RADIAL TIRES
Advantages of a Radial Tire
A radial tire (actually, a radial-ply tire) is a particular
design of vehicular tire. In this design, the cord plies are arranged at 90° to
the direction of travel, or radially (from the center of the tire).
All tires are reinforced with a series of cord plies, which
accords a tire flexibility and strength. This network of cords that gives the
tire its strength and shape is called the carcass. All common tires have a
carcass of cords of polyester, steel, or other textile materials, inlaid with
several layers of rubber, a practice started over 50 years ago.
Earlier, the fabric was built up on a flat steel drum, with
the cords at angles of about + 60° and −60° from the direction of travel,
criss-crossing over each other. They were called cross-ply or bias ply tires. Radial
tires lay all of the cord plies at 90 degrees to the direction of travel (that
is, across the tire from lip to lip). This design prevents plies rubbing
against each other as the tire flexes, reducing the tire's rolling friction,
allowing vehicles with radial tires to achieve better fuel economy than with
bias-ply tires.
With only radial cords, a radial tire would not be
sufficiently rigid on contact with the ground. The entire tire is further
stiffened by additional surrounding belts oriented closer to the direction of
travel, but usually at some "spiral" angle. These belts can be made
of steel, polyester, or Aramid fibers such as Twaron or Kevlar.
Radial tires separate the tire carcass into two separate
systems and provide advantages like:
·
The radial cords in the sidewall allow it to act
like a spring, giving flexibility and ride comfort.
·
The rigid steel belts reinforce the tread
region, giving high mileage and performance.
·
The tire absorbs shocks, impact and bumps. The result is better ride and operator
comfort.
·
Greater productivity. More of your machines
power is actually used.
·
Reduction in tire replacement, given the longer
service life of radial tires.
·
Less ground contact and damage.
·
Excellent cost benefit ratio, i.e., more
cost-effective.
