How Are Tyres Made?

Tyres need to be comfortable to ride, and as hard-wearing as possible. This will ensure maximum safety under all driving conditions.

Tyres are constructed usually from a combination of different consistencies of rubber and steel. The most important basic principle of tyre manufacturing is to achieve a durable and elastic quality. This will allow the tyre to take up the contour of the road surface for safety and comfort and then spring back to its original shape, hundreds of times.

Basic Structure of a Tyre

There are 4 main parts that make up a tyre:

• bead  - a rubber-wrapped steel loop that is inflexible and inelastic, giving the tyre its basic structure
• plies -  layers of different fabrics, covered in rubber, making up the body of the tyre. They give the tyre structure strength, and are highly flexible
• steel belts – are used to reinforce the area under the tread. Steel belts provide puncture resistance and help keep the tyre flat to the ground, so that it makes the best contact with the road.
• tread – made of natural and synthetic rubbers, designed with tread patterns to give the tyre traction on the road. The rubber compound is designed to resist wear, and cope with high temperatures generated by friction, and is modified in different types of tyres, to make the tyre provide optimum comfort and safety under different driving conditions.

Different Tread Patterns for Different Tyre Types

Winter tyres will need different tread patterns to cope with snowy and icy road surfaces than all-season tyres; tread patterns for 4x4 tyres have to be different from the tread patterns for sports car tyres. Advancements in tyre manufacturing technology have made it possible not only to create safer and longer-lasting tyres, but also to develop elaborate tread patterns to work better on different surfaces. For winter and rain tyres for example, the tread is designed to channel water and snow away from the tyre, to maintain maximum grip.

Although new tyre manufacturing technologies make it possible to produce tyres that have a longer life and tyres are safer than even 10 years ago, it is very important that you choose the right tyre for your car, and check your tread wear regularly, to ensure maximum driving safety. Hometyre also recommends that you switch to winter tyres from around November, as the winter tyre tread patterns are specifically designed to provide maximum safety when the temperature drops below 7C.