Automotive Tyres

Dr. A. S Dhoble
 Introduction :Tyre
• Tyre is a rubber member which gives the cushion to the automobile.
• It consists of outer cover i.e. tyre proper and tube inside.
• The tyre-tube assembly is mounted over the wheel rim and air inside the
tube carries entire load and provides cushion.
Basic Functions of tyre
To support the vehicle load.
To provide cushion against the shocks.
To transmit driving and braking forces to the road.
Tyres grip the road to provide good traction. This enables the vehicle
to accelerate, brake and make turns without skidding thus provide
smooth steering of vehicle
 Parts of Tyres
Tread:- Thicker top rubber portion of tyre in contact with road. Depth
of cut varies from 8mm to 14mm. Tread patterns vary depending upon
intended use.

Casing:- Casing is made up of layers of cords impregnated with rubber.

The number of layers cords varies according to use of tyre. Motor car
tyres usually have 4 to 6 plies, whereas heavy duty trucks etc.
tyre may have 22 plies.

Side wall:- The side walls are rubber compound and act as protective
layer of casing.

Beads:- This represents coil of wires. These wires are of high tensile
steel, which are built in the edges of the tyre in order to give strong
edges to press against the inner edge of the rim.
Plies :- rubberized fabric reinforced by
cords of nylon, rayon, polyester, or
fiberglass. The plies are referred to be
carcass.

Bead:- the lower portion on both sides

has a set of steel wires called “ bead
wires”

Breaker:- are rubber covered cords

similar to plies. The job of breaker is to
distribute road shock and prevent
separation of tread from tyre.
 Theory of Adhesive Friction
Bowden and Tabor developed theory of adhesive friction.
As per this theory on application of W, initial contact at
some of higher asperity tips occurs. Due to high stress
those asperities suffer plastic deformation, which permits
strong adhesive bonds among asperities.
Such cold formed junctions are responsible for the
adhesive friction.
The coefficient of friction due to adhesive friction is given
by ratio of friction force to applied load W.

Two surfaces are pressed together under load W.

• Material deforms until area of contact (A) is sufficient to

support load W,
• To move the surface sideway, it must overcome shear
strength of junctions with force Fa.

• μ = Fa ⁄ W
 Types of Tyres
There are two types of tyres
(a) Tyre with tube
(b) Tyre without tube / Tubeless Tyres

Tyre casings for tube and tubeless tires are made in the same way.
All tyres do not have the same shape or Profile
 Overall Tyre Geometric Parameters

Aspect ratio = (Tyre section Height / Tyre section

width)

Generally there are 3 Aspect ratio : 80, 70 and 60

A series 60 tyre is only 60% as high as its width
 Tyres Manufacturing

Tyre Construction
• Tyre casings for tube and tubeless tires are made in the same way.
• Layers of cord or plies are shaped on a form and impregnated with
rubber.
• The tire sidewalls and treads are then applied
• The assembly is vulcanized, (means heat the rubber under pressure)
• This molds the tire into the desired form.

Plies : rubberized fabric reinforced by cords of nylon, rayon.

1) Passenger car – 2,4 or 6;
2) Heavy duty trucks or buses – upto 14;
3) Tires of earth moving machinery- up to 32 plies
Manufacturing of Tyres
 Radial and Bias Ply Tyres
• Plies can be applied in two ways:
1) Diagonally or
2) Radially
• For many years most tires had diagonal or bias plies.
These plies crisscross, this makes tyre strong in all
directions because the plies overlap. However, plies tend
to move against each other and produce heat especially
at high speed. Also the tread tends to close or “squirm” as
it meets the road.
• Radial tyres were brought out to remedy these problem.
In radial tires, the plies run parallel to each other and
vertical to the tire bead
• Stabilizer belts are applied over the plies to give strength
parallel to beads. Belts are made of rayon, nylon,
fiberglass or steel mesh
Comparison of Bias Ply and Radial Ply Tyres
 Radial and Bias Ply Tyres

Radi • Ply cords are over at an angle (30⁰ to 40⁰ to tyre axis and altering in direction from
al ply to ply
Tyre • In bias types the carcass is made up of two or more plies extending from bead to
s bead with cords at angles 30⁰ to 45⁰ to circumference
Bias • Plies running bead to bead across the crown at right angles to rotation.
Ply • On the side walls the direction of these plies is radial and hence the name.
tyres
Tyre Information
Tyre Designation
 Tyre Inspection
Tyre inspection:- purpose of inspective tire
is to determine if they are safe for further
use.
 Tyres have tread wear indicators or
wear bars. There are filled in section for
the tread grooves that will show when
the tread has worn down to 1.6mm. A
tire with a wear bar showing is worn out
and should be replaced
 A tread depth gauge can be inserted into
tread grooves to measure tread depth. A
tread depth of a least 0.8mm is required
in any two adjacent grooves at any
location on the tyre.
 Tyre Rotation and Inspection

• Tyre rotation:- after 10,000 km. rotation Check for bulges on side wall. Bulges near plies
even out differences in wear and enhances have separated and tire could fail at any time.
tire life. Tires with separated or broken plies should be
replaces
 Runout

Runout :
the measure of the
out of roundness
of the tyre causing
a vibration that
cannot be
balanced.
 Radial Runout
The total variation in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of an
indicated surface from a plane surface of revolution.
It is expressed as TIR (Total Indicator Reading).
 Radial Runout
The total variation in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of an
indicated surface from a plane surface of revolution.
It is expressed as TIR (Total Indicator Reading).
 Lateral Run –out :Wheel and Wheel Rim

Lateral Run Out :is side-to-side motion in the wheel rim as it turns on
the hub. This erratic motion in turn causes uneven wear.

When the vehicle is driven, even

without the brakes applied, the
rotor hits the pads lightly on each
revolution. This extra wear leaves
a thin spot on the rotor. Once this
thickness variation is worn into
the rotor, the brake pedal will
vibrate when braking.
 Axial Runout
The total deviation of the axial reference surface noted during
one revolution of the workpiece.
It is expressed as TIR (Total Indicator Reading).
 Axial Runout

The total deviation of the axial reference surface noted during

one revolution of the workpiece.
It is expressed as TIR (Total Indicator Reading).
 Effect of Wheel Run Out
• Wheels that are bent or have excessive lateral run out or radial run out
cause
 vibration and imbalance problems

• Too much run out of front wheels will cause the front end of the vehicle
to vibrate up and down

• Sometimes repositioning the tire on wheel reduces or eliminate

excessive radial run out. A quick check of lateral run out and radial run
out can be made using dial indicator or run out gauge.

• With the dial indicator in each position rotate the wheel in both
direction. The total indicator reading shows the amount of run out.

# If wheel run out exceeds specifications it indicates Worn or damaged tire

 Wheel Balancing
• Wheel balance refers to the proper distribution of weight around a
revolving tyre and wheel assembly. Poor wheel balance can have a marked
impact on both the vehicle and passenger safety.

• Wheel and tire assembly may be checked for wheel balance either on or off
the vehicle.
• Balancing of wheel is done for
 Static Balancing
 Dynamic Balancing
Note:- a tire and wheel may be in static balance and still have dynamic
unbalance. Either static or dynamic unbalance will cause steering wheel to
shake from side to side at higher speeds.
 Wheel Balancing

The balancing of rotating masses can be

considered in two stages
i) Static balance :- in one plane of revolution
ii) Dynamic balance :- in more than one plane
of revolution

Dynamic balance :- when statically balanced

wheel has balancing weight put on two
different plane, it generates rocking couple as
shown.
For every revolution of wheel, the wheel will
rock in both the direction clockwise and
anticlockwise, causing drivers steering wheel
to jerk from side to side.
 Characteristic of imbalance

• Steady increase of amplitude of wheel

twitching about swivel pin with rising
wheel speed
(STATIC BALANCING)

• Whereas with dynamic imbalance the

magnitude of wheel twitching rises to
maximum and then decline with further
increase in wheel speed
 Static Balancing
Static balance:-
• This is equal distribution of weight around the wheel.
• Wheel with static unbalance rotates with a bouncing action or tramp wheel (Tramp-
tramp is the hopping up and down of a wheel at higher speeds).
• This eventually cause uneven tire wear

• A wheel can be static balanced by using bubble or static balancer. Remove wheel
from vehicle and mount on bubble balancer. If wheel is heavier in one section
(unbalance) the bubble in the center of the balancer will move off center. Balance
the wheel by adding wheel weights to the rim until the bubble is centered.
• Adding corrective weights restores the equal distribution of weights around wheel
 Dynamic Balance
Dynamic balance or spring balancing:-
• This is equal distribution of weight on each side of tires centerline.
• When wheels has dynamics balance, there is no tendency for side to side
movement.
• A wheel that has dynamic unbalance may cause wheel shimmy ( abnormal
vibration of wheels of a motor vehicle).
Preferred Method of Balancing
 Wheel balance ?
1. Amount of unbalance mass.
More the unbalance mass, more will be
the wheel imbalance.
2. Distance of unbalance mass from centre.
More the Distance of unbalance mass from
centre, more will be the wheel imbalance.

3. Rpm / speed.
More the speed, more will be the wheel
imbalance.
The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance are:

The first sign that the wheels may be out of

balance is when the steering wheel starts to
wobble above a certain speed.

The lightweight of modern cars means that

they don't dampen down the vibrations caused
by spinning wheels in the way that older,
heavier vehicles could.
The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance
are:

Vibration in the seat or floorboard at

certain highway speeds.
Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the
tyres.
Pre-mature wearing of suspension,
steering components and rotating parts.
Wheel Balancing

Correctly balanced wheels help to eliminate

vibration and avoid premature wear caused by
an imbalance in the rotating wheel and tyre
assembly.

Wheels are balanced on a wheel balancing

machine. The machine rotates the tyre and
wheel assembly and automatically calculates
the weight and location of the balance counter
weight.
Wheel Balancing

Wheels are balanced using small weights that

smooth out weight distribution and stop the
vibration.

Result of wheel balancing is,

a smoother ride and
better wear of tyre.

A driver may not always sense an imbalance at the steering

wheel. It could be present with but dampened by the vehicle
weight. This is why balancing is equally important for both front
and rear wheels.
Wheel Balancing
Tyre wear ?

1. If the tread is deeper on the edges than in

the center, the tire is OVER INFLATED.
Tyre wear ?

2. If the tread is deeper in the center than the

edges, the tire is UNDER INFLATED.
Tyre wear ?

3. If the tread is deeper on one side than the

other, have vehicle wheel alignment -
checked soon.
Tyre wear ?
4. If the tread is smooth in one direction, but
jagged in the other iis called a "saw-tooth"
wear pattern which is caused by a toe-in
problem.
Tyre pressure ?
Tyre pressure in a tyre is a
function of load it carries.
LOAD / PRESSURE chart should
be referred for correct pressure.

To make it more user friendly, we

recommend the tyre pressure as
follows.

Tyre pressures
Field Haulage
Front 24 - 28 PSI 24 - 28 PSI
Rear 12 - 16 PSI 12 - 16 PSI
 Tyre pressure ?

Tyre pressures corresponding to maximum load per tyre

Front tyres
Cold Inflation Pressure PSI
Ply
Tyre Size 20 23 28 33 36 41 46 50 54 58 61 65
Rating
Maximum load per tyre ( Kgs )
6.0 x 16 8 340 370 410 450 470 500 530 560 595 625 645 675
7.50 x 16 8 500 535 605 660 695 745 790 830 870 - - -
Tyre Inflation
 Tubes
Natural Rubber
Classification of No strips
Tubes
Synthetic Rubber
Butyl: Blue Strips
GR-S : Identified by red
strips
Radial Tyre Puncture
Safety Tube
Tube Sealing Tube

• Contains Plastic coating on inside • Two tubes, one inside other

• Sealant and sealing action is • If outer tube fails, inner tube
same as in self sealing tyres retains the air pressure
 Wheels

• Pressed steel wheels are widely used.

• Many vehicles have aluminium wheels. Because aluminium is Lighter
• Reduces unspring weight
• Improves ride because less bouncing is felt
• Cools at a faster rate compared to steel which helps in effective braking
and tire performance.
• Composite wheels made of fiberglass, sheet moulding compounds and
special resins are lighter than aluminium wheels.
 Wheels
• The wheel assembly generally consists of (i) Hub (ii) Disc or spokes (iii) rim and (Iv) Tyre and (v)
Tube
• The wheel resists side force created by turning

Wheel Types

Wired wheels
Pressed steel disc (i) Better in heat Light alloy casting wheels
wheel dissipation (i) Light in weight
(i) Simple and robust (ii) Free air (ii) Better stress
(ii) Easy to produce in circulation distribution
large number at around brake
lower cost (iii) use of good alloy
drum
material
(iii) Less maintenance (iii) Tubeless tyres
(iv) Alloy being good
(iv) Ease in cleaning can not be used
conductor of heat,
(iv) Difficult to clean better heat dissipation
(v) costly
 Wheel Types

Light Alloy Casting wheel

Wired Wheel Pressed Steel Disc Wheel
Thanks !!