances, interpreting printouts.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Performing alignment measurement procedures (rolling compensation/runout).
    • Reading and interpreting Camber, Caster, Toe, and Thrust Angle measurements from the alignment machine.
    • Comparing readings to vehicle specifications (using machine’s database or manuals).
• Day 9: Wheel Alignment – Adjustments
  • Morning (Theory):
    • Common Adjustment Points: Tie rod ends (for Toe), Camber bolts/shims/slots, Caster adjustments (shims, adjustable arms).
    • Adjustment sequence (typically Caster -> Camber -> Toe).
    • Front-end vs. Four-wheel alignment.
    • Special tools required for adjustments.
  • Afternoon (Practical):
    • Identifying adjustment points on training vehicles/suspension mock-ups.
    • Hands-on practice adjusting Toe using tie rod ends.
    • Hands-on practice adjusting Camber/Caster (where possible on training equipment).
    • Verifying adjustments and ensuring steering wheel is centered.
    • Printing and explaining alignment results.
• Day 10: Integration, Customer Service & Assessment
  • Morning (Theory & Discussion):
    • Workflow: Integrating vulcanizing, balancing, and alignment services.
    • Final Quality Checks after service.
    • Customer Interaction: Explaining tire wear, balancing issues, and alignment results clearly. Basic quoting and invoicing. Importance of record keeping.
    • Business Basics (briefly): Tool maintenance, managing consumables (weights, patches).
  • Afternoon (Assessment & Wrap-up):
    • Practical Assessment: Task involving tire inspection, mounting, balancing, and/or performing an alignment check/basic adjustment.
    • Written Quiz covering key theoretical concepts.
    • Q&A Session and review.
    • Course feedback and certificate distribution (if applicable).

Important Notes:

• Safety First: Emphasize safety procedures every day.
• Hands-on Focus: Maximize practical time. Theory should directly support the practical tasks.
• Equipment Specifics: Training needs to be tailored to the specific tire changer, balancer, and alignment machine available.
• Local Context: Adapt examples and discussions to common vehicle types and road conditions found in Nigeria.
• Continuous Learning: Stress that this is foundational training and continuous practice and learning are essential.