Tire Lingo

ALIGNMENT
The checking and adjustment of caster camber and toe angles in a vehicle's suspension to maintain specifications engineered by the vehicle manufacturer for optimum performance.

ASPECT RATIO
The relationship between the section height and section width of a tire expressed as a percentage of section width. If the section height is one half the section width, the aspect ratio is 50%.

BALANCE
The equal distribution of the mass of the tire and wheel assembly for smooth driving. Balance is achieved by fitting weights to the wheel rim to offset uneven weight distribution of the tire or wheel.

BEAD
An inextensible hoop of high tensile steel wires which anchors the plies and conforms to the rim seat to hold the tire onto the wheel rim.

BEAD SEAT
The inner ledge portion of the wheel rim where the tire bead rests adjacent to the flange.

BELTS
The band of multiple tire cords compressed of usually rubberized steel wires beneath the tread and laid at opposing angles that determine the tire's diameter and stabilizes the tread by resisting deformation from cornering, braking, and centrifugal forces. These do not tie into the tire beads.

BIAS-PLY
A type of tire construction utilizing plies (usually rubberized fabric cords) that run diagonally from one bead to the other. One ply is set on a bias in one direction, and succeeding plies are set alternately in opposing directions crossing each other. Some times called a cross-ply tire.

CAMBER
The angle between the centerline of the tire and a vertical line as viewed from the front.

CAMBER THRUST
A cornering force generated by the tire's camber.

CASING
The tire body, composed of plies which form the tire's structure and give it shape. Sometimes called the carcass.

CASTER
The angle between the vehicle's steering axis and a vertical line, as viewed from the side.

COMPOUNDING
The combining of five basic ingredients: rubber, carbon black, plasticizers, curing materials, and ozone retardants to form the tread and other "rubber" components of a tire.

CONTACT PATCH
The area of the tire's tread that is in actual contact with the ground. (See Footprint)

CORNERING FORCE
The lateral frictional force generated by a cornering tire, acting in opposition to the centrifugal force.

CROWN
The center area of a tire's tread.

DEFLECTION
The difference between a tire's unloaded or free radius and the loaded radius.

DIRECTIONAL STABILITY
The tendency for a tire to roll in it's steered direction rather than follow road contours.

DSST
Dunlop Self-Supporting Technology. An advanced tire design that permits limited driving after loss of inflation pressure.

FOOTPRINT
The area of the tire's tread that is in actual contact with the ground. (See Contact Patch) Harmonic marking
Markings on wheels and tires that allow match mounting to cancel tire and wheel runout, minimizing vibration.

HOOP STRENGTH
The retention strength inherent in the belt construction of a tire that resists centrifugal force and provides dimensional stability.

HYDROPLANING
The accumulation of water in a film under the footprint which causes a tire to lift from the road surface, losing traction. Hydroplaning is affected by vehicle speed, tread pattern, and water depth.

IMBALANCE
The condition that exists when a tire's mass is not evenly distributed around the rolling axis and centerline, causing bounce (static imbalance) or shake (dynamic imbalance).

INFLATION PRESSURE
The pressure of air inside a tire, which applies a tensile stress to the tire cords permitting them to carry the vehicle's load.

LINER OR INNER-LINER
The thin layer of halobutyl rubber inside a tire that contains the inflation air, sometimes called the inner-liner. All Dunlop passenger tires are manufactured with an inner-liner.

MIXING TIRES
Fitting tires of different sizes, ratings, or constructions to a vehicle. Mixing should be avoided. Some performance vehicles, however, specify different size tires on front and rear axles.

MOUNTING TIRES
The act of fitting tires to wheel rims.

OVERALL DIAMETER
The diameter of an unloaded, inflated tire measured from the crown on one side to the crown on the opposite side. The free radius equals one-half the overall diameter. Sometimes called the outside diameter.

OVERINFLATION
The condition that exists when a tire is inflated beyond the pressure corresponding to the actual load or beyond the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.

OVERSTEER
The situation that occurs in cornering when the rear of a vehicle tends to skid before the front and rotate in the original direction of travel.

PLIES
The reinforcing members of a tire composed of layers of cord fabric and rubber that provide the strength to contain the air pressure needed to support a load and resist deflection.

RADIAL
The tire construction utilizing plies whose cords run radially from bead to bead under the tread. This construction requires a belt to stabilize the tread and define the tire diameter.

REVOLUTIONS PER MILE
The measured number of revolutions made by a tire traveling one mile.

RIM
The portion of a wheel incorporating the well, seats, and flange onto which a tire is mounted.

RIM DIAMETER
The diameter of the rim bead seats that support a tire normally indicated in whole numbers in inches for passenger cars.

ROLLOVER
The condition that occurs during hard cornering when a tire sidewall rubs the road surface.

ROTATION
The systematic movement of tires from one vehicle position to another to maximize tread life and minimize irregular wear.

RUNOUT
The measure of the out of roundness of the tire causing a vibration which cannot be balanced.

RIM WIDTH
The distance between rim flanges.

SECTION
A slice of a tire from one bead, through the tread to the other bead.

SECTION HEIGHT
The vertical distance from the bead edge to center of the crown in an unloaded tire.

SECTION WIDTH
The distance between a tire's sidewalls measured at the widest part of the tire. Each size of tire is measured on a specific rim width.

SERIES
A designation of a tire's aspect ratio. A tire with an aspect ratio of 60% is a 60 series tire.

SHOULDER
The edge of a tire's tread where it joins the sidewall.

SIDEWALL
The portion of the tire between the bead and the tread. It is flexible to soak up bumps yet stiff to limit tire rollover.

SLIP ANGLE
The angle between the direction in which a tire is aimed or steered and the actual direction of tire travel.

SPEED RATING
A letter designation identifying the tire's high speed durability on an indoor test wheel. Refer to ECE 30 European Indoor Wheel Test Standards.

TOE
The difference between the front and rear edges of tires mounted on an axle. Toe-in means the front edges are closer together than the rear edges and tires point inward. Toe-out means the front edges are farther apart than the rear edges and the tires point outward.

TREAD
The region of a tire designed to contact the ground. It is molded of tough rubber for high traction and low wear.

TREAD PATTERN
The arrangement of blocks, grooves, sipes, and channels designed into the tread to enhance its grip. Also called the tread design.

TREAD VOID
Areas in the tread, such as grooves and channels, that permit water to drain away from the footprint.

TREADWEAR
The measure of the life of a tire tread.

TUBELESS
A tire construction, which uses a rubber inner-liner inside the casing to prevent, air leakage and eliminate the need for an inner tube.

UNDER-INFLATION
The condition that exists when there is not sufficient air pressure in a tire to support a specific load. This causes the tire to operate with excessive deflection, mechanical flexing and heat.

UNDERSTEER
The condition that exists during cornering when the front of a vehicle tends to skid before the rear.

WHEEL ALIGNMENT
See Alignment