Wheels &Tyres

Introduction
Functions
• Only contact with ground
• Act as the primary suspension, cushioning the vehiclefrom
effects of rough surface.
• Provide frictional contact with the road surface which allows
the driving wheels tomove the vehicle
• Front tyres allows the wheels tosteer
• Tyres allow braking to slow or stop the vehicle
 Properties of tyres
• Non-skidding
• Uniform wear
• Load-carrying capacity
• Speed Capacity
• Cushioning
• Power consumption
• Noise
• Balance
 Terminology
• Steel Wheels – Most popular design. Very strong and cheap to produce.
• Alloy Wheels – Attractive and light weight, but expensive and difficult to clean.
• Spoked Wheels – Used on older vehicles. Cannot be fitted with tubeless tyres.
• Divided rims – Rims are made in twohalves which are bolted together, (rims
must never be separated while the tyre isinflated)
• Split rims –Tyre is held in place by a largecirclip
• Plies – Layers of strong fabric which are built up to give the tyre its strength
and shape
• Bead – loops of steel which are the anchor point for the plies
• Cross Ply Tyre – Main plies of the tyre run at an angle (45 degrees) from one
bead to the other
• Radial Ply Tyre – Main plies of the tyre run at 90 degrees from one bead to the
other
• Tread – Rubber pattern. Provides grip with the road surface and assistsin
clearing water away
• Side Wall – Connects the beads to the tread of the tyre
 Parts
• Beads: Two rings that are made ofsteel wire and encased in rubber. They hold
tire side walls snugly against the rim and prevent tyre from coming off
• Body Plies: Rubberized fabric and cords wrapped around beads. Form carcassor
body of the tyre.
• Tread: Outer surface of the tyre that comes in contact with the road
 Parts
• Sidewall: Outer part of the tyre that extends from the bead to the tread.
• Marking on the sidewall provides the information about the tyre.
• Liner: Thin layer of rubber that is bonded to the inside of the plies. Provides a
leak proof membrane for tubelesstires.
• Belts: Used to strengthen the body plies and stiffen the tread.
• Lie between tread and plies
 Why car tires are Black?
The black color of tires comes from carbon black, a readily
available material that provides wear characteristics & heat
dissipation capabilities when added to rubber compounds.

Natural rubber is off white in color & in fact the first rubber
tires were white.

Pure vulcanized rubber is soft & wears out very quickly,

however & tends to heat up & deform under load.

So you want to mix something in with the rubber that adds
temp stability & hardness.

Originally this was typically Zinc Oxide which made the tires
bright white in color.

It’s possible to make other colors by simply using other

pigments in combination with natural white rubber.
Tyre Cutaway
 Bias Ply Tyre
Construction
• One of the oldest design
• Several textile plies are laid across
each other, running from bead to
bead in alternate directions
• Number of plies depends on the size
of the tyre and the load it has to
carry
• Same number of plies is used on the
crown and the sidewalls
• Plies run at an angle from bead to
bead
• Does not use belts
• Allows body of the tyre to flex easily
• Improved cushioning, hence smooth
ride on rough roads
• Weakness: Reduced traction at high
speeds and increase rolling
resistance
 Belted Bias Tyre
Construction
• Bias ply tyres with belts added to increase tread stiffness.
• Belts do not run around the sidewalls, they lay under the tread area
only
• Belts and plies run at different angles
• Offers some reduction in rolling resistance over a bias ply tire
• Provides smooth ride and good traction
 Radial Ply Tyre
Construction
• Plies run straight across from bead to
bead.
• Has a very flexible sidewall and a stiff
tread, giving it a very stable footprint
• Consist of a carcass ply formed by
textile arcs running from one bead to
the other.
• Each ply is laid at an angle of 90
degrees to the direction the tyre rolling
• At the top of the tyre crown (under the
tread), a belt made up of several plies
reinforced with metal wire is laid.
• These crown plies, laid one on top of
the other, overlap at an angle
determined by the type of the tyre.
 Advantages of Radial Ply
Tyres
• Side walls can bend easily, its shock absorbing
capacity is 25% more than bias ply or crossply.
• Lower rolling resistance and hysteresis
loss leads to less fuel consumption
• Longer tread life because of less heat build intyre.
• Breaking efficiency on wet roads is better because
of greater sidewall
• flexibility and tread stiffness.
• Better steering characteristics.
• While taking turns it has less tendency to distort
Cross-section of tubelesstyre
 Advantages of tubeless
tyres
• Lesser unsprung weight.
• Better cooling
• Lesser rolling resistance
• Comfortable ride
• Slower leakage of air
• Simpler assembly
• Improved safety
Tyre Sidewall
Markings
SpeedRating
 Load Rating
Load Load Load Load
Index (Kilograms) Index (Kilograms)
71 345 91 615
72 355 92 630
73 365 93 650
74 375 94 670
75 387 95 690
76 400 96 710
77 412 97 730
78 425 98 750
79 437 99 775
80 450 100 800
81 462 101 825
82 475 102 850
83 487 103 875
 Tread
Patterns

Snow tyres
Competition
Tread Wear
Markings

Wear Measuring tool Coin method

Tread wear indicator

 Wheel - Basics
• Most standard wheels are madeof
steel.
• Some vehicles are fitted with alloy
wheels that are made of magnesium
or aluminum
• The rim holds the tyre.
• Well of the wheel allows the tyre to
be removed and refitted
• Centre section is welded to therim Rim

Pilot bore fits tothe hub.

Centre mounting section
Wheel - Basics