Introduction to Automotive Engineering
by R. Sakthivel, Faisal O. Mahroogi, S. Narayan, S. Abudbaker, M. U. Kaisan, Youssef Alammari
Chapter 3Tires
3.1 Introduction [1]
The tires are one of the vital functional elements of the automobile for transmission of various forces (vertical, lateral and longitudinal) between the automobile and the ground. The properties of the tires must be predictable by the driver and be constant throughout the traction. Most of the modern applications use pneumatically inflated tires to provide better cushioning effects and to improve shock absorbing capacity. The designing of tires should cover wider aspects like the vehicle’s static loading, dynamic loading and the vibration damping capacity, etc. Modern tires are generally made of components like natural and synthetic rubbers, fabrics along with carbon black and some organic chemical compounds. Before utilizing rubber tires, the wooden wheels were wound by metal wires to prevent damage due to wear and tear. In modern days, the rubber tires were inflated by pneumatic supply whereas solid rubber tires were still used in various applications like carts, lawn movers, casters, etc.
3.2 Construction of Tire
A tire provides a cushion between the vehicle and the road, reducing shocks. This effect is provided by compressed air present in the tire. Radial ply tires are best for use.
3.2.1 Tire Tread Designs
Tires generally fall into one of the following categories:
- Directional
- Non-directional
- Symmetric and Asymmetric.
3.2.2 Cross-Ply Tires [2]
In developed countries, cross-ply tires are no longer in use for commercial applications ...