Tyre classification
 | TYRE is rubber or steel (on carts) ring, case on wheel rim. Automobile tyre is an elastic case which contacts the road and cushions impacts and absorbs road bumping. Tyre in cross section is shown in figure: 1 - beads, 2 - bead wire, 3 - carcass, 4 - breaker, 5 - side wall, 6 - tread. |
Tyres can be:
- by their construction - solid-rubber, elastic, pneumatic and safe (the latest achievements in tyre designing)
- by tube type - tube tyres, tubeless and tyres for racing bicycle
- by cord type - with steel carcass and nylon (capron) cord
- by cord location - bias, belted bias and radial («R» type)
- by section - arched, low profile, standard profile (toroid) and wide-section
- by pressure - ultra low (pneumatic), low, average, high (aerostatics) and adjustable pressure
- by season of using - summer, winter (studded and non-studded tyres) and all-season
- by tread type - all-purpose, road, cross-country, rain tyres, pseudo-slick (slick), mixed (2) and «РС» type tyres
- Lately so called "clever" tyres and tyres with ring container have appeared.
Solid-rubber tyre is a tyre which consists of rubber only. It was used on the first cars. Now it is used only for oversized industrial and household equipment and child bicycles. Solid rubber tyre with air chambers which make it lighter, it is puncture-safe and it is used for sports cars.
Pneumatic tyre is a tyre in which elasticity is provided by compressed air in the hermetic chamber.
Safe tyre is a tyre which is puncture-safe and allows driving when air pressure inside is absent. At present there ate two trends in such tyre designing:
- tyre construction, which provides keeping driving the distance of 100 km at air pressure loss;
- completely new (non-pneumatic) construction
Tube tyre is a pneumatic tyre, which has a case, tube, truck tyre has a flap as well. This tyre is labeled as tube type.
Bias tyre is a pneumatic tyre in which carcass ply cords that extend to the bead are laid as alternate angle of 30° - 40° to the centre line of the tread;
Belted bias tyre is a bias tyre in which ply cords in the breaker are laid at angle of more than 60° to the axle centre line of the tyre
Radial tyre is a pneumatic tyre with radial location of cords; this tyre has high elasticity and loading; it is indicated as «R» tyre.
Tyre profile is a cross section of a vehicle tyre .
Tyre section height is a value equal to half difference between tyre diameter and nominal rim diameter.
Tyre section width means the linear distance between the exteriors of an inflated tyre, excluding elevations due to labeling.
Tread width is the first numeral of the tyre labeling; it means that portion of a tyre that comes into contact with the road.
Tyre series is the second numeral of the tyre labeling; it is a symbolic notation of tyre group which has the same aspect ratio (H/B) expressed in percent; for example: series 70 - section height is 70 % of section width. If width is 175 mm, than, consequently, the height is122.5 mm. In some tyre sizes the series number is not indicated, for example, 185 R14 C 102 Q. Such tyres are called full-profile tyres, and aspect ratio in this case is 80 % and more.
Tyre size labeling is a designation system in letters and numerals, for example, 175/70 R13 82 T is written on a tyre sidewall: 175 - tread width; 70 - tyre series; R - radial; 13 - rim diameter in inches; 82 - load index or load rating; Т - speed index. In some tyre sizes there are additional letter symbols: 185 R14 C 102 Q, index С means a «heavy duty» tyre with big load rating. There are some other designations, but not often. Besides tyre size, the manufacturer name, for example, nokian and the tyre model, for example, NRT2 are indicated as well on the side wall. Seasonality can be indicated as well. If seasonality is not indicated, this tyre is designed for summer performance only.
Arched tyre is a tyre with large lugs, which has profile in type of arch with the aspect ratio of 0,4-0,5.
Low profile tyre is a pneumatic tyre which has the aspect ratio of 0,7-0,9. It is normally used in passenger cars.
Standard profile tyre is a pneumatic tyre which has the aspect ratio of 0,9-1,0. The pressure usually is not adjusted. It is used on road vehicles.
Tyre with tube is a tube type tyre.
Tyre with a ring container is a pneumatic tyre with a container with hole sealing compound, which at tube puncture and pressure fall not only seals the hole but due to vaporization renews the pressure.
Tyre with nylon (capron) cord is a pneumatic tyre in which cord is made from nylon (capron). Such tyre is lighter and proof to lateral impacts.
Tyre with steel carcass is a radial tyre in which cord is made from steel fabric.
Tyre of low pressure is a pneumatic tyre with inner air pressure about 0,1-0,4.
Tyre of middle pressure is a pneumatic tyre with inner air pressure about 0,4-0,6 Мpа.
Tyre with ultra low pressure is a pneumatic tyre with inner air pressure about 0,05-0,08 Мpа.
Tyre of high pressure is a pneumatic tyre with inner air pressure about 0,6-0,7 Мpа and higher.
Tyre of adjustable pressure is a pneumatic tyre in which in dependence of the running conditions it is possible to change the pressure.
Tyre of «R» type is a radial tyre.
Tyre of «RС» type is a tyre with demountable tread, usually in the form of rings.
Tyre compressor is compressor.
Tyre-wheel assembly
- Wheel repairing service center
- Process of tyre-wheel assembly
Stud is a metal pin inserted in the tyre tread to provide adhesion with the road when driving on ice. Tyre studs can be floating.
Studded tyre is a winter tyre with studs located in the case; they provide adhesion with the road when driving on icy surface.
Summer tyre is a pneumatic tyre with summer tread pattern for the performance on dry or wet hard surface.
Winter tyre is a pneumatic tyre with winter tread pattern for the performance on icy, wet, mud and mellow surface. It is labeled M+S, winter.
All-season tyre is a pneumatic tyre with tread pattern for the performance both in winter and in summer. It is labeled all- season, AS.
All-purpose tyre is a pneumatic tyre with all-purpose tread pattern for the performance on soil roads and the roads with improved surface.
Road tyre is a pneumatic tyre with road tread pattern which ensures good adhesion with road surface at high speed.
Cross-country tyre is a pneumatic tyre with tread pattern of cross-country capacity which ensures car driving on wet soil, damp meadow and snow field.
Rain tyre is a pneumatic tyre which eliminates aquaplaning effect especially at heavy rain. Tread pattern is designed for good water drainage from the contact area of the tyre with the road; the lamellas provide vacuum adhesion of the tyre with road. These tyres appeared in 1956. They are labeled aqua, rain, water.
Pseudo-slick tyre is a pneumatic tyre designed for dry asphalt.
See as well all-purpose, road, cross-country, rain, mixed tyre and «РС» type tyre.
Mixed
- Different surface under right and left wheels (for instance: ice-asphalt)
- Rubber for different performance in race, for instance, dry and wet asphalt.
Clever tyre is a tyre which is capable to inform the driver about its condition as other car systems with a help of sensors on the car control board. In the elementary case it is a tyre with a special pressure sensor fixed on the fitting.