HISTORY OF TYRES

 

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The tyre (or tire) was first invented and patented by R W Thomson.  He patented the Pneumatic Tyre in 1845. His first design used a number of thin inflated tubes inside a leather cover. This design actually had its advantages over later designs. It would take more than one puncture to deflate the whole tyre, and varying the pressures could alter the ride conditions.

 

 

Robert Thomson invented the tire in 1845

 

 

RW Thomson - Tyre Invention 1845

 

 

In 1888, Scottish-born John Boyd Dunlop, a prosperous Veterinary Surgeon in practice in Belfast, Ireland, invented the Pneumatic Bicycle Tyre. A group of Irish businessmen from Dublin, realised the potential of the tyre, and, in 1889, together with Mr. Dunlop, formed a syndicate to float what was to become "THE DUNLOP PNEUMATIC TYRE COMPANY."

 

The first pneumatic bicycle tyres to reach Australia arrived in Melbourne in 1889, and within 2 years, the Dunlop Company was established in Europe & North America ( the first pneumatic bicycle tyres to reach North America arrived in New York on Christmas Day, 1890).

In 1893, the Dublin Company opened a Branch Office and Factory in Melbourne, Australia, right in the heart of Melbourne's Chinatown district.

 

 

 

 

It was not until the late nineteenth century, 1888, that John Boyd Dunlop invented the Rubber Pneumatic Tyre. Despite these technological breakthroughs the solid rubber tyre continued to be the dominant tyre and it was not until 1889 that the pneumatic tyre caught on.

 

 

 


Since the bicycle was the popular form of transport, and Cycle Racing the most popular sport, the introduction of the pneumatic tyre was an unqualified success. In spite of this, the Dunlop Company ran into financial difficulties and decided to sell its overseas holdings.

 

In 1899, a Canadian syndicate purchased the Australasian interests and floated "THE DUNLOP PNEUMATIC TYRE COMPANY OF AUSTRALASIA LTD as an Australian company, with a capital of 170,000 Pounds ($A 340, 000).

 

In 1905, the Company made the first of its many acquisitions with the purchase of its main rival the Barnet Glass Rubber Company.

 

In 1889, John Boyd Dunlop founded the Pneumatic Tyre Company and Booth's Cycle Agency, which were to become the Dunlop Rubber Company Limited.

 

The company became involved in aviation in 1910, when Dunlop Rubber Company introduced a wire-spoked wheel with a beaded tyre specifically designed for the aviation market.

In 1925, Dunlop formed a separate Aviation Division to produce

 

Dunlop was a Scottish vet living in Belfast. His son Johnny complained that when he rode his bicycle to school the cobbled streets made his bottom sore. Dunlop solved his son's problem by inventing a pneumatic tyre, but then it became clear that this tyre was faster - the lad kept winning cycle races. There was a famous cycle race on the Queen's College playing fields on 18 May 1889 and Dunlop persuaded the cycle champion Willie Hume to use the new tyres. Willie won the race and everybody wanted the tyres, and so the Dunlop Rubber Company was formed.

 

 

 

 

What Dunlop did not realise was that 43 years earlier another Scot had patented almost the same thing. Robert Thomson, who had been to America, returned to Britain and was given a workshop by his father where he invented all sorts of things. In 1845 Thomson patented what he called aerial wheels. There were no bicycles then, so it would not have been a bicycle tyre that he invented. There were no internal combustion engines either, just a few steam carriages, and otherwise horse-drawn carriages and carts. However, Thomson did some elegant experiments. 

 

He fitted his tyres to a carriage and, in Regent's Park in London, had it pulled side by side with an ordinary carriage. He showed it was much easier to pull the one with pneumatic tyres. All the watching journalists thought it would be slower because the tyres were soft. It was easier to pull and also silent - it did not make the noise of a carriage. The pneumatic tyres were a huge success but there was no market at the time - rubber was very expensive in the 1840s.

 

Robert Thomson is much under-rated. He invented a whole range of things including a fountain pen - possibly the first fountain pen, though there are other claimants. He never became rich and famous, perhaps because he was so far ahead of his time.

 

Dunlop first advertised his tyres in December 1888 in The Irish Cyclist, and in May of the following year the Tyre had its first breakthrough. A Belfast Cycle Race was won on pneumatic rubber tyres, and by now the public were starting to take note.

 

Unfortunately the original tyre had its drawbacks. The inner tube was difficult to get at because the tyre was stuck to the wheel. In 1890 CK Welsh patented the design of a wheel rim and outer cover with inextensible lip. By now we had the basics for today’s tyre. Over the years the tyre has developed into today’s high technology offerings. Two of the most important technical developments include Michelin’s creation of the radial tyre with its vastly superior grip in 1948, and when Dunlop did away with the inner tube on car tyres in 1972.

 

 

 

RW Thomson - Tyre Invention 1845

 

 

Time has given the motor industry tyres capable of many different applications. This ranges from High Speed Racing such as Formula One to Heavy Plant Usage on vehicles as large as a house. All tyres deliver a comfortable ride, relative puncture resistance, wear and performance. The importance of a tyre must not be taken for granted. After all a tyre is your vehicles only point of contact with the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOST POPULAR MAKES 2021 - A to Z



Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Apollo, Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Bridgestone, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
Continental AG, Germany

Cooper, Tyre and Rubber Company, America (motorcycles)

CST Cheng Shin Rubber Ind Co Ltd (bicycle)

Hankook Tire Group, Seoul, South Korea

Gait, Singapore, Inodnesia
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, USA

Hankook Tire Group, Seoul, South Korean

Huayi, Shaghai, China

Kumho Tire Co., Gwangju, South Korea

Maxis, Cheng Shin Rubber

MRF Madras Rubber Factory, India

Nexen Tire Corporation

Nokian, Finland
Pirelli, Milan, Italy

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Japan (Dunlop)

Toyo Tire & Rubber, Toyota, Japan
Yokohama Tire Corporation, Tokyo

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PLANET NEEDS OUR HELP - If we are to continue our motoring pleasure without destroying our planet and the health of people all over the world, we urgently need international legally binding laws that apply to all members of the United Nations. Humans created this mess, humans should clear it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUBBER & PLASTIC POLLUTION - PHYSCIS.ORG 14 NOVEMBER 2019

Where do these lost centimeters of tire tread "disappear" to as yur tyres wear out? As micro-rubbers, they mainly end up in soil and water and, to a small extent, in the air. And the amount of these particles in our environment is anything but small, as Empa researchers have now calculated.

Everybody is talking about microplastics. But the amount of microplastics in air and water is small compared to another polymer that pollutes our air and water—and therefore our organism: Micro rubber. These are the finest particles from tire abrasion, which enter our soil and air via the road surface or are removed by artificial turf. Empa researchers have now calculated that over the last 30 years, from 1988 to 2018, around 200,000 tonnes of micro rubber have accumulated in our environment in Switzerland. This is an impressive figure that has often been neglected in the discussions on microplastics.

SQUEALING TIRES

Researchers around Bernd Nowack from Empa's "Technology and Society" lab identified car and truck tires as the main source of micro-rubber. "We quantified the abrasion of tires, but also the removal of artificial green areas such as artificial turf," says Nowack. However, this only plays a subordinate role, because only three percent of the rubber particles emitted come from rubber granulate from artificial green areas. Tire abrasion is responsible for the remaining 97 percent. Of the particles released into the environment, almost three-quarters remain on the left and right side of the road in the first five meters, 5 percent in the remaining soils and almost 20 percent in water bodies. The team based its calculations on data on the import and export of tires and then modeled the behavior of rubber on roads and in road waste water. Since the year 2000, the guidelines for the recycling of water and the prevention of soil pollution have been significantly tightened. Through measures such as the construction of road wastewater treatment plants (SABA), part of the microrubber can now be removed from the water.

LOW IMPACT ON HUMANS

A part of the micro rubber is first transported by air into the first five meters left and right of the road, deposited and partly whirled up again. However, Christoph Hüglin from Empa's "Air Pollution / Environmental Technology" lab estimates the impact on humans to be low, as a study from 2009 shows. "The proportion of tire abrasion in inhaled fine dust is also in the low single-digit percentage range at locations close to traffic," says Hüglin.

Researchers emphasize, however, that microplastic and microrubber are not the same. "These are different particles that can hardly be compared with each other," says Nowack. And there are also huge differences in quantity: According to Nowack's calculations, only 7 percent of the polymer-based microparticles released into the environment are made of plastic, while 93 percent are made of tire abrasion. "The amount of microrubber in the environment is huge and therefore highly relevant," says Nowack.

 

 

WHAT CAR 29 MAY 2019

Previous research from the USA has estimated that 30% of the microplastics that are polluting Earth's oceans and waterways comes from tyres.

Other research done in Germany in 2018 found that microplastics from tyres and vehicle brake pads made up 89% of the particles taken from the air above motorways. The scientists believe these tiny particles are being blown by the wind and washed by rain into waterways that lead to oceans.

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM ?

In the wake of a number of recent studies of microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans and the air above busy motorways, the UK government commissioned research into the issue in May 2018. The results from this 11-month project, conducted by Plymouth University, are due soon.

The Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) pledged £200,000 to pay for the research, which will analyse how tiny plastic particles from tyres and other synthetic materials, such as polyester from fishing nets, ropes and lines, enter our waterways and oceans and the impact they have on marine life.

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey commented on the DEFRA-funded research: “The impact of plastic pollution on our oceans is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our generation. Robust scientific evidence should support our policy proposals, and through this exciting project, we will build on work under way to better understand how microplastics end up in marine environment and what we can do to tackle this in the future.”

WHAT ARE TYRE MANUFACTURERS DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM ?

Tyre makers refute the claims made from previous research. Eleven of the world’s leading tyre makers formed a global forum in 2005 to look at issues relating to tyre particulates. The Tyre Industry Project (TIP) aims to proactively identify and address the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with tyres.

According to a spokeswoman from Continental Tyres, which is also a member of the TIP, the microplastics from roads consist of 50% of material from tyres and 50% of material from the actual road surface. She stated that contrary to other research, the German company's initial investigations show that only 2% of tyre microplastics have the potential to get into oceans, because they're heavier than water so sink to the bottom of rivers rather than make it to the ocean. TIP is continuing its research and expects to publish findings in 2020.

WHICH ARE THE BEST TYRE BRANDS & HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY ON TYRES ?

You probably don’t give your car’s tyres much thought until a garage tells you they need replacing, but they're one of the most important safety items on your car. They provide the only contact between your car and the road and ensure that it makes it around each corner and stops when you want it to.

 

In fact, every manoeuvre you make in your car relies on the tyres, so it’s vital to ensure they are in first-rate condition and that when you replace them, you do so wisely.

WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE TYRES ?

Although the legal limit for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, many safety organisations and tyre makers recommend replacing tyres when the tread reaches 3mm, because their effectiveness – in particular their ability to stop a car on a wet surface – is reduced once the tread is below this level. They must also have the minimum tread across three-quarters of their width without any gaps.

The other legal requirements for tyres are that they are in physically good condition – they can’t have any gashes or bulges in the sidewalls – and are inflated to the recommended pressures. The tyres also have to be the same size across both axles, although you can fit larger tyres on the back or front axle of your car. 

Break any of these rules and you could get three penalty points on your licence and a £2500 fine. You could lose your licence altogether and be fined £10,000 if all four tyres are below the legal limit.

Although there’s no legal requirement to stick with the brand of tyre fitted to your car when it was new, the car's maker will have worked closely with the tyre company during development, so changing to a different brand or tyre with a different tread pattern could affect the handling and road noise. However, if you stick with a similar tyre from a different premium or mid-range brand, the differences should be minimal. 

One thing you should consider doing, however, is changing the two front or rear tyres at the same time, unless you’re replacing a new tyre that’s been damaged. If you change a single tyre and the new one has 8mm of tread and the one on the other side has 4mm, they won’t provide the same grip. While this isn’t likely to be an issue on dry roads, stopping distances will increase in wet and wintry conditions. 

You might be able to save money by looking for retailers that offer a discount for buying more than one tyre.

SHOULD YOU FIT NEW TYRES ON THE FRONT OR BACK ?

Most modern cars are front-wheel-drive, so the front tyres have to work harder than the rears and are likely to wear out quicker. However, whether your car is front, rear or four-wheel drive, most safety experts advise switching the tyres around when replacing the front pair so that the new ones are on the rear. 

This is because if a car loses grip in a corner, it will either understeer or oversteer. Understeer is when the car’s front tyres lose grip first, making the front end slide outwards. Oversteer is when the rear tyres lose grip first, making the back end of the car swing out. 

It’s easier to get a car that’s understeering back under control than one that’s oversteering – simply slowing down should help to regain grip – and this is why the new tyres should be on the rear wheels to minimise the potential to oversteer and risk a serious accident.

 

 

 

TYRE INFLATION PRESSURES

 

Although cars are manufactured to give trouble free motoring over long distances, the tyres should still be checked weekly. Tyres expand when they heat up, and this happens when you start driving, so the best time to check your tyre pressures is first thing in the morning before you leave home. If you do check the pressures during a journey, and they read higher than the normal recommended pressure, do not reduce the pressure. It is less dangerous to drive with over-inflated tyres than it is to do so with under inflated ones. However, the best solution is regular checking to establish the correct pressure at all times.

 

Too much

 

If the front tyres on a front wheel drive vehicle are over-inflated, the tyre becomes hard, and the area of tyre in contact with the road is reduced. This then means that the grip of the tyre is also reduced. In bad weather, the steering becomes less positive, and the tyre will wear more in the centre, because of the over-inflation. The same applies on the rear tyres of a rear wheel drive vehicle.

 

Too little

 

As we mentioned earlier, it is actually most dangerous to drive a car with under-inflated tyres. The main reason for this is that under-inflation causes the tyre to become less rigid, and consequently offers inferior control to the steering functions, and ironically can cause less of the tyre to be in contact with the road surface. It is equally dangerous to both front and rear tyres to have them under-inflated. Continued use under these circumstances increases the likelihood of the tyre casing breaking, as the internal heat of the tyre will increase due to the lack of sufficient air inside the tyre.

 

Finally, given the increasing environmental concerns facing us all, under-inflated tyres lead to increased fuel consumption.

 

On the side of your tyre, you will see a code. This is an international code, which shows the type of tyre and the specification. Those numbers and letters tell you exactly about your tyre.

 

 

British Bulldog, Dunlop tyres poster

 

 

 

This is what they stand for (from left to right):

 

155 - is the nominal tyre width in millimetres.

 

70 - is the height as a percentage of width, the Profile. In this case (from rim flange to tread) it is 70% of 155mm, or 108mm. 

 

R - means that it is a radial tyre.

 

13 - is the wheel diameter in inches.

 

75 - is the code for the carrying capacity per wheel of the car. Code 75 = 387kg.

 

T - is the maximum speed rating for the tyre. This tyre is rated at 118mph. The full table is below.

 

Never put two different types of tyres on the same axle. Indeed, fitting a radial and a cross ply tyre on the same axle is illegal. It is possible to have radials on the rear and cross ply on the front axles, but not the other way round, and is not recommended. The only exception to this is in the case of temporary use spare tyres.

 

 

 

WHAT IS THE  'OFFSET'

 

One of the most asked questions, what's the offset closely followed by what is the biggest wheel that can I fit onto my car? The offset is a gauge of how much a wheel will stick out from the arch of a car or how far it will recess into the arch of the car. If the offset is wrong, the wheels will stick out too far and will almost be a like a beach buggy!

 

If you take a wheel and cut it in half and draw a line down the centre of the width of a wheel, the offset would be the distance between the back face (mounting face) of the wheel and the centre line that you have just drawn (shown as a dotted line in the diagram below.

 

 

 

 

Wheel rim offset dimensions

 

 

It is very important not to deviate too far from the offset of the wheel originally fitted to the vehicle. In this case Vauxhall engineers developed the 'Negative Scrub Geometry". This gave a offset of -49mm (et49). A wheel of radically different offset can cause serious clearance and handling problems along with accelerated tyre and bearing wear.

 

 

The offset is commonly shown as a et number, i.e.et49. This means the offset is 49mm. The offset is always measured in millimetre's and can normally be found at the back of the wheel or stamped behind the centre cap (if fitted).

 

 

Negative scrub geometry had the intention that if you got a flat tyre you were still able to control the car (so long as you weren't going motorway speeds). So its best to keep as close to the et49 figure as possible.

 

However the bigger the alloy wheel goes, the more difficult it becomes to stay close to the et49. The reason being is that as wheel gets bigger in diameter, it also becomes wider, and so does the tyre that fits it. This is when other items in the wheel arch can begin to foul with the alloy wheel or the tyre. Namely the arch lip of the car and the suspension strut. When this happens the offset must change for the bigger wheel and tyre to fit in the arch. Plus if the car has been lowered, this will have to be considered too as the wheel is now tucked further up in the arch.

 

 

Tips on keeping safe and being prepared

 

Changing a tyre can be a daunting prospect. Here are a few hints that can make life easier when changing a tyre.

  • Gloves – Keep a pair in the car at all times.

  • Bin Liner – Something to put a muddy tyre into. Keeps your car clean.

  • Sturdy Board – If the ground is soft the jack may sink. Use as a stand.

  • Wheel Nuts – Grease threads lightly to allow easy removal.

  • Wheel Nuts – Make sure these are tightened correctly.

  • Wheel Nuts – Correct tightening will allow easier removal next time.

  • Wheel Balancing – Always have this done after repair.

  • Tyre Pressure – Never drive too far or too fast after replacing a tyre until the pressure is checked and at the correct level. Refer to Owners Manual.

  • Spare Tyre – Check and examine condition regularly. 

 

PUNCTURES


It is not always necessary to replace a tyre when punctured. In some cases the tyre can be repaired. 
Here are some basic guidelines.

 

What can be repaired?


(In accordance with British Standards (BSAU 159))
Only certain areas of the tyre can be repaired. This is demonstrated below by Area’T’

Repairable Area - Definition of Area'T' 

 

 

Tread repair areas


 
 
The repairable area 'T' is defined as a percentage of the tyre's nominal section width and this is dependant on the type and size of the tyre.

 

 

 

Radial Ply tyres – Minor Repairs to Radial Tyres for Cars, Vans, and Commercial Vehicles

 

 

AREA T Defined as Percentage of Nominal Section Width

CAR

Up to and including 155mm

60%

Above 155mm to 200mm

65%

Above 200mm

70%

Commercial Vehicle

Up to and Including 225mm

60%

Above 225mm to 305mm

65%

Above 305mm

70%


 

Radial Tyre Limitations: Straight Penetration Damage (After Preparation)

Type Of Tyre

Maximum size of damage at base of injury in Area T

Car

6mm

Commercial Vehicle

10mm


Cross Ply tyres – Minor repairs to Cross Ply tyres for Cars, Vans, and Commercial Vehicles

 

 

AREA T Defined as Percentage of Nominal Section Width

CAR

Up to and including 155mm

60%

Above 155mm to 200mm

65%

Above 200mm

70%

Commercial Vehicle

Up to and Including 225mm

60%

Above 225mm to 305mm

65%

Above 305mm

70%


Diagonal (Crossply) Injury Limitations: Straight Penetration Damage (After Preparation)

Type Of Tyre

Maximum size of damage at base of injury in Area T

Car

6mm

Commercial Vehicle

10mm

 

 

Motorcycle & Scooter Cross Ply tyres – Minor Repairs for Tyres Motorcycles and Scooters

 

 

Area T is defined as 50% of Nominal Section width

Injury Limitations: Straight Penetration Damage

Tyre

Max. Size of Damage

Max. no. of repairs

Up to J Speed Rating

6mm

2

Above J up to V Speed Rating

3mm

1

Above V Speed Rating

-

0

 

 


WHEN CAN A TYRE BE REPAIRED

 

The following checks are mandatory before repairing any tyre. (General Requirements of BSAU159f.) This ensures whether a tyre is suitable for repair.

 

  • Minimum Tread Depth Requirement. (Cars 1.6mm, Truck & Motorcycle 1.0mm)

  • Run-flat Damage

  • Contamination

  • Ageing/deterioration of the rubber

  • Bead/Liner Damage

  • Previous repairs not in accordance with BS159

If any of the above is evident it is recommended that tyre is not suitable for repair. Do not repair it. These are only guidelines, and not an exhaustive list. Basic principles of common sense must be adhered to when deciding upon puncture repair.

 

 

TYRE SIDEWALL INFORMATION - WHAT DOES IT MEAN

 

 

 

 

 

205/50 R15 91V E4 DOT

 

 

At first glance the lettering on the side of the tyre may look complicated. It is not meant to be that way. The lettering explains the exact specification of the tyre you have. In short it tells you anything that you may need to know about your tyre.

 

 

Sidewall Marking

Explanation

205

Width of the tyre in millimetres

50

Height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case 50% of 205mm. Also know as the aspect ratio.

R

Radial Construction.

15

The diameter of the tyre's inner rim in inches

91

Load Capacity of Tyre (See Load Table). In this case its 615kg

V

 

Speed Symbol. Indicates the max. speed for the tyre at full load. In this case 149.1mph.

E4

ECE type approval mark, which demonstrates the tyre has been tested as high quality by the European Regulatory Authorities. All Tyres sold by Black Circles carry this mark.

 

 

 

SPEED RATING

 

It is IMPORTANT that you check your speed rating before buying your tyres - as choosing a lower tyre speed rating could INVALIDATE your INSURANCE.

 

This is indicated by the speed symbol on the tyre sidewall, and represents the maximum speed that this tyre can sustain at full load. Consult your vehicle manufacturer to check which speed rating your vehicle requires. It is of the utmost importance that you stick to the manufacturer's guidelines. 

 

The tyre speed rating (i.e. S) is the maximum speed for which the tyre is rated. For example, the S rating identifies speeds up to 112 mph.

 

Speed ratings are based on scientific tests where the tyre is run at speeds in 6.2 mph steps in 10 minute increments until the required speed has been met.

 

You will find your speed rating on the side of your tyre at the end of a series of numbers - as follows:

 

 

 

Speed Symbol

Speed Kph

Speed Mph

Car

S

180

111.8

T

190

118.1

U

200

124.3

H

210

130.5

V

240

149.1

W

270

167.8

Y

300

186.4

VR

210+

130+

ZR

240+

150+

Speed Symbol

 

Speed Kph

Speed Mph

Winter/Reinforced

Q

160

99.4

R

150

105.6

Van

N

140

87.0

P

150

93.2

Truck

J

100

62.1

K

110

68.4

L

120

74.6

M

130

80.8

 

 

What is a tyre load rating?

 

The Load capacity of a tyre determines what payload each tyre can carry. It is vital that you check with your manufacturer what capacity should be put on your car. Again in cases insurance can be void if you select the incorrect tyres. The following table shows what Index specification can carry.

 

 

Load index

Load in kg

62

265

63

272

64

280

65

290

66

300

67

307

68

315

69

325

70

335

71

345

72

355

73

365

74

375

75

387

76

400

77

412

78

425

79

437

80

450

81

462

82

475

83

487

Load index

Load in kg

84

500

85

515

86

530

87

545

88

560

89

580

90

600

91

615

92

630

93

650

94

670

95

690

96

710

97

730

98

750

99

775

100

800

101

825

102

850

103

875

104

900

105

925

Load index

Load in kg

106

950

107

975

108

1000

109

1030

110

1060

111

1090

112

1120

113

1150

114

1180

115

1215

116

1250

117

1285

118

1320

119

1360

120

1400

121

1450

122

1500

123

1550

124

1600

125

1650

126

1700


 

How do I know if my tyres are Trading Standards approved?

 

Check your tyre for an "E" Number. E.g. E4 0213760. This is an ECE type approval mark and number that shows if the tyre has been tested and passed as high quality by the European regulatory authorities.

 



Speed Rating

Miles/Hour

Kilometers/Hour

N

87

140

P

93

150

Q

99

160

R

106

170

S

112

180

T

118

190

Speed Rating

Miles/Hour

Kilometers/Hour

U

124

200

H

130

210

V

149

240

Z

150+

240+

W

168

270

Y

186

300

 

 

 

 

 

AIRCRAFT TYRES

 

The very earliest of tyre designs were called Type I and were referred to only by their outside diameter eg 27" which is a common fitment to aircraft such as Harvards or P51 Mustangs.

 

General Aviation tyres are generally Type III designs and include the most widely used sizes such as 5.00-5 and 6.00-6. These measurements refer to the section width of a tyre and also the rim ledge diameter (or the hole in the middle) hence a 6.00-6 is 6 inches wide and sits on 6 inch wheel.

 

Three Part Name Sizes cover most of today’s designs and typically describe the Outside Diameter, Section Width and Rim Ledge Diameter. Eg, 15x6.00-6, the tyre is 15 inches tall, 6 inches wide and sits on a 6 inch wheel. Some tyres in this classification are preceded with an ‘H’ which identifies the tyre as having a higher percentage deflection.

 

Metric sizes are the same as three part name sizes but the Overall Diameter and Section Width are replaced with millimeters but the rim sizes remains in inches, eg 380x150-5, it’s imperial equivalent is a 15x6.00-5.

 

Radial tyres are also the same as three part name sizes but the dash preceding the rim diameter is replaced with the letter ‘R’ eg 32x8.8R16

 

 

 

Type

Tyre Size

Overall Diameter

Section Width

Wheel Diameter 

Type 1

27"

27"

-

-

Type III

6.00-6

-

6.00

6"

Type VII

40 x 14

40

14

-

Three Part Name

19.5 x 6.75-8

19.5

6.75

8"

Metric

380 x 150-5

380mm

150mm

5"

 

 

 

 

 

RUN FLAT TECHNOLOGY

 

 

Run Flat Tyres Explained
Several Tyre Manufacturers have developed tyres, and tyre systems that allow a vehicle to continue moving despite a loss of pressure. There are two different approaches: 

 

1.Reinforced Tyre Sidewall manufacturers of this include Bridgestone, Dunlop, Goodyear and Pirelli. 

2.Rubber clip to your rim manufacturers of this include Michelin. All Run flat technology must operate in tandem with tyre pressure warning systems.

 

1.Reinforced Tyre Sidewall


The Diagram below shows The Dunlop DSST system for run flat. These tyres can be placed on any rim. The sidewall is reinforced allowing the tyre to support the vehicles weight. The tyre is constructed with new rubber compounds that prevent tyre destruction with excessive flexing. Run Flat Tyres allow a vehicle with complete loss of tyre pressure to handle effectively. Braking, acceleration, and steering behaviour remain unchanged. Mobility is maintained even after a puncture, but you must refer to each individual tyre’s guidelines from the Manufacturer.

 

 

 

 

Dunlop DSST Tyre

 

 

 

Tyres that carry this technology include the Bridgestone RFT series, Dunlop DSST series, Goodyear EMT series, and the Pirelli Euphori @ series.

2. Rubber Clip to your tyre rim

 

The rubber clip prevents the tyre rim cutting into your tyre when you experience a loss of pressure. This system has been developed by Michelin and is known as the PAX System. Like the reinforced sidewall it operates in tandem with automated tyre pressure monitors.

 

 

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE USE NITROGEN instead of AIR ?


Why would you want to do this? The benefits of Nitrogen filling are as follows:

  • Improved comfort of ride

  • Improved safety

  • Increased fuel savings

  • Improved life of tyre

Nitrogen has long been the accepted gas medium for filling aircraft tyres, racing tyres and heavy mining and construction vehicle tyres. Nitrogen is used for safety reasons and to ensure that tyres are always at a constant pressure. Compressed air, the traditional medium for inflating car tyres, contains both oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (78%).


The rubber tyre is like a membrane, through which oxygen permeates three times faster than the nitrogen. The result is that the oxygen slowly leaks out through the rubber walls, and the under-inflation leads to higher tyre wear with a consequent decrease in safety and comfort, and higher fuel costs.

 

 

 

MORE ON WHEELS and TYRES


Fitting new wheels to your car can affect your car more than you think. If you have fitted a bigger wheel this will affect: Its gearing, Speedo will not read properly, and acceleration can be lost. To solve the problems you can choose low-profile tyres to go with the larger diameter wheels. So if you go up one rim size you need to decrease the profile size by one. This means that you can potentially put any sized wheels on your car just as long as you can get tyres with low enough profiles.

PCD = Pitch Circle Diameter - In English: The number of bolts holding each wheel to its hub. So 5x120 means that the car has 5 mounting holes in a 120mm diameter circle.

What does the marks on the sidewalls really mean?
Marks could be: 205/45x17 R 80V
205 = the width of the tyre in mm
45 = Sidewall height in relation to the tyre width shown as a %. So the height is 45% of 205, answer in mm.
R = Radial.
17 = Wheel diameter in inches.
80 = Load index in lbs.
V = Speed rating.

Tyres also have maximum speed ratings:  

H up to 130mph 

T up to 118mph 

V inside tyre size markings (225/50 VR 16) over 130mph 

V outside tyre size markings (185/55 R 15 v) up to 150mph 

W up to 168mph 

Y up to 186mph 

Z inside tyre size markings (225/40 ZR 17) over 150 mph 

 

 

 

LIST OF POPULAR WHEELS and TYRES:

 

 

MODEL

PCD

OFFSET

RIM STD

TYRE

RIM WIDE

WHEEL & TYRE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

156

5X98

45

7.5x17

225/45x17

8x18

225/40x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A3

5X100

38

8x18

225/40x18

9x18

215/35x18

A4

5X112

38

8x18

225/40x18

9x18

215/35x18

TT

5X100

31

8x18

225/40x18

9x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E30

4X100

35

7.5x17

215/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

E30 M3

5X120

27

8x17

215/40x17

8x18

215/35x18

E36 4 DOOR

5X120

42

8.5x18

225/40x18

8x19

235/35x19

E36 COUPE

5X120

42

8.5x18

225/40x18

8x19

235/35x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARADE Gtti

4X100

14

6.5x15

195/45x15

7x17

205/40x17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CINQUECENTO

4X98

36

5.5x13

 

6x14

185/50x14

SEICENTO

4X98

36

5.5x13

 

6x14

185/60x14

UNO

4X98

45

6.5x15

195/45x15

6x16

195/45x16

PUNTO

4X98

40

7x15

195/45x15

7x17

205/40x17

BRAVO

4X98

43

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

COUPE

4X98

40

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KA

4X108

41

7x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

FIESTA MK2

4X108

41

6x14

185/55x14

7x15

195/45x15

FIESTAMK3

4X108

41

7x15

195/45x15

7x17

205/40x17

PUMA

4X108

36

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

ESCORT MK3/4

4X108

36

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

ESCORT MK5/6

4X108

36-41

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

ESCORT COSWORTH

4X108

25

8.5x16

225/40x16

8x19

215/35x19

FOCUS

4X108

52

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

SIERRA/SAPHIRE

4X108

40

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

MONDEO

4X108

40-49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

PROBE

5X114.3

40

8x18

225/40x18

8x19

215/35x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIVIC(91-95)

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

CIVIC (95-ON)

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

CRXC (93-ON)

4X100

45

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

INTEGRA R

5X114.3

45

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

ACCORD R

5X114.3

55

7.5x17

215/45x17

7x18

215/35x18

PRELUDE (92-97)

4X114.3

50

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COUPE (96-ON)

4X114.3

45

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DELTA

4X98

42

6.5x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

323 (80-89)

4X114.3

45

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

323 (89-94)

4X100

45

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

MX3

4X100

45

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

MX5

4X100

35

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

MX6

5X114.3

42

8x17

215/45x17

8x18

225/40x18

RX-7

5X114.3

50

8x18

225/40x18

8.5x19

235x35x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FTO

 

 

7.5x17

205/45x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

LANCER EVO I-III

5X114.3

45-46

7.5x17

215/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

LANCER EVOIV-VI

5X114.3

45-46

8x18

225/40x18

8x19

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNNY GTI-R

4X114.3

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

ALMERA GT

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

PRIMERA

4X114.3

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

200SX (-95)

4X114.3

45

7x17

215/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

200SX (95-ON)

4X114.3

40

7.5x17

215/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

300ZX (FRONT)

4X114.3

23

8x18

225/40x18

8.5x19

235/35x19

300ZX (REAR)

4X114.3

23

9x18

255/35x18

10x19

265/30x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

106 std arch (-97)

3X98

20

6.5x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

106 std arch (97-)

3X98

20

6.5x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

106 wide arch (-97)

4X108

16

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

106 wide arch (97-)

4X108

16

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

205

4X108

19-28

6.5x15

195/45x15

6x16

195/45x16

205 GTI

4X108

19-28

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

206

4X108

34

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

309

4X108

19

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

306

4X108

19

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

405

4X108

25-29

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

406

4X108

19

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 GT TURBO

4X100

36

7x15

195/45x15

7x17

205/40x17

CLIO

4X100

42

6.5x15

195/45x15

7x16

195/45x16

CLIO 16V

4X100

42

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

19

4X100

42

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

MEGANE

4X100

36

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

21

4X100

36

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

21 (5 STUD)

5X108

52

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

LAGUNA

4X100

50

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

LAGUNA (5 STUD)

5X108

50

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

200 (89-95)

4X100

40

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

200 (95-00)

4X100

40

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

600

4X114.3

50

7x17

205/45x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IBIZA (93-)

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CORDOBA (94-)

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPREZA

5X100

55

7x17

205/45x17

7x18

215/35x18

LEGACY

5X100

55

7x17

205/45x17

7x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWIFT

4X114.3

45

6.5x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COROLLA (83-92)

4X100

39

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

COROLLA (92-97

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

COROLLA (97-ON)

4X100

45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

MR2 MK1

4X100

45

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

MR2 MK2 early

5X114.3

37

8x17

215/40x17

8x18

225/35x18

CELICA (09-94)

5X100

39-45

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CELICA (94-00)

5X100

39-45

7x17

215/40x17

8x18

225/35x18

SUPRA (86-93)

5X114.3

37

8x18

225/40x18

8x19

215/35x19

SUPRA (93-FRONT)

5X114.3

50

8x18

235/40x18

8.5x19

235/35x19

SUPRA (93-REAR)

5X114.3

50

9x18

265/35x18

10x19

265/30x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOVA

4X100

49

6.5x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

CORSA

4X100

49

7x17

205/40x17

7x18

215/35x18

TIGRA

4X100

49

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

ASTRA MK2

4X100

49

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

ASTRAMK3

4X100

49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

ASTRAM MK4

4X100

49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

ASTRA MK4 Sri

5X110

49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CAVALIER MK3

4X100

49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CAVALIER TURBO IV

65X110

49

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

VECTRA

5X110

49

7x17

205/45x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CALIBRA

4X100

49

7x17

205/40x17

8x19

215/35x19

CALIBRA TURBO/V6

5X110

49

7x17

205/40x17

8x19

215/35x19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLO MK3

4X100

38

6.5x15

195/45x15

6.5x16

195/45x16

POLO MK4

4X100

38

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

GOLF MK1

4X100

38

7x16

195/45x16

7x17

205/40x17

GOLF MK2

4X100

38

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

GOLF RALLYE

4X100

38

7.5x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

GOLF MK3

5X100

38

7.5x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x19

GOLF MK4

5X100

38

8x18

225/40x18

8x19

215/35x19

JETTA (86-92)

4X100

38

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

BORA

5X100

38

8x18

225/40x18

8x19

215/35x19

CORRADO

4X100

38

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

CORRADO VR6

5X100

43

7x17

205/40x17

7.5x18

215/35x18

 

 

 

TYRE POLLUTION LINKS

 

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/motors/2020/0918/1166000-tyre-pollution-up-to-1-000-times-worse-than-engines-study-finds/
https://airqualitynews.com/2020/03/09/air-pollution-from-tyres-1000-worse-than-from-exhaust-claims-study/
https://www.emissionsanalytics.com/news/2020/1/28/tyres-not-tailpipe

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2019/09/tyres-plastic-polluter-you-never-thought-about

https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/tyres-and-microplastic-pollution-whats-the-problem-and-whats-being-done-to-address-it/n19483

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-rubber-environment.html

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/motors/2020/0918/1166000-tyre-pollution-up-to-1-000-times-worse-than-engines-study-finds/
https://airqualitynews.com/2020/03/09/air-pollution-from-tyres-1000-worse-than-from-exhaust-claims-study/
https://www.emissionsanalytics.com/news/2020/1/28/tyres-not-tailpipe

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2019/09/tyres-plastic-polluter-you-never-thought-about

https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/tyres-and-microplastic-pollution-whats-the-problem-and-whats-being-done-to-address-it/n19483

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-rubber-environment.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abarth

AC

Alfa Romeo

Allard

Alvis

Amphicar

Aprilia

Armstrong Siddeley

Aston Martin

Audi

Austin

Austin Healey

Auto Union

Bedford

Benelli

Bentley

Bertone

Bizzarrini

BMW

Bristol Cars

BSA

Bugatti

Buick

Cadillac

Cagiva

Caterham

Chevrolet

Chrysler

Citroen

Daewoo

Daihatsu

Daimler

Datsun

Davrian

Delahaye

DKW

Dodge

Ducati

Du Pont

Dutton

Facel Vega

Farina

Ferrari

Fiat

Ford

General Motors

Gentry

Gilbern

Gilera

Ginetta

Gordon Keeble

Gregoire

Hanomag

Harley Davidson

Heinkel

Hillman

Honda

Hummer

Husqvarna

Hyundai

Indian

Iso

Isuzu

Jaguar

Jeep

Jensen

Jösse

Kawasaki

KIA

KTM

Lada

Lagonda

Lamborghini

Lancia

Land Rover

Laverda

Lexus

Leyland

Lincoln

Lotus

Marcos

Maserati

Mazda

Mercedes Benz

MG

MGB

Mini

Mitsubishi

Morgan

Morris

Moto Guzzi

MV Augusta

Nissan

Nelson

Norton

Oldsmobile

Opel

Packard

Panhard

Panther

Peerless

Pegaso

Peugeot

Pininfarina

Pontiac

Porsche

Reliant

Renault

Riley

Rolls Royce

Rover

Royal Enfield

Saab

Sachs

Seat

Skoda

Smart

Standard

Steyr-Puch

Studebaker

Suburu

Sunbeam

Suzuki

Swallow

Toyota

Tata

Tatra

Treser

Triumph

TVR

Unipower

Vanden Plas

Vauxhall

Vespa

Volkswagen

Volvo

Wolseley

Yamaha

Yugo

 

 

Please click on the links above to find out about these famous automotive makers.  If your company is not included and you would like to be listed, please let us know.

 

 

 

 

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