6 Basic function's of a tyre

Nowadays, tyres and cars are very sophisticated. Drivers are at risk of forgetting that the tyres are a car’s only point of contact with the ground and that as a result they need to perform a certain number of functions such as steering, carrying the load, cushioning, rolling, transmitting derive and lasting.

Steering

The system that enables drivers to regulate a vehicle's direction is called steering. It uses a steering wheel to turn the front wheels, promoting safe driving, precise handling, and smooth turns.

Carrying

Tyres support the vehicle both in motion and at rest. They withstand heavy loads, resist pressure during braking and acceleration, and can carry over 50 times their own weight.

Cushioning

Tyres absorb shocks from uneven roads, offering comfort and protecting the vehicle. Their flexibility and correct air pressure ensure smooth handling and reduce wear from surface bumps.

Rolling

Tyres with low rolling resistance offer smoother, more stable driving. They enhance control, improve fuel efficiency, and provide a more enjoyable and cost-effective driving experience.

Transmitting Drive

Tyres transmit drive: the engine's usable power, braking effort. The quality of the few square inches in contact with the ground dictates the level of transmission of drive etc.

Lasting

Tyres maintain performance over millions of revolutions. Their wear depends on usage and contact quality. Correct pressure ensures proper grip, balanced stress, and longer tyre life.

These 6 functions guarantee safety, comfort and economy.

They are provided during the entire lifetime of a tyre, but elementary precautions for use must be taken by the user. A tyre needs air to work and last. So it is vital to check tyre pressures regularly. In fact, a tyre loses its precious air, molecule by molecule, because of the natural (very slight) porosity of rubber. To this are often added accidental causes such as valves or rims no longer being completely airtight, small perforations in a tyre etc.

Pressure dictates all a tyre's functions: functions of safety, economy and comfort and incorrect pressure erode all these functions. A quick, regular check will greatly reduce this area of concern for the driver.

Why Do Tyres Fail?

Tyre defects cause too many rollovers, injuries & deaths. When is it going to end?

When a radial tyre suddenly loses it's tread the driver often loses of control of the vehicle due to a blowout of the tyre or rapid pressure decrease in the remaining core. When the blowout occurs to a rear tyre, controlling the vehicle becomes very difficult, especially at highway speeds. This loss of control results in the rear of the vehicle swinging around to become perpendicular to the direction of travel (yawing).

If the yawing is not immediately reversed in direction, then the sideways motion often leads to the bead of the tyre separating from the rim, allowing the rim to dig into the pavement or surface, resulting is propelling the vehicle into a roll. Tripping of the vehicle can also result in a rollover if sufficient amount of sideway movement occurs in a grass or dirt median to actually trip the vehicle and launch it into a rollover.

Tyre manufacturers have known that a leading cause of tread separation is due to the design and placements of the belts and overlying tread. Also Tread and belt separations can occur due to poor adhesion of the components from the use of old and expired adhesives, improper temperatures, rust, unclean manufacturing facility, moisture, oxidation, grease, sawdust, gum wrappers and EVEN cigarette butts.

Of all of the known problems resulting in tyre tread and belt separation, the leading cause of belt separation is the failure of the metal to stick to rubber. The method used most often involves plating the metal with brass and apply a rubber compound containing sulfur. If the sulfur and other compounds are not to the correct mixture, then incomplete adhesion occurs. Also if the brass plating is allowed to oxidize, then adhesion will likely occur. If there is a shiny brass looks to the belts, then most probably there was at least a deficiency in the tread bonding process, if not also compounded by other defects.

Tyre Manufacturing Issues

Damaged Tyre Structure

Improper Adhesion