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Tire Construction
Although rubber is the main material used for making tires there
are a number of other materials used as well. These materials are
combined with rubber compounds in the different components that make
up the tire's construction.
Rubber Compounding
 | Rubber compounding is like mixing a cake recipe. |
| Different ingredients are mixed together to produce compounds
with specific characteristics.
Example: |
| Outside tread compound provides traction and mileage. |
| Rubber located inside the tire adheres to the belt system and
helps provide stability to the tread area. |
| Rubber compounds may also differ due to the type of other
materials used in the tire. |
Construction Components
| Construction materials used by each tire manufacturer are chosen
with their own technology in mind. |
| Each component of a tire is designed to provide benefits
specifically related to its function, while working together with
all other components.
Example: |
| The belt system's main function is to provide stability to the
tread area of the tire, which contributes to wear, handling and
traction. |
| The belt system must also work in unison with the tire's
sidewall and tread to achieve traction and cornering capabilities.
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| Tire components are assembled like a puzzle and molded together
in the curing process. |
| This process causes all of the tire components and rubber
compounds to adhere to their surrounding components, resulting in a
singular product. |
Tire Casing
| The tire casing is the body of the tire. |
| Most passenger tire casings are one or two body plies. |
| The tire casing incorporates fabric of polyester, nylon or rayon
cords within the casing rubber compound. These cords add strength to
the casing rubber. |
| Weight is an important factor in virtually all tire components.
The heavier a tire is, the higher the potential for building up heat
during operating conditions. An excess build up of heat in a tire
eventually causes the rubber compounds to break down. |
| Polyester is the most common casing fabric used and
provides: Good Rubber Adhesion, Excellent strength, Good Ride
Characteristics |
| Polyester provides these features at a relatively low weight,
while exhibiting heat dissipation characteristics. |
| Other fabric materials used in the tire casing include nylon and
rayon, which exhibit benefits similar to polyester. |
| Most passenger tires manufactured today are radials. Prior to
radial construction, bias and bias belted construction was used. |
The Belt System
| The belt system is placed on top of the casing in the
construction process. |
| The belt system's main function is to provide stability to the
tread area of the tire, which contributes to wear, handling and
traction. |
| The most common belt material used is steel. Steel belts provide
strength and stability to the tread area without adding a lot of
weight to the tire. |
| Usually two plies of steel cord placed at a bias angle make up
the belt system. |
| The most common belt configuration is two plies of steel cord
stacked, one on top of the other. |
The Tread
| The tread slab is placed on top of the belt system in the
manufacturing process. |
| The tread usually contains two rubber compounds:
-The tread base compound adheres to the belt system when the tire is
cured, is cooler running improving durability and helps stabilize
the undertread area of the tire.
-The treadcap is typically made with an abrasion resistant, higher
grip rubber compound, which works with the tread base and tread
design to provide traction and mileage.
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| The tire's tread design is molded into the treadcap rubber
during the curing process. |
The Sidewall
| A special rubber compound is used in the sidewall of the tire,
which adds flexibility and weathering resistance. |
| Some tires, such as higher end performance tires, may also
incorporate steel and/or nylon inserts to provide quicker steering
response. |
The Innerliner
| A rubber compound is used as an air seal inside the tire. This
innerliner layer has no cord reinforcing and serves a similar
function as an innertube. |
The Bead
| Tire bead bundles secure the tire to the wheel. They are large
monofilament steel cords that are wound together to form a cable or
ribbon-type configuration. |
| The casing plies are looped around the bead bundles holding them
in place. |
| Bead filler, a rubber compound, is incorporated within the bead
configuration and extends up into the sidewall area. |
| The rubber compound used on the outside bead area is usually a
hard, durable compound that withstands the rigors of mounting and
chafing. |
Passenger Tire vs. Light Truck Tire Construction
| Differences between passenger and light truck construction are
due to the different uses and operating conditions of light trucks
versus automobiles. |
| Light trucks are usually designed to operate in more severe
conditions, such as carrying greater loads more of the time and
going off-road. |
| Light truck tires may have an extra casing ply, an extra belt, a
stronger belt steelcord and/or a larger bead with more sidewall
rubber. This is why light truck tires tend to be heavier than
passenger tires. |
| Some light truck tires are also capable of higher air pressures
and load carrying capacities.
source credit : tiresafety.com
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Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1884.
This was later used for the first tires.
Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1844 that was later
used for tires. In 1888, John Dunlop invented the air-filled or
pneumatic tires, however, his were for bicycles. In 1895, André
Michelin was the first person to use pneumatic tires on an automobile,
however, not successfully. In 1911, Philip Strauss invented the first
successful tire, which was a combination tire and air filled inner
tube. Strauss' company the Hardman Tire & Rubber Company marketed the
tires. In 1903, P.W. Litchfield of the Goodyear Tire Company patented
the first tubeless tire, however, it was never commercially exploited
until the 1954 Packard. In 1904, mountable rims were introduced that
allowed drivers to fix their own flats. In 1908, Frank Seiberling
invented grooved tires with improved road traction. Goodrich also
invented the first synthetic rubber tires in 1937 made of a patented
substance called Chemigum. In 1910, B.F. Goodrich Company invented
longer life tires by adding carbon to the rubber.
Pneumatic Tire
John Boyd Dunlop (1840-1921) was a Scottish veterinarian and the
recognized inventor of the first practical pneumatic or inflatable
tyre/tire. His patent was for a bicycle tire, granted in 1888.
However, Robert William Thomson (1822 - 1873) invented the actual
first vulcanised rubber pneumatic tire. Thomson patented his pneumatic
tire in 1845, his invention worked well but was to costly to catch on.
Dunlop's tire patented in 1888 did, and so he received the most
recognition. William Thomson also patented a fountain pen (1849) and a
steam traction engine (1867).
source credit : http://inventors.com |
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