Tyre Information

Tyre Anatomy:
Tyre Structure:
This section will help you identify the main components in a tyre's structure.

The inner liner is a special air-tight rubber lining attached to the inside of the tyre, used instead of a tube.

The tyre sidewall adds rigity yo to the structure, protecting the carcass and improving ride quality by allowing the tyre to expand and compress with the terrain.

The apex helps to minimise bead distortion and reduce impacts to it. The tread is the part of the tyre in contact with the road. It not only has to provide grip and cornering stability but must resist abrasion, cutting, and impacts, as well as withstand high temperatures.

The bead fixes the tyre to the rim and secures the end of the cord. It is coposed of a bead wire and rubber core.

A tyre groove is a channel within the tread that improves driving stability, pulling ability, and bra ing ability.

A tyre belt is made of steel wire or textile fabric. It acts as a reinforcement, reducing the impacts sustained from the the road and helping to maintain stability by widening the tread in contact with the road.

The tyre shoulder is the section from the edge of the tread to the upper !art of the sidewall. It needs to offer good heat dispersal

The tyre carcass is the inner cord of the tyre that supports the weight and absorbs impact. As such it has to resist fatigue caused by the constant flexing and compression.

The chafer prevents direct contact between the wheel rim and the cord to protect the cord.

Tyre Tread Design:

Groove: A groove is the sun en part of a tyre's tread. "otably grooves are the fundamental components in deciding a tyre's quality. The groove improves the bra ing performance and driving power of a tyre. #roove depth and design also effects road noise and the rate of a tyre's treadwear.

Sipe: A sipe is a fine groove in the tread pattern. The function of a sipe is to enhance bra ing and driving performance, and to provide driving stability and comfort. In the case of winter tyres it allows grip on icy conditions through the biting effect of the edge, and also improves bra ing control wet roads.

Rib shape: The pattern along the circumference of the tyre.

Good points : $ower rolling resistance. #ood directional stability and steering control than s to lateral resistance. %uitable for sustained high speeds than s to low heat generation. ad points : &oor bra ing ' acceleration grip on wet roads. %tress caused by flex means tread is more susceptible to crac ing. !se : (or paved road surfaces and the steering wheels of truc s or buses.

"ug shape: The groove pattern perpendicular to the circumference of the tyre.

Good points: )xcellent bra ing ' driving power. %uperior traction. ad points: "oisy at high speed. It's not suitable for high speed driving because of high rolling resistance. !se: (or dirt roads, rear wheels of buses, industrial vehicles and dump truc s.

Rib#"ug shape: The combination of *ib-shape ' $ug-shape.

$eatures: The rib in the centre provides directional control whilst the shoulder lug gives good bra ing ' driving power. !se: #ood for both paved and dirt roads. +sually used in both front ' rear wheels of truc s and buses.

loc%#shape:

The pattern of independent bloc , which the groove is connected with each other.

Good points: #ood steering control and stability on snow covered and wet roads. #ood water dispersal properties on wet roads. ad points: Tyre wear is heavy as tread bloc s are finer. !se: %uitable for winter or all-season passenger car tyres. %uitable for bac -wheel of *adial tyre of ordinary car.

Asymmetric pattern: Tread pattern differs on each side.

Good points: #ood for high speed cornering than s to greater contact area. *educes treadwear on outside of tyre. ad points: ,ou must position them the right way around. !se: -igh performance and motorsport tyres.

Directional pattern: $ateral grooves on both sides point the same direction.

Good points: #ood driving force and bra ing performance. #ood water dispersal means good stability on wet roads. .orrect choice for fast driving styles. $eatures: mounted in direction of tread pattern.

!se: The passenger car tyre for high speed usage.

Sidewall &ar%ings:

Tyre Si'es:
)ver wondered what all the tyre si/e mar ings mean0

Aspect Ratio:

Aspect ratio is the ratio of a tyre's width to it's height. In the past, 122 type tyres were mainly produced, where width and height were the same. Today tyres are getting wider and aspect ratios of 32, 42 and 52 type are more common. Tyre width ratio is represented as the series, so if the tyre has width ratio of 42, it is called 42 series.

"ow profile tyres: (hat is a )"ow *rofile Tyre)+ The continual development of the motor vehicle, notably engine technology, means that average vehicle performance is constantly increasing and this correspondingly places increased requirements on tyre technology. .ompared to conventional passenger car tyres, low profile tyres have greater width ratio to cope with the demands of higher performance vehicles - there are even 67 and 62 series available on the mar et.

Are there any other considerations to be aware of+

,ou should remember that if you replace your tyres with lower profile tyres then the corresponding height of the tyres will be also be decreased. Therefore when you replace your tyres with lower profile tyres you may need to replace your wheels with larger ones.

Disadvantage of the wide tyre: 8ide tyres are best for high speed performance. -owever, the greater contact area between the tyre and the road, the more road noise. 8ith tyre technology constantly improving, this disadvantage is being reduced rapidly.

Speed Ratings:
Tyre Speed Symbol S T U H V ! "#R$ & "#R$ #R Tyre Speed Rating km/h 180 190 200 210 2 0 2%0 300 mph 112 118 125 130 1 9 1 9 18'

(bo)e 2 0 (bo)e 1 9

Tyre ,hoice by Season:

Summer tyres:

The main characteristic of the summer tyre is excellent driving and bra ing performance on both dry and wet roads, in temperatures above free/ing throughout the spring, summer, autumn and winter. A simple bloc -shape tread pattern ensures the tyre's contact area remains as rigid as possible, ensuring maximum grip at all times by optimi/ing friction with the road surface. If the tyre has any special indication on it, it means this tyre is for summer usage.

(inter Tyres:

This type of tyre is suitable for snow and ice covered roads. The tread pattern features a heavily siped, fine-bloc design with grooves that are deep and wide, providing excellent driving traction and bra ing performance on winter road surfaces. The tread rubber used in winter tyres provides good friction characteristics and suppleness even in low temperatures. At present, winter tyre design is focused toward bra ing performance and driving control on icy roads. *ecent developments in tyre pattern design and rubber technology have greatly improved winter tyre performance.

All#season Tyres:

These tyres are designed to be used all year round to save having to change the tyres to suit the season. All-season tyre patterns are more complicated than those of the summer tyre because of the longer bloc -edge for winter usage. 9ore sipes appear in the all-season tyre than summer tyre to improve the bra ing and driving performance by maximising the effect of edge. It is important to remember that in regions where winter temperatures are very low and heavy snow falls are frequent, bra ing performance will rarely be 122 percent so it is safer to use winter tyres. All-season tread designs will provide good all-around traction for varing road conditions, but still provide good treadwear and tyre noise characteristics.

Tyre &aintenance:
Tyre Rotation:

Tyre wear differs depending on the position where the tyre is located, so to extend the life of your tyres it is important that you change their positions on a regular basis. :ifferent tyre manufacturers may recommend different rotation periods, though as a general rule you should rotate them every ;222 - 6222 miles <approximately 6,222 - 7,222 m.= Tread (ear Indicator:

A tyre is a wearing part that will need replacement after a period of time. 8hen the groove depth reaches 1.5mm you are required by law to replace the tyres. It is advisable to replace them before they have reached this limit, to benefit from deeper tread in adverse conditions.

,ategory:
*ly: Radial or ias

*adial tyres are designed so that cord of the carcass is perpendicular to the centre line, and a strong belt is attached it above for added stability even at high speed.

>ias tyres feature a carcass where the angle of the cord to the centre line is 67 degrees.

Tyre Safety:
The $ive Rules:
-ou must not use a tyre which has a tread under ./0 mm Tyres with tread under this limit will slide easily, suffer from extended bra ing distances and will be more susceptible to rupturing. In wet conditions the vehicle will aquaplane, ma ing bra ing and handling almost impossible. Tyres with tread under this limit are illegal and may lead to a fine or disqualification.

Incorrect air pressure shortens the life of the tyre If you drive with low air pressure in your tyre, heat is generated in the tyre. This can result in the rubber and cord separating, which in turn leads to the cord becoming cut and puncturing the tyre. $ow pressure can wear the edge of tyre which will shorten the tyre's life. )xcessive pressure results in the tyre becoming unpredictable. If the tyre suffers an impact, it is easily ruptured and cut. If you bra e hard, the tyre may s id, which reduces tyre life as the centre of the tread becomes worn.

A damaged tyre can rupture during operation If you drive with materials such as stone in the tread groove, or with a nail stuc in the tyre, the tyre can become punctured or ruptured. ,ou should change the tyre immediately on discovering any damage to avoid any further damage to the carcass.

Abnormal tyre wear should be treated instantly

In absence of good maintenance, abnormal wear may occur due to sudden bra ing. ,ou should chec air pressures, alignment and rotate the tyres regularly. In addition you should avoid bad driving habits such as sudden acceleration, bra ing and cornering.

,hec% the spare tyre 9a e sure you regularly chec the spare tyre's air pressure, existence?non existence of damage and the depth of remaining grooves regularly.