3.

TIRE NOMENCLATURE - TYRE

MODULE TRAINING COURSE
PT. THIESS CONTACTORS
INDONESIA

Prepared by: Alfred Ferguson

 The sidewall nomenclature of an off road tire
provides a wealth of information about a specific
tire:

For Example:
27.00R49 ** VRLS E2A E4 or 23.5-25 16PR VL2 DE2 E3 tell us:

A. Tire Size D. Pattern Type

- Physical Dimensions - Pattern Classification
B. Construction - Manufacturers Description
- Radial Ply E. Applications
- Bias Ply - Compounds
C. Strength - Heat Resistance
- Load Carrying Capacity - Cut Resistance
- Inflation Pressure Limits
-Physical Dimensions
Overall Width (OW)
Section Width (SW)
Tread Width

Section
Height
Free (SH)
Radius
Rim Flange Height
Rim Width
Overall Nominal Rim
Diameter Diameter
(OD)
Dual Spacing

Static Loaded
Radius
(SLR)

Static Loaded
Width
(SLW)
 Review:

27.00R49 ** VRLS E2A E4

TRA Classification
(Earthmover Rock Deep)

Compound Designation (Optional)

E2A = Earthmover Cut Resistant

Tread Pattern
VRLS = V-Steel R-Lug S

Star Rating (Ply Rating Equivalent)

Tire Size Designation (95 Aspect Ratio)

27.00 = Section Width in Inches
R = Radial Ply Construction
49 = Rim Diameter in Inches
 Review:

23.5-25 16PR VL2 DE2 E3/L3

TRA Classification
(Earthmover Rock)
(Loader Rock)
Compound Designation (Optional)
Earthmover Cut Resistant
Loader / Dozer Cut Resistant
Tread Pattern
VL2 = V-LUG 2

Ply Rating

Tire Size Designation (80 Aspect Ratio)

23.5 = Section Width in Inches
- =Bias Ply Construction
25 = Rim Diameter in Inches
 Review:

14.00R24 * VKT G2A G2

TRA Classification
(Grader Traction)

Compound Designation (Optional)

G2A = Grader Cut Resistant

Tread Pattern
VKT = V-Steel K-Traction

Star Rating (Ply Rating Equivalent)

Tire Size Designation

(100 Aspect Ratio)
14.00 = Section Width in Inches
R = Radial Ply Construction
24 = Rim Diameter in Inches
 Review:

55.5/80-57 68PR DL D2V L5

TRA Classification
(Loader Rock Extra-Deep)

Compound Designation (Optional)

Loader / Dozer Cut Resistant

Tread Pattern
DL = D-Lug

Ply Rating

Tire Size Designation

55.5 = Section Width in Inches
80 = Aspect Ratio SH/SW
- = Bias Ply Construction
57 = Rim Diameter in Inches
 Strength:

The word “Ply” originated when Cotton was used

for casing cords. For example, a 1200-24 needed
14 cotton plys to carry 6,600 lbs. As new materials
were introduced, the industry found that 8 actual
nylon plys could do the same job as 14 cotton plys,
thus the term “Ply Rating” was born.
Steel

Strength
Nylon

Cotton
Elongation
With the development of the Radial, only 1 Steel ply cord was used -
regardless of the load to be carried. Since this differed so much from
the bias methodology, the TRA instituted the “Star Rating”. This system
uses 1, 2, or 3 stars ( *, **, ***) to determine the load range of radial tires.

Cotton Nylon Steel

14 Act. Plys 8 Act. Plys 1 Act. Ply

Conversion Table: Star Rating to Ply Rating
Star Corresponding Star Corresponding
Service Tire Size Service Tire Size
Rating Ply Rating Rating Ply Rating
Grader 14.00R24 ★ up to 16 Earthmover 26.5R25 ★★ up to 32
16.00R24 ★ up to 16 29.5R25 ★★ up to 34
17.5R25 ★ up to 16 29.5R29 ★★ up to 40
Earthmover 12.00R24 ★★★ up to 24 33.25R29 ★★ up to 44
14.00R24 ★★★ up to 32 33.5R33 ★★ up to 44
14.00R25 ★★★ up to 32 37.5R33 ★★ up to 48
16.00R25 ★★ up to 36 33.25R35 ★★ up to 44
18.00R25 ★ up to 24 37.25R35 ★★ up to 48
★★ up to 36 37.5R39 ★★ up to 52
18.00R33 ★★ up to 40 40.5/75R39 ★★ up to 54
21.00R33 ★★ up to 36 Loader 15.5R25 ★ up to 16
21.00R35 ★★ up to 44 17.5R25 ★ up to 16
24.00R35 ★★ up to 48 20.5R25 ★ up to 24
24.00R49 ★★ up to 48 ★★ up to 28
27.00R49 ★★ up to 54 23.5R25 ★ up to 24
30.00R51 ★★ up to 58 ★★ up to 32
33.00R51 ★★ up to 64 26.5R25 ★ up to 24
36.00R51 ★★ up to 66 ★★ up to 36
40.00R57 ★★ up to 74 29.5R25 ★ up to 28
17.5R25 ★ up to 16 ★★ up to 34
20.5R25 ★ up to 24 29.5R29 ★ up to 34
★★ up to 28 35/65R33 ★ up to 36
25/65R25 ★★ up to 32 45/65R45 ★ up to 50
23.5R25 ★ up to 24
★★ up to 32
Uses and Characteristics of Off-The-Road Tires
Main tire characteristics
Type/Service Function Vehicles required

Dump trucks
Heat-resistance,
Cut-resistance,
Earthmover Transporting Wear-resistance,
Articulated dump trucks
Shock burst-
Coal haulers
resistance

Scrapers
Traction,
Grading, Maneuverability,
Grader
Leveling (directional stability)
Graders

Loader and Loading and Cut-resistance,

dozer dozing Shovels, Loaders, Wear-resistance
Bulldozers
 Main tire characteristics
Type/Service Function Vehicles required
Oil-resistance,
Compactor Compacting Cut-resistance,
Wear-resistance
Tire -rollers

Traction, Flotation,
Logging Log-skidding
Cut-resistance
Log-skidders

Heat-resistance,
High-speed High-speed
Wear-resistance,
vehicle transporting
Traction
All-Terrain Cranes

Uneven wear,
Industrial Mechanical
Wear-resistance,
Service handling
Stability
Mechanical handling
Equipment
TRA Classifications and Corresponding
Bridgestone Off-The-Road Tires
Bridgestone Tread Pattern
TRA Classifications Tread Type
Radial Bias
E-Earthmover (Haulage Service)
E-1 Rib
E-2 Traction VKT VFT VLT FG GL
E-3 Rock VEL VMT VRL RL WL EL VL2
E-4 Rock Deep VELS VMTS VALS RLS ELS ELS2
VRLS VZTS VLTS VMTP

E-7 Flotation VSJ AL SCP2

G = Grader
G-1 Rib RG
G-2 Traction VKT VSW VUT FG GL
G-3 Rock RL
G-4 Rock Deep RLS
L = Loader & Dozer (Slow Speed Service)
L-2 Traction VKT VLT VUT VSW FG VG SL GL
L-3 Rock VMT RL VL2 WL
L-4 Rock Deep VALS VLTS RLS RLS2 NL
L-4S Smooth Deep STM
L-5 Rock Extra-Deep VSDL DL MSL DL2
L-5S Smooth Extra-Deep VSMS STMS
(on the next page)
 TRA Classifications and Corresponding
Bridgestone Off-The-Road Tires

(from the previous page)

Bridgestone Tread Pattern

TRA Classifications Tread Type
Radial Bias
C = Compactor Service
C-1 Smooth RR
C-2 Grooved AL2
LS = Longging service
LS-2 Intermeditate TGS FG
Highway Service
Highway Use VGT VKT VHB VSB VHS L317 VEB
Industrial Service
Industrial Use VCH VCHD VSDL VSMS VL2 RL RLS ELS2 STMS
 TRA Classifications (Tread Class)
Applicable to all brands: Bridgestone, Goodyear and
Michelin brand Off-the Road tyres

100% 150% 250%

Regular Tread Deep Tread Extra Deep Tread

E2/L2/G2 E4/L4/G4 G5/L5
E3/L3/G3
PT. THIESS CONTRACTORS INDONESIA
 Application of Off-The-Road Tires
TREAD CLASS TRA CODE
SNOW HIGH- INDUS- SAND
APPLICATION 2 3 4 4.5 5 WAY TRIAL
VMT VMTS
VKT VALS VLTS
EARTHMOVER VFT
VLT
VMTP
VRLS
SERVICE VRL
VLT VELS
VEL VZTS
VUT
LOADER AND DOZER VMT VSDL
VKT VALS VLTS VSMS VSW
SERVICE VLT
VLT

GRADER VUT
VMT VALS VSDL VSW
SERVICE VKT

HIGHWAY VHB VSB

VHS L317
SERVICE VGT

VCH VCHD
VSDL VSMS
INDUSTRIAL
SERVICE Bias RL RLS
ELS2 STMS
VL2
VSJ
SAND SERVICE Bias
SCP2
 Applications (Compounding):

- Cut Resistant
Heat Resistance (Index)

130 - Standard

- Heat Resistant
100

80

80 100 130
Cut Resistance (Index)
 Tire Structures Classified by Service and
Designated by Bridgestone

For For For

Earthmover service Loader and Dozer service Grader service

E2A D2A G2A

Tire Structures Classified by Type of Service and
Bridgestone’s Designations

Service BS Code No. Structure

1A Standard
Earthmover Service 2A Cut-resistant
3A Heat-resistant
1A Standard
Grader Service
2A Cut-resistant
2A Cut-resistant
Loader & Dozer Service 2V* Special cut-resistant (Type "V")
2Z* Special cut-resistant (Type "Z")
Logging Service 2V **Standard
* Bias Tire Only
A: Standard
2 A V: Cut-resistant type “V”
Structure:
(Steel Breaker)
Z: Cut-resistant type “Z”
(Side Steel Breaker)
1: Standard
Characteristics: 2: Cut-resistant
3: Heat-resistant
Tread Rubber .
.
Steel Breaker .
Textile .
Carcass Plies

Type V Type Z

Steel breaker Side steel breaker

construction construction
Steel Breaker Tire (Loader Tire Only)
Tread Compound Comparison by Manufacturer

CUT RESIST. STANDARD HEAT RESIST

BS E2A LS, E2A E1A,EIA LS E3A
MI A4, A B4,B C,C4
4H 3H
GY 6S,6H 2H,2S
4S 3S

FS ― CRC HRS
YOKO RE-X CP-X HR-X
GEN ― CRB HR