14-4
1. OVERVIEW
A radial tire uses a cord angle of 90 degrees. That is, the cord material runs in a radial or direct line from
one bead to the other across the tread. In addition, a radial tire has a belt overwrap under the tread
surface to provide greater structural stability. The belt overwrap of a radial tire distortion while the radial
structure enables high speed driving.
Tire supports the weight of the vehicle, reduces the impact from the road and at the same time,
transmits the power to propel, brake and steer on the road. It also functions to maintain a
<009d008c008f0090008a0093008c02c5009a004700940096009d008c0094008c0095009b0055004700700095004700960099008b008c00990047009b00960047008a0096009400970093008c009b008c0047009a009c008a008f0047009b0088009a009200
9a0053004700880047009b00900099008c00470094009c009a>t be structured to be a resilient
vessel of air.
There is wear limit mark on the tire, which protrudes as a strip shape located approximately 1.6 mm from
<009b008f008c0047008e009900960096009d008c004700890096009b009b0096009400550047007b008f0090009a0047009e008c0088009900470093009000940090009b0047009400880099009200470090009a004700950096009b0047009a008c008c00
950047008d0099009600940047009b008f008c00470096009c>tside so there is additional "▲"
mark on the shoulder to let the driver find the wear mark easily. To measure the tire groove depth,
measure at any point other than the point which has a wear limit mark.
The tire is worn unevenly according to the driver's driving habit, improper servicing, low tire inflation
pressure, changed tire location, etc.
1) Structure of Tire
Tread
This thick layer of rubber provides the interface
between the tire and the road. Wear-resistant
rubber is used to protect the carcass and belt
against fractures and impacts and to deliver a
long driving life.
Shoulder
Located between the tread and sidewall, the
shoulder rubber is the thickest so that the design
must allow for the easy diffusion of heat
generated within the tire while driving.
Sidewall
The part between the shoulder and bead, the
flexible sidewall protects the carcass and
enhances the ride. A tire’s type, size,
structure, pattern, manufacturing company,
product name and various characters are
indicated here. Bead
The bead attaches the tire to the rim and wraps
the end of the cord fabric. Comprised of the bead
wire, core, flipper and other parts, the bead is
generally designed to be slightly tight around the
rim so that in the case of a sudden drop in inflation
pressure, the tire will not fall off the rim.
Carcass
As the most important framework of a tire, the
entire inner layer of cord fabric is called the
carcass. The carcass acts to support air pressure,
vertical load and absorb shocks.
Valve
Belt
Bead core
14-8
If weight is not equally distributed around the wheel, unbalance centrifugal force by the wheel rotation
produces vibration. As the centrifugal force is produced proportional to the square of the rotating speed,
the wheel weight should be balanced even at high speed. There are two types of the tire and wheel
balancing: static and dynamic. Abnormal vibration may also occur due to unbalanced rigidity or size of
tires.
1) Static Balance
When the free rotation of the wheel is
allowed, the heavier part is stopped on the
bottom if the wheel weight is unbalanced and
this is called "Static Unbalance". Also, the
state at which tire's stop position is not same
is called "Static Balance" when the wheel is
rotated again. If the part A is heavier as
shown in the figure 1, add the balance weight
of a weight corresponding to unbalanced
weight from B to A to maintain the static
balance. If the static balance is not
maintained, tramping, up and down vibration
of the wheels, occurs.
2) Dynamic Balance
The static unbalance of the wheel creates
the vibration in the vertical direction, but the
dynamic unbalance creates the vibration in
the lateral direction. As shown in the figure
2 (a), if two parts, (2) and (3), are heavier
when the wheels are under the static
balance condition, dynamic unbalance is
created, resulting in shimmy, left and right
vibration of the wheels, and the torque Fxa
is applied in the axial direction. To correct
the dynamic unbalance, add the balance
weight of a same weight for two points of
the circumference of the rim, A and B, as
shown in the figure 2 (b), and apply the
torque in the opposite direction to the
torque Fxa to offset in order to ensure
smooth rotation of the wheel.
Center
A
B
a
a
Fxa
Fxa F
F
A
B
(a)(b)
[Figure 1]
[Figure 2]
3. WHEEL BALANCE
