An introduction to

Nankang Tire Technology

OUTLINE

1 Tire Structure Introduction

2 Tire Sidewall Description

3 Tire Production Process

4 Tire Pattern and Characteristics

Tire Structure Introduction
Tire components
Tire Structure
Tread─ For excellent road handling and water drainage.

Material Synthetic and natural rubber

1.Wear Resistance
Functions 2.Heat Generation Resistance
3.Puncture Resistance

Because the tire tread connects with road directly, wear resistance, heat
generation resistance, and Puncture resistance are important necessary
elements in pattern design. Moreover, tread compound should be
flexible and resistant to age.
Inner Liner ─ Makes tire airtight and prevents air from leaking.

Material Butyl rubber

Functions Prevent air leaking

The Inner lining of rubber located inside the

carcass rubber prevents air leaking from the
tire.
A Tire sidewall mark as” STEEL BELTED
TUBELESS” means it's not necessary to use a
tube.
Carcass (Textile cord plies) ─Keep tire in fixed shape.

Material Rayon or polyester

Maintain tire shape when

Functions pressure inflated.

The tire carcass is a framework to support and fix the tires shape after its
been inflated.
Steel Belt- Keep tire stability and handling performance

Material High-strength steel cords

1. Keeps tire shape and

Functions directionalstability.
2. Reduces rolling resistance.

The Steel belt maintains high shear stress, it also transits from hard tire
tread to soft sidewall.
Tire steel cord must be high strength and resistant to fatigue.
Sidewall─ Provent damage to tire lateral side.

Material Natural rubber

Protect tire casing from lateral

Functions
damage.

A Radial tire sidewall bending deformation is larger than

the Bias tire , therefore it needs bending resistance
compound for tire sidewall.
Bead Filler ─
For tire steady ability, handling performance, and comfort level.
Material Synthetic rubber
1.Enhances handling ability.
Functions 2.Gives steering precision.
3.Improves comfort.

A harder bead filler made from rubber

is normally used to enhance the
tire sidewall to ensure radial tire steel
layer is kept intact.
Nylon Full Cover (Jointless plies)─
Protect tire structure in high speed condition.

Material Nylon, embedded in rubber

Enhances high-speed
Functions
stability.

A Traditional Nylon cover coated method is used

to enclose an entire layer of tire after the
engagement.
Tire Sidewall Description
3.Tire Sidewall Description
3.1Tire Size Designation

PCR:
305/35R24 112V

LTR:
31X10.5R15LT 109S
7.50R16 122/120L
LT215/75R15 100/97H
3.1Tire Size Designation (PCR)

305 / 35 R 24 112 V
Speed Symbol

Load Index

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Aspect Ratio

Nominal Section Width (m/m)

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

31 X 10.5 R 15 LT 109 S
Speed Symbol

Load Index

Tire Function

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Section Width (in.)

Nominal Overall Diameter (in.)

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

7.50 R 16 122/120 L
Speed Symbol

Load Index (Single/Dual)

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Section Width (in.)

3.1Tire Size Designation (LTR)

LT 215 / 75 R 15 100/97 S
Speed Symbol

Load Index (Single/Dual)

Nominal Rim Diameter (in.)

Radial Tire Identification

Nominal Aspect Ratio

Nominal Section Width (m/m)

Tire Function
3.1Tire Size Designation-Tire Dimension
 High aspect ratio tire provide comfort, where as a Low aspect ratio tire
leans towards the more sport related performance tire.

Low Aspect Ratio(%) High Aspect Ratio(%)

SPORT

~55 Series

60 Series
65 Series
70 Series
80 Series
COMFORT
 Tire Inch Up Characteristics:
1.Enhance the handling stability
2.Enhance Cornering Performance
3.Less comfortable when driving
4.More road noise

Outer Rim
Diameter Diameter

Inch Up
3.1Tire Size Designation-Speed & Load Index
Load Index (LI)
Max load per individual tire Speed Index (SI)
LI Kg LI Kg
69 325 84 500 SI Max speed for passenger car tire

70 335 85 515 Q 160 km/h / 99mph

71 345 86 530 R 170 km/h / 106mph

72 355 87 545 S 180 km/h / 112mph

73 365 88 560 T 190 km/h / 118mph

74 375 89 580 H 210 km/h / 130mph

75 387 90 600 V 240 km/h / 150mph

76 400 91 615 W 270 km/h / 169mph

77 412 92 630 Y 300 km/h / 187mph

78 425 93 650 ZR Exceeding 240 km/h / 150mph

79 437 94 670
80 450 95 690
81 462 96 710
82 475 97 730
83 487 98 750
3.2 UTQG

Uniform Tire Quality Grade, UTQG, by the U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, NHTSA regulated. It is comprised by Treadwear,
Traction, and Temperature.

UTQG is required by law for most passenger car tire (PCR), but it is not
required for LIGHT TRUCK TIRES, WINTER TIRES, TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES,
TRALIER TIRES, AND TIRES UNDER 12”
3.2 UTQG
TREADWEAR
Treadwear means tread lifespan compared to standard tires index 100.
Tread wear grades typically range from 60 to 500, each increment of 20
units. In fact tire wear conditions caused from road quality, driving
attitude, tire inflation pressure, and vehicle condition.

TRACTION
Traction test only on specific wet concrete road or asphalt road in a straight
line moving forward.
Grades range from AA, A, B to C. AA is the best performance.

TEMPERATURE
TEMERATURE grades range from A, B to C. It represents that tire under the
indoor high speed testing conditions, tires properly maintain the cooling
capacity until damage.
 3.3 DOT

DOT Code means tires comply with U.S. Department of Transportation

(DOT) safety standards.

The first two letters represent tire manufacturer and factory code.
The 3rd and 4th letters mean tire size.
The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th letters represent tire specific function (SPEC).
The 9th and 10th of the letter marked the week of tires production.
The last number indicates the year of tires production.
Tire Production Process
Production Flow Chart

1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH

BUILDING
MATERIAL
MIXING And INSPECTION
PREPARATION
CURING
Tire Building Procedure
1.Building Process
305/35R24 112V N-990
→Inner Liner Extruding
→Carcass Cutting
→Jointless Bead Building
→Combine bead with Carcass
→Auto Steel Belt Cutting System
→Jointless Cover System
→Tread Extruding and Cutting
→1st and 2nd Steps combination

2.Curing Process

3.DB and UF Inspection

4.Indoor High Speed and

Durability Test
 Tire Testing

1.Safety Test

2.Off-Road Test

3.Rolling Resistance Test

4.Noise Test

5.Cornering Test

6.Braking Test
Tire Pattern and Characteristics
These are major factors for tire pattern design.

1.Excellent grip traction on wet/dry roads.

2.Handling performance.

3.Drainage ability.

4.Avoid irregular tread wear.

And………..
5.A Charming Tire.
Tire Basic Design Theory
Rib Pattern:
1.Reduce tire rolling resistance.
2.The rib pattern tire used to adopt as comfort ability tire.
Lug Pattern:
1.Offer excellent handling and braking ability for off road.
Rib-Lug Pattern:
1.Center Rib: Handling, Stability and Skid proof ability.
2.Shoulder Lug: Handling and Braking ability.
Block Pattern:
1.Offer excellent handling and braking ability.
2.Keep stability at snow and mud road
Tire Category and Characteristic

1.Directional Symmetric Tire─NS-2

2. Non-directional Symmetric Tire─XR-611

3. Non-directional Asymmetric Tire─AS-1

1.Directional Symmetric Tire─NS-2
FL FR

Advantage
1.Excellent handling
2.Grip traction
3.Drainage ability

Disadvantage
1.Tire pattern cause noisy.
2. Recognize tire direction when mounting/
switching.
2.Non-directional Symmetric Tire─XR-611

Advantage
1.Low noise.
2.No need to recognize the direction of tire
when mounting/switching.

Disadvantage
1.Tire handling
2.Traction
3.Drainage ability
3. Non-directional Asymmetric Tire─AS-1

Advantage
1. Outside pattern: Advanced handling, traction
and drainage ability.
2. Inside pattern: Low noise, comfort ability.

Disadvantage
1. Recognized the inside/outside part when
mounting or switch tires.