If you ask what tyres are made up of, the simple and easy answer will is rubber. But did you know that there is a lot of engineering and material involved in even the cheapest of tyres? Some of the most popular tyre manufacturers invest a lot of money in their tyres to improve their performance and longevity, one of which is Continental Tyres Corby.
Tyres have a hard life being subjected to millions of rotations over their lifespan under different harsh conditions, handling the impact of curbs and road debris, temperature changes, exposure to UV sunlight and other situations.
What Were Tyres Originally Made From?
Tyres were earlier made up of bands of leather or steel wrapped around wagon wheels. These covers improve and increase the durability of the otherwise wooden wheels and allow for improved stability on slippery surfaces.
The first pneumatic or air-filled tyres were specially designed for bicycles. Later some people realised that air-filled tyres would be perfect to use in the new gasoline-powered vehicles of the late 1800s.
These air-filled early tyres were made with natural rubber, which gives them a milky, white colour. But natural rubber is not resistant to UV light and becomes hard, dry and brittle once it comes into contact with sun exposure and it wears out quickly.
What Are Modern Tyres Made Up Of?
As we talk earlier, the complex engineering behind modern tyres takes the use of different materials. Even a some amount of material change can make a tyre difference from one model to another.
Natural Rubber
We still use natural rubber to make tyres. Natural rubber is taken from rubber plantations and is made from the Amazonian rubber tree called Hevea brasiliensis. Natural rubber is best at handling repeated bending motions and is used in the sidewalls of the tyre. 90% of the world's natural rubber annually comes from Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Synthetic Rubber
Synthetic rubber is made from the byproduct of petroleum refining. Synthetic rubber has many benefits compared to natural rubber, the main benefit is that it can handle different temperatures as well as chemical and oil resistance.
The synthetic butyl rubber is used to make an airtight inner on the inside of the tyre. Over time, air molecules can slowly spread throughout the rubber liner and result in loss of air pressure.
Carbon Black
Carbon black is used in tyres and other rubber products to give tyres their universal black colour It accounts for around a quarter of a tyre's weight. When driving in hazardous environments, or for electronically sensitive tasks, extra carbon black can be used to make tyres conductive and avoid static electricity buildup.
Steel
Stell is used in tyres to give utmost protection and strength, such as the beads where the rubber tyre seals onto the wheel. In tubeless tyres, the bends are only sealed between the inside of the tyre and the outside, it also improves strength in critical areas of the tyre.
The steel reinforcement is used in different parts of the tyre such as the bead where the tyre seals on the wheel and belt plies, which sit underneath the tyre tread.
Other Materials
Some tyre manufacturers added their tyre designs with other compounds such as resins, oil and chemicals to improve wear characteristics and reduce the natural ageing process of rubber.
Can You Use Different Material Than Rubber To Make Tyres?
The rubber tyre has been used throughout the automotive industry, as few materials come close to match its ideal properties. It is solid but offers enough flexibility to give it a variety of functions, as well as making it a simpler and easier material to use.
As the government constantly encourages the use of eco-friendly materials, tyre manufacturers use modern technology to develop new and alternative rubbers to help improve the situation. For example, the Goodyear tyre group is experimenting with Guayule, a desert shrub found along many southern US states and Mexico.
Since the Hevea tree needs the right environment and conditioning, the Guayule rubber is a way to easily get more natural rubber for tyre production.
Toyota tyre manufacturers are using biosynthetic rubbers to make car parts. These materials are mostly used for drive system hoses but soon extend to tyre production in future. Bridgestone is also designing airless tyres which will use 100% natural materials. Other tyre manufacturers are experimenting to improve the existing tyre rubber and efficiency.
What Happens To Old Tyres?
It is possible to reuse the old tyres by adding new treads. But these tyres offer few benefits and drawbacks which might put some drivers off using them. Retreading tyres is a great way to use tyre carcases and the various undamaged elements of the tyre itself.
Another way to recycle tyres is to break them down into various parts. The steel in the carcass can be used in many other production processes, but there are also many uses for recycled tyre rubber.
Conclusion
At last, tyres are not just made up of rubber there is a lot of material and engineering that goes into car Tyres Corby. In today's time, few different alternatives can replace natural rubber but they are in the developing stage soon you will see other alternatives used to make tyres.
