Your entire vehicle rests upon those four black rubber circles. Yes. We’re talking about the tyres here. They are an integral part of our vehicles. They play a pivotal role in making your drive safe and comfortable. They do it with such ease that you don’t even get to know it. It’s not only the engine or the brakes of the car that help you in handling your vehicle. Your tyres also have a big hand in the same.
You can call these tyres a true marvel of engineering. Have you ever thought about what goes behind the making of these tyres? Since they carry so much weight on their shoulders, you’d probably like to know the process behind such intricately designed machines. The manufacturing process of the tyres is also quite complex, just like their function. Many years back, when science was still at its nascent stage, tyres were just about air-filled in rubber.
But today, that’s not the case. Technology has grown by leaps and bounds and tyres are manufactured using modern machines with cutting-edge skills and expertise. Today, they comprise many different layers, and each layer contributes in its way. Before we move on to the manufacturing process of the Performance Tyres Mildenhall, let’s see what layers they are made up of.
What are the different parts of the tyre?
- Beads
Rubber is coated with steel, and that’s what gives it the strength. Beads create a kind of a seal between the tyre and the rim.
- Belt
Next in line is the belt. They are again made up of steel to provide rigidity to the tyre. At times, a cord is added to the belt so that it becomes puncture-resistant and durable.
- Ply
Plies contain various layers of fabric all made of fibre that are intertwined together and finally coated with rubber. That’s what provides flexibility to the tyre.
- Sidewall
The sturdiest part of the tyre with extra-thick rubber.
- Tread
The part which comes in contact with the road. This has patterns and designs on it to provide grip and performance to the vehicle.
- Sipes and grooves
These are the deep grooves that separate the tread blocks. Sipes are even small cuts in the tread. Together, they help in dispersing water, snow and mud beneath the tyres.
What’s the process of making a tyre?
There goes a lot of research and experimentation in the making of tyres. Advanced machinery is used, and hundreds of raw materials are combined to make the end product that gives you confidence on the roads. Let’s look at the steps here.
- Planning and designing a tyre
This work is done by the computer which gauges the special needs of the vehicle in a specific number. Later a prototype is created for the same. This way, the engineers check if the proposed design works following the features provided. Developing a tyre is a tedious process that demands months of patience and determination.
- Manufacturing
This process involves mixing the raw materials of the tyre, but step by step. Mixing all the ingredients can create a mess. So, rubber is mixed with oil, carbon black, antioxidants and some other material.
For this, a huge mixer is used, where all the ingredients are mixed at high pressure until they form a gum-like consistency. This material is then transferred to other machines, and the individual parts of the tyre are created. Once all the parts are made, they are pressed together by a machine. At this stage, the tyre is called a ‘Green tyre’.
From here, they are transferred to a mould and pressed against it so that we get the tread patterns on it. The tyre is then heated at a very high temperature of 149°C. This is called the vulcanization of the tyre. The Tyres Mildenhall are now ready for inspection and ready to roll on the roads.
Isn’t the entire process fascinating? Enjoy your drive and keep admiring this wonder of science.