Everything you want to know about tires
Knowing some knowledge of tire classification is crucial to choosing tires. In this article, we get to know the tire classification together. First of all, we need to know some basic tire knowledge, such as what tire is, what functions of the tire are.
Definition of a Tire
A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel’s rim to transfer a vehicle’s load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over which the wheel travels. Most tires, such as those for automobiles and bicycles, are pneumatically inflated structures, which also provide a flexible cushion that absorbs shock as the tire rolls over rough features on the surface.
Main functions of a tire
1. To support a vehicle’s weight.
The ability of a tire to carry large loads is of significant importance in the design of haul truck and loader tires. The way a tire carries a load is more complex than a simple model of the air pressure alone supporting the load.
When no load is applied to the tire, the air pressure exerts an equal amount of pressure and force on the inside of the tire, so the resultant force is zero. When a load is applied to a tire, it must be transferred through the rim, bead, sidewall and belt before being balanced through the surface contact area with the ground. When a load is applied to a tire, the load must be transferred between the rim, bead, sidewall and belt before it can be balanced on the ground contact patch.
2. To transmit accelerating and braking force to the ground
Acceleration and braking require the transfer of engine and brake torque. Engine and braking torque is transmitted through friction between the tire tread and the ground.
3. To change/maintain direction
Another important function of the tire is to allow the operator to change/maintain direction. The tire tread provides traction and the ground provides friction. Friction prevents the tire from sliding side to side, forcing the tire to roll in the direction of the steering. The strength and air pressure of the sidewall prevents the tire from collapsing when lateral forces are applied to the tire through steering.
4. To absorb shock from the road surface
The tire needs to be deformed to adjust the contact area to achieve the purpose of auxiliary shock absorption. When a haul truck or other vehicle bounces due to uneven terrain, the load applied to the tires changes. Therefore, the contact area between the tire and the ground must change to compensate. A certain amount of flexibility is required for the tire to allow this action to take place readily.
Tire Classifications:
Generally speaking, tires can be classified :
- by their construction – solid-rubber, pneumatic and run-flat.
- by tube type – tube type, tubeless
- by cord type – bias, belted bias and radial
- by section – low profile, standard profile and wide-base
- by pressure – ultra low, low, average, high (aerostatics) and adjustable pressure
- by season of using – summer, winter (studded and non-studded tires) and all-season
- by tread type – all-purpose, road, cross-country, mud and snow
- by application- OTR, AGRI, SKS, IND etc
Guiding standards:
www.etrto.org
www.us-tra.org
www.jatma.or.jp
The word “tire” in different languages
Chinese： 轮胎、车轮
English: Tire/Tyre
Spanish: neumático
French: pneu
Danish: dæk
Dutch: band
Cezch: pneumatika
Croatia: guma
Norway: dekk
Portugal: pneu
Italian: pneumatico
HTS CODE of different kinds of new tires of rubber
| HTS Code | Goods Description |
| 4011 | New pneumatic tires of rubber |
| 4011.10 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on motor cars, including station wagons and racing cars |
| 4011.20 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on buses or trucks |
| 4011.30.00 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on aircraft |
| 4011.40.00 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on motorcycles |
| 4011.50.00 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on bicycles11 |
| 4011.70.00 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on agricultural or forestry vehicles and machines |
| 4011.80 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on construction, mining or industrial handling vehicles and machines |
| 4011.90 | New pneumatic tires of rubber used on other machines and vehicles. |
