Hope our last write up on tyre buying tips was informative enough.  In this edition, we would highlight some basic tyre information in form of simple questions which are important for a motorist to obtain optimum performance from their car tyres

What are the important components of a  Car’s Radial Tyre?
Tyre- a composite structure made of rubber, fabric, steel, chemicals and carbon black, has to perform efficiently and effectively, converting all vehicle dynamic forces into useful work, besides ensuring safe operations.

The components of a typical Passenger Car Radial Tyre are shown below: 
• Tread: The portion of the tyre, which comes in contact with the road, is called the tread. It is designed to provide necessary traction, wear resistance, and allow for low heat build-up and low noise.

• Side Walls: These are the layers of appropriate thickness of rubber compound applied on both sides of the tyre carcass between the beads and tread, which flexes in service.

• Plies: Plies are reinforcing members of the tyre, which are made from rubber coated fabric (rayon, nylon, steel, polyester etc.

• Bead: Layers of rubber coated high tensile steel wires formed into inextensible loops. It helps tyre to fit the rim and hold onto it.

• Steel Belt: Steel belt is a layer of steel wire laminated with rubber placed between body and tread. Belt provides tyre reinforcement and stability. 

How much load can my car tyre carry safely? 
All tyres are marked with their load carrying capacity (TLCC) in the form of Load Index. Load Index is a numerical code, associated with the maximum load a tyre can carry at the speed indicated by its Speed Symbol under the specified service conditions. For example JK Tyre 205/60R16 92 V : here 92 is a numerical code which corresponds to 630 Kgs. In other words the subject tyre is capable of carrying a load of 630 Kgs with regards to its speed symbol.

What is the maximum speed my tyre can go? 
All tyres are marked with their speed capability in the form of speed symbol. Speed symbol is an alphabet indicating the maximum speed at which a tyre can carry a load corresponding to its load index under specified service conditions. For example JK Tyre 205/60R16 92 V : here V is the speed symbol which corresponds to 240 Kmph. However, this must not be interpreted as recommendation to exeed the legal speed limits that may be necessary for safety on roads and similar considerations.
Table 1
Correlation between speed symbol and maximum speed of a typical Passenger Car Radial tyre 
The table explains the relationship between the speed symbol shown on the tyre and the maximum speed, which is possible with the particular tyre
Table 2
Correlation between load index and tyre load capacity
The table explains the relation between the load Index shown on the tyre and actual load taking capacity or TLCC - Tyre Load Carrying Capacity