KNOWING TIRES

Tires are part of the vehicle in direct contact with the road. Therefore must have some requirements for ride comfort.

Function

1. As part of the power train system so that the vehicle can run.
   
2. As part of the braking system that allows to stop the vehicle.
   
3. As part of the steering system that determines the direction of the vehicle.
   
4. As part of the suspension system which allows the shock damping due to road conditions, which then suppressed again by the suspension, so get comfortable in driving.
   

Tire Type

1. Bias Tires. Bias tire construction was stacked threads crossed each other. Number of plies more than the radial tire. Therefore, the bias tires can hold more weight and thus more widely used in commercial cars.
2. Radial Tires. Radial tire is a tire yarn construction there is only one or two layers of stacked woven around the tires. Therefore, softer walls so that the radial tire more comfortable to wear and suitable for use in passenger cars. In the radial tire was also reinforced with a layer of the tread of steel wire. The effect, more stable control. This is different from bias tires that do not have steel in the tread.
3. Light Van Radial Tire (LVR)LVR is a combination of tires bias tires, radial.
   

Tire compound

Tire compound means forming materials that the number of tires could reach hundreds of elements. Each manufacturer has a different compounds which may be quite difficult to do measurements. But if you want to know the hardness can be done by using a tensile meter.

Highway tire compound will usually softer than the tires for off-road. Trend road tires now is to use a soft compound tire. However, as the use of tires, this compound has aging (age consumed, red). Usually the tires so much harder because of the heat.

Then came the new technology, such as the so-called dual-layer tread. In this type, there are two types of compounds on the same tires, the 50 percent outside the original compound and underneath the softer compound.

Outside the compound will be further eroded as hard and usage. While inside the compound is like a half-baked. Because of aging, the tires so hard. Once the outer layer of the compound out, violence is the equivalent compound in a compound outside when new.



Age Use

There are six factors that can affect tire wear age.

1. Weight. Each different car tires based on it consumption. In addition, the use of cars is often used alone or full load affects the age of the tire wear. Certainly, the age would be reduced by using a full load.
2. Air pressure must be fitted. Less pressure to reduce 50% 78% aged tires.
3. Tire rotation. Rotated tires properly aged longer useful life.
4. False wheel alignment would make the tires wear out faster.
5. Route. Concrete roads lead to higher wear than the asphalt.
6. Driving habits. Speeding, zig-zag and often brake would make a faster tire wear.
   

Size

Size of tire is listed on the tire wall to show its size. Since nearly all cars are already using radial tire, the tire is only clues are discussed.





Suppose Size = 185/65R14



Mean,

185 = tire width (mm),

65 = 65% tire profile of the width of the tire,

R = radial

14 = rim diameter (inches).