Post by Hutch on Jan 10, 2007 3:27:51 GMT -5
Choosing the right tire for off road driving is largely determined like any other tire choice – how will the rig be used? Is it a daily driver or trailer queen? Or somewhere in between?
I won’t tell you which tire you should drop your money on, but hopefully the information below will start you off in the right direction to making an educated decision.
There are a lot of opinions out there, and it’s worth taking some of them into account, if everyone in your area is running a certain tire there may be good reason for it. There are also a lot of empty opinion out there too, so be careful and judge who’s giving it and what it’s worth.
Definitions:
Belted
Refers to a tire having a stabilizing belt, of two or more plies of steel, fiberglass, etc., running circumferentially around the tire between the carcass and the tread rubber. The carcass can be either radial or bias ply.
Bias belted
A tire consisting of a conventional bias ply carcass with the addition of a belt of rayon, nylon, fiberglass, or steel running circumferentially in the tread area. See 'BELTED'.
Bias ply-conventional bias-ply
A tire having two or more carcass plies arranged in a criss-cross manner and diagonally to the beads and travels approximately 1/3 the distance around the circumference before attaching to the other bead. Each cord in the next ply is arranged in the same manner, but in the opposite direction.
Radial ply
Refers to the ply or plies used in tire in which the cords run at right angles to the bead and parallel to the tire radius.
Section height
The vertical measurement from bead seat to top of crown when mounted, inflated and not under load. (Overall diameter less nominal rim diameter, divided by two.)
Section width
The measurement across the tire width at the widest point when mounted and inflated (not under load), excluding any decorative moldings.
Sidewall
That portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Single bead
Refers to a tire built with only one wire bundle in the bead.
Sipe
A hairline groove cut into tread ribs, bars or blocks to improve traction on wet surfaces.
Skid depth
(Anti-skid depth) See tread depth.
Skins
Slang reference to vehicle tires
Ply
A layer of parallel cords coated in rubber forming the carcass body, stabilizing plies, etc.
Ply rating
The strength index of a tire. It replaced the old system of marking the actual number of carcass plies in a tire on its sidewall, and is an indication of comparable strength. This system is currently being replaced by the term load range.
Groove
The channel between ribs in the tread of a tire.
Grooving
The cutting of a tread design into tread rubber where a design does not already exist. Also altering an original design, i.e. cross-grooving to increase traction.
Load range
An index of tire strength which replaces the ply rating system and its predecessor which listed the actual number of plies.
Old Recent New
4 plies 4 ply rating (1-2 plies) Load range B.
12 plies 12 ply rating (1-12 plies) Load range F.
Quality grading
Department of Transportation requirements for labeling of various tire safety and performance criteria by the manufacturer.
Tire size markings
Those designations that appear on the side of a tire to indicate its basis dimensions; width and rim diameter.
Cord
A strand of fabric material or steel cable used in the ply of a tire.
Cracking tread or groove
Splitting in grooves caused by excessive strain.
Cross section
See 'section width'.
Crown
The tread area of a tire.
Crown radius
The measurement of the curvature of a tire tread between the shoulders of the tire. Expressed as a percentage, it indicates the relative flatness of the tire tread area.
Crown width
The distance shoulder to shoulder measured along the buffed contour.
Directional tread
An arrangement of bars, grooves and ribs in any manner that gives most effective traction when the tire revolves in only one direction.
Non-directional tread
An arrangement of bars, grooves and ribs in a manner that gives equal traction in forward or reverse direction.
Durometer
A device to indicate the hardness of rubber.
Flotation
Ability to float generally referring to large low pressure tires. (The ability of a tire, to pass over soft surfaces without sinking in.)
Oversize
Installing a tire larger than needed to carry the load. A common practice on passenger vehicles to increase one size when replacing OEM (it is not necessarily beneficial).
Rim & wheel terms
Cast spoke assembly
part of the vehicle consisting of the brake chum and wheel spider, having 3, 5 or 6 spokes.
Demountable flange
A side ring or side and lock ring combination that retains the tire on the rim. It is removable to permit tire mounting or removal.
Disc wheel
The combination of a rim and a metal disc riveted or welded to its center.
Flange
The curved metal extremes of a rim that retain the tire on the rim base.
Offset
An important measurement for positioning the tire to insure proper tracking of the vehicle and adequate dual spacing. See below:measurements, rim or measurements, wheel.
Rim (truck)
A metal assembly consisting of a base and either a side ring or a side and lock ring combination, which are removable from one side for tire mounting. The opposite side has a fixed flange to retain the tire. Note: Passenger and tubeless rims do not have removable side and lock rings.
Side ring
A demountable metal flange to hold the tire on the rim base. It can be self contained, locking into the gutter, or may be held in place by a lock ring, depending on the type.
Measurements, rim:
Flange height
Measured from top of flange to bead seat, and is the difference between overall diameter and nominal rim diameter, divided by two.
Nominal diameter
Measured bead seat to bead seat 180° opposite.
Nominal width
Measured between the flanges at the bead seat.
Overall diameter
Top of flange to top of flange 180° opposite.
Rim offset
A measurement in inches from the center of the rim (between the flanges) to the tip of the 28° gutter bevel.
MEASUREMENTS, WHEEL
Bolt hole
Diameter of the bolt hole.
Bolt hole circle
Diameter of a circle scribed through the bolt hole centers.
Center bore
The diameter of the opening in a disc which allows for protrusion of the axle hub.
Wheel offset
A measurement in inches from the center of the rim (between the flanges) to the outside face of the disc.
Links:
Heavy Equipment info
General definitions for the automotive industry
General tire tech
off road specific tire construction comparison
A wealth of tire tech
Radial tire advantages in the Ag world
A somewhat "biased" write up on the advantages of bias ply in hardcore off roading
off road tire tech
Tires construction 101
dunlop.buffnet.net/tiretech.html Cut & paste this one and it should work.
Feel free to add to this thread, particularly with real world comparisons or experiences.
Source:
Michelin Company
Retrieved January 10 2007, from
www.michelingc.com/na_eng/pages/Glossary.html
I won’t tell you which tire you should drop your money on, but hopefully the information below will start you off in the right direction to making an educated decision.
There are a lot of opinions out there, and it’s worth taking some of them into account, if everyone in your area is running a certain tire there may be good reason for it. There are also a lot of empty opinion out there too, so be careful and judge who’s giving it and what it’s worth.
Definitions:
Belted
Refers to a tire having a stabilizing belt, of two or more plies of steel, fiberglass, etc., running circumferentially around the tire between the carcass and the tread rubber. The carcass can be either radial or bias ply.
Bias belted
A tire consisting of a conventional bias ply carcass with the addition of a belt of rayon, nylon, fiberglass, or steel running circumferentially in the tread area. See 'BELTED'.
Bias ply-conventional bias-ply
A tire having two or more carcass plies arranged in a criss-cross manner and diagonally to the beads and travels approximately 1/3 the distance around the circumference before attaching to the other bead. Each cord in the next ply is arranged in the same manner, but in the opposite direction.
Radial ply
Refers to the ply or plies used in tire in which the cords run at right angles to the bead and parallel to the tire radius.
Section height
The vertical measurement from bead seat to top of crown when mounted, inflated and not under load. (Overall diameter less nominal rim diameter, divided by two.)
Section width
The measurement across the tire width at the widest point when mounted and inflated (not under load), excluding any decorative moldings.
Sidewall
That portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Single bead
Refers to a tire built with only one wire bundle in the bead.
Sipe
A hairline groove cut into tread ribs, bars or blocks to improve traction on wet surfaces.
Skid depth
(Anti-skid depth) See tread depth.
Skins
Slang reference to vehicle tires
Ply
A layer of parallel cords coated in rubber forming the carcass body, stabilizing plies, etc.
Ply rating
The strength index of a tire. It replaced the old system of marking the actual number of carcass plies in a tire on its sidewall, and is an indication of comparable strength. This system is currently being replaced by the term load range.
Groove
The channel between ribs in the tread of a tire.
Grooving
The cutting of a tread design into tread rubber where a design does not already exist. Also altering an original design, i.e. cross-grooving to increase traction.
Load range
An index of tire strength which replaces the ply rating system and its predecessor which listed the actual number of plies.
Old Recent New
4 plies 4 ply rating (1-2 plies) Load range B.
12 plies 12 ply rating (1-12 plies) Load range F.
Quality grading
Department of Transportation requirements for labeling of various tire safety and performance criteria by the manufacturer.
Tire size markings
Those designations that appear on the side of a tire to indicate its basis dimensions; width and rim diameter.
Cord
A strand of fabric material or steel cable used in the ply of a tire.
Cracking tread or groove
Splitting in grooves caused by excessive strain.
Cross section
See 'section width'.
Crown
The tread area of a tire.
Crown radius
The measurement of the curvature of a tire tread between the shoulders of the tire. Expressed as a percentage, it indicates the relative flatness of the tire tread area.
Crown width
The distance shoulder to shoulder measured along the buffed contour.
Directional tread
An arrangement of bars, grooves and ribs in any manner that gives most effective traction when the tire revolves in only one direction.
Non-directional tread
An arrangement of bars, grooves and ribs in a manner that gives equal traction in forward or reverse direction.
Durometer
A device to indicate the hardness of rubber.
Flotation
Ability to float generally referring to large low pressure tires. (The ability of a tire, to pass over soft surfaces without sinking in.)
Oversize
Installing a tire larger than needed to carry the load. A common practice on passenger vehicles to increase one size when replacing OEM (it is not necessarily beneficial).
Rim & wheel terms
Cast spoke assembly
part of the vehicle consisting of the brake chum and wheel spider, having 3, 5 or 6 spokes.
Demountable flange
A side ring or side and lock ring combination that retains the tire on the rim. It is removable to permit tire mounting or removal.
Disc wheel
The combination of a rim and a metal disc riveted or welded to its center.
Flange
The curved metal extremes of a rim that retain the tire on the rim base.
Offset
An important measurement for positioning the tire to insure proper tracking of the vehicle and adequate dual spacing. See below:measurements, rim or measurements, wheel.
Rim (truck)
A metal assembly consisting of a base and either a side ring or a side and lock ring combination, which are removable from one side for tire mounting. The opposite side has a fixed flange to retain the tire. Note: Passenger and tubeless rims do not have removable side and lock rings.
Side ring
A demountable metal flange to hold the tire on the rim base. It can be self contained, locking into the gutter, or may be held in place by a lock ring, depending on the type.
Measurements, rim:
Flange height
Measured from top of flange to bead seat, and is the difference between overall diameter and nominal rim diameter, divided by two.
Nominal diameter
Measured bead seat to bead seat 180° opposite.
Nominal width
Measured between the flanges at the bead seat.
Overall diameter
Top of flange to top of flange 180° opposite.
Rim offset
A measurement in inches from the center of the rim (between the flanges) to the tip of the 28° gutter bevel.
MEASUREMENTS, WHEEL
Bolt hole
Diameter of the bolt hole.
Bolt hole circle
Diameter of a circle scribed through the bolt hole centers.
Center bore
The diameter of the opening in a disc which allows for protrusion of the axle hub.
Wheel offset
A measurement in inches from the center of the rim (between the flanges) to the outside face of the disc.
Links:
Heavy Equipment info
General definitions for the automotive industry
General tire tech
off road specific tire construction comparison
A wealth of tire tech
Radial tire advantages in the Ag world
A somewhat "biased" write up on the advantages of bias ply in hardcore off roading
off road tire tech
Tires construction 101
dunlop.buffnet.net/tiretech.html Cut & paste this one and it should work.
Feel free to add to this thread, particularly with real world comparisons or experiences.
Source:
Michelin Company
Retrieved January 10 2007, from
www.michelingc.com/na_eng/pages/Glossary.html