Tire Basics

Table of Contents
1. Introduction

2. Four Basic Functions of a Tire

3. Basic Tire Constructions

4. Different Tire Tread Patterns

5. Tire Size Label Description

6. Important Things to Consider in

Choosing the Right Tire for your
Vehicle

Introduction

Tires or tyres (can be spelled interchangeably, Tire is from American English

while Tyre is from British English.) are pressurized gas enclosures used to
protect and enhance the effect of wheels.

Tires can be found on all types of vehicles, from motorcycles to cars to

airplanes. Tires allow vehicle performance by providing for traction, braking,
steering, and load support. Tires are inflated with air, which provides a flexible
cushion between the vehicle and the road that smoothes out shock and
provides for a comfortable ride quality.
Knowing more about your tire helps you save more. Having the right inflation pressure,
proper wheel alignment, and constant monitoring of tire wear to ensure the lowest tire
cost per kilometer is achieved.

Four Basic Functions of a Tire

The pneumatic tire out-performed the solid tire because it is fundamentally a toroidal
(doughnut) shaped flexible pressure vessel. It is the contained air - not solid rubber -
that carries the load.

Today's tires are high technology products which are manufactured in various
constructions and a vast range of sizes but they still have to carry out the same four
basic functions. These are:

- Safe and realiable

- Quiet running
- Free of vibration disturbances
- to last much longer and run at far higher speeds

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Basic Tire Constructions

Pneumatic tires are currently made in two fundamentally different constructions - bias
ply and radial ply.

BIAS PLY

Bias ply tires have casings made from layers of 'plies' of parallel textile cords which run
diagonally from bead to bead. The cords are arranged so that alternate layers are on
the opposite hand and cross each other at an angle of between 70 and 80' to form a
trellis like structure.
RADIAL PLY

Radial ply tires have the casing cords run directly from bead to bead radiating outwards
like the spokes of a wheel.

Because the cords do not cross each other the casing is more flexible. The structure is
stabilized by a belt formed of layers of cords laid right around the casing just under the
tread rubber. The belt cords are placed at a low angle to the centerline of the tread and
alternate layers cross each other at angles ranging from 30 to 45'.

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Different Tire Tread Patterns

There are the four basic tire tread patterns:

Type Rib Block Rib-Lug Lug

Pattern

Grooves flows Patterns in

Combination of Grooves flows in
along the which individual
Profile rib and lug a lateral
circumference of blocks are
patterns. direction.
a tire. arranged.
1) Superb
driving stability 1) Rib-type
pattern acts to
1) Excellent
2) Fewer rolling 1) Excellent increase driving
drive and
resistance. drive and stability, and to
braking forces.
braking forces. prevent skidding.
3) Fewer noise
2) Stronger
Feature generation. 2) Superb 2) Lug-type
traction force.
driving stability pattern acts to
4) Superior on normal paved transfer traction
3) Better
water drainage road. drive and
resistance to cut.
performance. braking forces
effectively.
5) Less skidding

Suitable for
Suitable for
driving on
driving on
Good normal
Best for driving normal
performance cemented roads,
Applicati on cemented cemented roads
when driving on and uncemented
ons roads and and uncemented
normal ones, suitable
highways. ones at a
cemented roads. for work sites
middle/low
such as a
speed.
building site.
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Tire Size Label Description

On the sidewall of a tire, its size, performance, etc. are shown by using numerical
symbols.

Passenger Car Tyre

185 / 65 R 14 86 H
185 Section Width (millimeter)
Aspect Ratio (%) = Sidewall Height
65 computed as 65% of 185mm
R Radial Construction

14 Rim Diameter (inch)

86 Load Index

H Speed Sumbol

Truck Tyres

10.00 - 20 18PR
10.00 Section Width (inch)

- Bias Construction

20 Rim Diameter (inch)

18PR Ply Rating

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Important Things to Consider in Choosing The Right Tire for your
Vehicle

SAFETY FIRST

Make sure that you choose the proper tire based on your application. Understand
the Load capacity and speed limit of your tire.

Choose brands that passed the quality standard of the government. (For
Philippine residence, check the ICC or PS markings)

COST PER KILOMETER

Cost per kilometer would be a good consideration in choosing your tire. It would
make no harm to try different brands as long as they give warranty and has passed
government quality standards. Try to make an index card for each tire. Record the life
span of the tire in terms of mileage. It would be better if you could have a hub odometer
installed on your tire. After obtaining all the data, compute its cost / kilometer.

WORD OF ADVICE

Every fleet is unique. Try to find the most suitable tire for you. Don't hesitate to
experiment. Tire technology improves everyday. Many brands are being introduced
every now and then. Road condition differs each year. It would be wise to find the right
tire for your operation. After finding it, do not stop entertaining new brands. You might
find something better. In return, you save more.