Construction of a Tire
- Grooves: Channels for water evacuation between tread and road surface.
- Ribs: Circumferential bands of tread rubber between grooves for continuous road contact and traction, may be enhanced with sipes.
- Tread: Contact area with road surface using various compound strategies like maximizing grip or mileage.
- Shoulder: Transition element between tread and sidewall for traction during cornering and maneuvering.
- Belts: Woven steel cord mesh for rigidity of tread rubber to reduce tread squirm and increase tread life.
- Undertread: Compounded for high heat resistance to increase high-speed durability and sometimes fuel economy.
- Inner Liner: Special rubber compound highly impervious to air migration for maintaining air pressure without leaking.
- Body Plies: Either fabric cord (passenger and light truck tires) or steel cord (mainly truck tires) for structural strength of air chamber.
- Bead Cable: Rigid cable serving as an anchor around which body plies are wrapped and which secures tire to rim flange area.
- Bead Apex/Filler: Special hard rubber compound extending up into sidewall to increase flexing around bead cable and enhance stiffness of lower sidewall for improved handling.
- Bead Chafer: Layer of fabric material protecting bead area from rim chafing and mounting damage.
