Continental Car Tyres - Tyre Basics

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Tyre Basics

Passenger Car Tyres

2005/06 2005/06

www.conti-online.com

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n n t t a a l l A A G G . . A A l l l l r r i i g g h h t t s s r r e e s s e e r r v v e e d d . .

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Tyre Basics - Passenger Car

Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyresTyres Tyre Basics - Passenger Car Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyreTyress

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The components of a modern radial tyre

The components of a modern radial tyre for passenger cars contain diverse for passenger cars contain diverse ingre-dients in differing amounts.

dients in differing amounts.

These ingredients vary by tyre size and These ingredients vary by tyre size and tyre type (summer or winter tyre). tyre type (summer or winter tyre). The example below shows the ingredients The example below shows the ingredients used in the summer tyre

used in the summer tyre 205/55 R 16 91W 205/55 R 16 91W ContiPremiumContact ContiPremiumContact (The tyre shown here weighs about 9.3 kg (The tyre shown here weighs about 9.3 kg without the rim).

without the rim).

Tyre example: ContiPremiumContact, Tyre example: ContiPremiumContact,

205/55 R 16 91W. 205/55 R 16 91W.

Breakdown of ingredients Breakdown of ingredients

Every modern passenger car tyre has

Every modern passenger car tyre has a complex structurea complex structure

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Rubber Rubber (n

(nataturural al anand sd synynththetetic ic rurubbbberer)) 4141%% Fillers

Fillers

(carbon black, silica, carbon, (carbon black, silica, carbon, c chhaallkk……)) 3300%% Reinforcing materials Reinforcing materials ( (sstteeeell, , rraayyoonn, , nnyylloonn)) 1155%% P Pllaassttiicciizzeerrs (s (ooiills as annd rd reessiinnss)) 66%% Chemicals for vulcanisation

Chemicals for vulcanisation (sulphur, zinc oxide, (sulphur, zinc oxide, v

vaarriioouus s ootthheer r cchheemmiiccaallss)) 66%% Chemicals as antioxidants

Chemicals as antioxidants (to counter ozone effects (to counter ozone effects a annd d mmaatteerriiaal l ffaattiigguuee)) 11%% M Miisscceellllaanneeoouuss 11%% 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7

A modern tyre is made up of: A modern tyre is made up of:

Tr

Tread/belt ead/belt assemblyassembly consisting of

consisting of 11 TreadTread– for good road grip and water expulsion– for good road grip and water expulsion 2

2 Jointless cap pliesJointless cap plies– enable high speeds– enable high speeds 3

3 Steel-cord belt pliesSteel-cord belt plies– optimise directional stability– optimise directional stability and rolling resistance

and rolling resistance Casing

Casing, consisting of, consisting of 44 Textile cord plyTextile cord ply– keeps the tyre in shape even with high– keeps the tyre in shape even with high inflation pressure

inflation pressure 5

5 Inner linerInner liner– makes the tyre airtight– makes the tyre airtight 6

6 Side wallSide wall – protects from lateral damage– protects from lateral damage 7

7 Bead apexBead apex – promotes directional stability, steering– promotes directional stability, steering performance and comfort level

performance and comfort level 8

8 Bead coreBead core – ensures firm seating on the rim– ensures firm seating on the rim 9

9 Bead reinforcementBead reinforcement – promotes directional stability– promotes directional stability and precise steering response

and precise steering response

The functions of the individual components are explained on the next two pages. The functions of the individual components are explained on the next two pages. 3 3 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7

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Inner liner

Material

Material Butyl rubberButyl rubber Functions

Functions

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s Seals the air-filled inner chamberSeals the air-filled inner chamber

s

s Acts as a tube in modern tubeless tyres Acts as a tube in modern tubeless tyres

Side wall

Material

Material Natural rubberNatural rubber Functions

Functions

s

s Protects the casing from lateral damageProtects the casing from lateral damage and atmospheric conditions

and atmospheric conditions

Bead apex

Material

Material Synthetic rubberSynthetic rubber Functions

Functions

s

s Enhances directional stabilityEnhances directional stability

s

s Gives steering precisionGives steering precision

s

s Improves comfortImproves comfort

Bead core

Material

Material Steel wire embedded in rubberSteel wire embedded in rubber Functions

Functions

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s Ensures that the tyre sits firmly on the rimEnsures that the tyre sits firmly on the rim

Bead reinforcement

Material

Material Nylon, aramidNylon, aramid Functions

Functions

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s Enhances directional stabilityEnhances directional stability

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s Gives steering precisionGives steering precision

Tread

Material

Material Synthetic and natural rubberSynthetic and natural rubber Functions

Functions

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s CaCap:p: prprovovidides es grip grip on on alall rl roaoad sd sururfafaceces,s, wear-resistance and directional wear-resistance and directional stability

stability

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s Base: Base: reduces reduces rolling rolling resistance resistance andand damage to the casing damage to the casing

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s Shoulder: forms an optimal transition fromShoulder: forms an optimal transition from the tread to the sidewall the tread to the sidewall

Jointless cap plies

Material

Material Nylon, embedded in rubberNylon, embedded in rubber Functions

Functions

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s Enhances high-speed suitabilityEnhances high-speed suitability and manufacturing precision and manufacturing precision

Steel-cord

for belt plies

Material

Material High-strength steel cordsHigh-strength steel cords Functions

Functions

s

s Enhances shape retentionEnhances shape retention and directional stability and directional stability

s

s Reduces the rolling resistanceReduces the rolling resistance

s

s Increases the tyre’s mileage performanceIncreases the tyre’s mileage performance

Textile cord ply

Material

Material Rayon or polyester (rubberised)Rayon or polyester (rubberised) Functions

Functions

s

s Contains the tyre’s inflation pressureContains the tyre’s inflation pressure Base Base Shoulder Shoulder Start Start End End 0.3 mm 0.3 mm

T

Tread/Belt

read/Belt Assembly

Assembly

Components and Their Functions

Carcass

Cap Cap

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1 111 1122 1133 control of unit control of unit weight weight building of the building of the casing

casing pre-treatment ofpre-treatment ofthe “green” tyrethe “green” tyre final visualfinal visualinspectioninspection

X-ray control X-ray control check for check for imbalance imbalance applying the applying the apex apex building of the building of the tread/belt tread/belt assembly assembly vulcanisation vulcanisation force variation force variation control control Building Building

Putting together the

individual components individual components of a tyre of a tyre V Vuullccaanniissaattiioonn QQuuaalliitty y control control 5 5 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 Steel cord Steel cord steel industry steel industry

(steel cord, steel

wire)

rubber

portioning

portioning ststeeeel-l-cocord sprd spoooolsls ststeeeel-l-deringderingcocord card calelen-n- cutting steel-cordcutting steel-cordto sizeto size

Tread Tread chemical industry chemical industry (synthetic rubbers, (synthetic rubbers, additives) additives) portioning of raw portioning of raw materials and materials and supplies supplies t tr er eaad ed exxt rt ru du deerr ccoon tn tr or ol ol of wf weei gi ghhtt per metre

per metre tread coolingtread cooling

Textile-cord Textile-cord rubber extraction rubber extraction (natural rubber) (natural rubber) production of production of master batch master batch cord fabric on cord fabric on rollers rollers textile-cord textile-cord calendering calendering cutting cutting textile-cord to size textile-cord to size Steel bead Steel bead making up of making up of production production compound compound unwinding of unwinding of bead wire bead wire coating of bead coating of bead wire wire rewinding rewinding of bead wire of bead wire Sidewall/inner liner Sidewall/inner liner textile industry textile industry (various cords) (various cords) shaping into shaping into transportable transportable units units sidewall sidewall extrusion extrusion calendering of calendering of

the inner liner

cutting the tread

to size to size bead ring bead ring Supplier Supplier industry

industry CompoundCompoundproductionproduction Manufacture of Manufacture of Semi-finished productsSemi-finished products

Each individual stage of production – from Each individual stage of production – from the inspection of the

the inspection of the raw materials throughraw materials through to delivery of the finished tyre – is to delivery of the finished tyre – is subjectsubject to ongoing quality control.

to ongoing quality control.

Tyre Production - A Glance Around the Factory

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Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyreTyress

Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyresTyres

Sidewall Markings –

Standard and

Required By Law

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1 Manufacturer (trademark or logo)Manufacturer (trademark or logo) 2

2 Product nameProduct name 3

3 Size designationSize designation 205

205= = TTyre width in mmyre width in mm 55

55 = Height-to-width ratio= Height-to-width ratio in percent in percent R

R ==RadiRadial coal constrnstructiuctionon 16

16 = = Rim diameter in Rim diameter in inches (code)inches (code) 4

4 9191 = Load index= Load index (see also page 22) (see also page 22) V

V = Speed index= Speed index (see also page 22) (see also page 22) 5

5 SSSSRR==Special designation SSRSpecial designation SSR for runflat tyres for runflat tyres (

( SSelfelfSSupportingupportingRRunflat)unflat) 6

6 TubelessTubeless 7

7 Continental tyres are marked inContinental tyres are marked in accordance with international accordance with international regula-tions. So the sidewall is marked with tions. So the sidewall is marked with a circle containing an E and the a circle containing an E and the number of the country of number of the country of homolo-gation. This marking is followed by a gation. This marking is followed by a multi-digit homologation number, multi-digit homologation number, e.

e. g. g. E4 E4 (4 (4 = = Netherlands)Netherlands) 8

8 Approval number as per ECE R 30 Approval number as per ECE R 30 9

9 Manufacturer’s code:Manufacturer’s code:

s

s Tyre factory, tyre size and typeTyre factory, tyre size and type

s

s Date of Date of manufacture manufacture (week/year)(week/year) 2205 means the

2205 means the2222nd week ofnd week of 20

200505 D

DepartmentepartmentooffTTransportationransportation (U.S. department which oversees (U.S. department which oversees tyre safety standards)

tyre safety standards) T.W.I.:

T.W.I.:Tread Wear Indicator. Bar-likeTread Wear Indicator. Bar-like protuberances at several points of the protuberances at several points of the longitudinal tread grooves which longitudinal tread grooves which appear once tread depth wears down appear once tread depth wears down to 1.6 mm (see also page 21) to 1.6 mm (see also page 21)

All other

All other information appliesinformation applies to countries outside Europe: to countries outside Europe: 12

12 Country of manufactureCountry of manufacture 13

13 U.S. load index for max.U.S. load index for max. Load Rating Load Rating (615 kg per wheel = 1356 lbs.) (615 kg per wheel = 1356 lbs.) where 1 lb. = 0.4536 kg where 1 lb. = 0.4536 kg 14

14 TTrreeadad::beneath which therebeneath which there are 4 plies

are 4 plies

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s 1 rayon ply, 2 steel belt plies,1 rayon ply, 2 steel belt plies, 1 nylon ply

1 nylon ply Sidewall:

Sidewall:the tyre casing consists ofthe tyre casing consists of

s

s 1 rayon ply1 rayon ply 15

15 U.S. limit for max. inflation pressureU.S. limit for max. inflation pressure 51 psi (1 bar = 14.5 psi)

51 psi (1 bar = 14.5 psi)

USA: tyre manufacturer’s guarantee USA: tyre manufacturer’s guarantee for compliance with certain quality for compliance with certain quality characteristics on the basis of characteristics on the basis of standardised tests conducted on standardised tests conducted on reference tyres as determined by law reference tyres as determined by law 16

16 TTrereadadwewearar::relative liferelative life expectancy of the tyre based on expectancy of the tyre based on standard U.S. testing standard U.S. testing 1

177 TTraractctioion:n: A, B or C = A, B or C =

wet braking capability of the tyre wet braking capability of the tyre 18

18 TTemempeperaratuturere:: A, B or C = A, B or C = temperature stability of the tyre temperature stability of the tyre at higher test speeds. C is at higher test speeds. C is sufficient to meet U.S. statutory sufficient to meet U.S. statutory requirements

requirements 19

19 IdenIdentifitificatiocation n for for BrasBrasilil 20

20 IdenIdentifitificatiocation n for for ChinChinaa 11

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The tyre viewed from

the outside

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Abbreviations

DOT

DOT = = U.S. DepartmenU.S. Department oft of Transportation Transportation ETRTO

ETRTO = = European Tyre European Tyre and Rimand Rim Technical Organisation, Technical Organisation, Brussels

Brussels

ECE

ECE = Economic Commission for= Economic Commission for Europe

Europe

(UN institution in Geneva) (UN institution in Geneva) FMVSS

FMVSS==Federal Federal Motor Motor VehicVehicle Safele Safetyty Standards

Standards (U.S. safety code) (U.S. safety code)

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Passenger car hump rim Passenger car hump rim

Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyreTyress

Tyre Basics - Passenger Car TyresTyres

Rim + wheel nave = disc wheel Rim + wheel nave = disc wheel For modern vehicle construction, the rim For modern vehicle construction, the rim offset is crucial. For this reason it may be offset is crucial. For this reason it may be altered only slightly, even if changes are altered only slightly, even if changes are made in the axle geometry.

made in the axle geometry. The rim offset (mm) is the distance The rim offset (mm) is the distance measured from the centre of the rim of a measured from the centre of the rim of a disc wheel to the inside contact face of the disc wheel to the inside contact face of the wheel disc, where it presses against the wheel disc, where it presses against the hub flange. This value can be either hub flange. This value can be either positive or negative.

positive or negative.

The following points must be observed The following points must be observed when fitting tyres to rims: tyre and rim when fitting tyres to rims: tyre and rim must correspond in terms of diameter, and must correspond in terms of diameter, and must be approved in that combination must be approved in that combination for the vehicle type. It is essential that the for the vehicle type. It is essential that the rims used are dimensionally accurate, rims used are dimensionally accurate, clean and rust-free, and neither damaged clean and rust-free, and neither damaged nor worn.

nor worn.

Wheels and Rims

There are several rim contours: There are several rim contours:

s

s 1. Drop centre rim (normal)1. Drop centre rim (normal)

s

s 2. Hump rim = safety contour2. Hump rim = safety contour

s

s 3. Ledge rim = safety contour3. Ledge rim = safety contour

Thanks to slight curvatures, rims 2. and Thanks to slight curvatures, rims 2. and 3. guarantee the tubeless tyre sits firmly 3. guarantee the tubeless tyre sits firmly on the rim. Indeed, such rims are on the rim. Indeed, such rims are abso-lutely essential for tubeless radial tyres. lutely essential for tubeless radial tyres.

Rim width Rim width Tapered seat Tapered seat Drop Drop centre

centre DiameterDiameter Hump Hump Flange Flange Example: 6 1/2 J x 16 H2 B ET 45 Example: 6 1/2 J x 16 H2 B ET 45 (to DIN 7817) (to DIN 7817) 6 1/2

6 1/2 Rim width (in inches)Rim width (in inches) J

J Flange typeFlange type X

X Drop centreDrop centre 16

16 Diameter (in inches)Diameter (in inches) H2

H2 Double humpDouble hump B

B Asymmetrical drop centre Asymmetrical drop centre ET45

ET45 Rim offset in mmRim offset in mm

The hump rim is a modern drop centre rim The hump rim is a modern drop centre rim of the kind used on bicycles, motorcycles, of the kind used on bicycles, motorcycles, passenger cars, agricultural and other passenger cars, agricultural and other commercial vehicles. The drop centre is commercial vehicles. The drop centre is necessary in fitting the tyre on the rim. necessary in fitting the tyre on the rim.